El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-09
CONTINUED From Last Saturday,

a
ut least lose the horror of doing what
she suggests under some Involuntary
impulse" But the thought that the
mere absence Of the ring from his fin
ger would not stand in the way of his
going through the motions to which
she had just given such significance
deferred him from the sacrifice of q
valuable family jewel. and he left the
spot with an air of frenzy such as q
man displays when he feels himself
on the verge of a doom he can neither
meet nor avert
AS he re-entered the house he felt
himself enveloped in the atmosphere
of a coming crisis He could hear
voices in the upper hall. and among
them he caught the accents of her he
had learned SO lately to fear. Impelled
by something deeper than curiosity
and more potent even than dread. he
FASTENED toward the stairs. When
half way up them. he caught sight of
Amebel. She was leaning back against
the balustrade that ran across the up
per hall. with her hands gripping the
rail on either side of her and her face
turned toward the five men who had
evidently issued from Mr.. Sutherland's
study TO interview ner.
AS her back was to Frederick, he
could not Judge of the expression of
that face save by the effect 1t had upon
the different men confronting her. But
to see them was enough. From their
looks he could perceive that this young
girl was in one OF her battling moods
and that. from his father down. not
one of the men present knew what to
make of her.
At the sound his feet made. a relaxa-
ton took place in her body. and she
lost something Of the defiant attitude
she had before maintained. Presently
he heard her voice:
81 am willing to answer any ques-
lions you may choose to put me here.
but I cannot consent to shut myself in
with you in that small study. should
suffocate."
Frederick could perceive the looks
which passed between the five men as
sembled before her and was astonished
to note that the Insignificant fellow
they called Sweetwater was the first
to answer.
Very WELL" said he. IF you enjoy !
the publicity of the open hall. no one
here will object. Is not that so. gen.
iemen
Her two little fingers. which were
turned toward Frederick, ran up and
down the rail. making n peculiar rasp-
ing noise. which for a moment was the
only sound to be heard Then Mr..
Courtney said:
How came you to have the handling
of the money taken from Agatha
Webb's private drawer"
1t was a startling question. but IT
seemed to affect Amabel less than 1t |
did Frederick. IL made him start. but |
she only turned her head trif1e aside, |
so that the peculiar smile with which |
she prepared to answer could be seen
by any one standing below.
Suppose you ask something less lead !
ing than that to begin with" she sug- |
gested in her high. unmusical voice. |
From the searching nature of this in
Quiry you evidently believe have in |
formation of an important character to !,
give you concerning Mrs. Webb's I'M /
happy death Ask me about that The /,
other question l will answer later"
The aplomb with which this was said. |
mixed as it was with feminine al |
lurement of more than ordinary subtle |
ty. made Mr.. Sutherland frown and |
Dr. Talbot look perpleXed. but it did !!
not embarrass Mr.. Courtney. who made |
haste to respond in his driest accents.
Very well. | am not particular as to !
what you answer first A flower worn
by you at the dance was found near
Batsy's skirts before she was lifted up
that morning. Can you explain this.
CT. rather. will your !
You are not obliged to. you know"
put in Mr.. Sutherland. with his inexo-
rable sense of Justice ''Still. if you
would. it might rob these gentlemen Of
you certainly cannot wish
them to entertain"
"What l say" she remarked slowly,
twill be as true to the facts az II
stood here on my oath. / can explain
how a flower from my hair came to be
In Mrs. Webb's house. but not how it
came to be found under Batsy's feet.
That some one else must clear up"
Her little finger. lifted from the rail,
pointed toward Frederick, but no one
saw t1lis unless it was that gentleman
himself. 81 wore this orchid In my
hair that night, and there would be
nothing strange in its being afterward
picked up in Mrs. Webb's house, be-
,ause 1 was in that house at or near
he time she was murdered"
You in that house?"
Yes, as far as the ground floor; no
Here the little finger stopped
pointing. II am ready TO tell you
lbout it. sirs, and only regret l have
delayed doing so so long. but wished
o be sure it was necessary. Your
presence here and your first question
how that IL is