Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-08-01

Whether there had been angry words
between her and my brother 1 canno'
tell. not having yet made any inquiries
on that subject.
"on being denied access to Mrs
Grayson. / ordered the servant TO sho"
me to my brothers room. the gar
was at first afraid TO take the spoons
bility OF disturbing her master, but OF
being assured that ] would pear the
blame If he was angry, she at length
accompanied me.
And this"-Mrs. Martin spread out
both hands with a gesture or horror
and d~espair-"this. DR.. Sprague. was
the sight that met my eyes! on, pray
excuse me, sir. but ! cannot maintain
my Composure when I think OF IT. ana
see him there, lying dead. murdered
before me-my kind. generous brother
always so good and thoughtful for eE-
cry one"
A shudder ~convulsed the woman as
she concluded, and tears dimmed ner
cold. bright blue eyes. .
DR.. Sprague, although somewhat I'M
patient of the long-winded recital 10
which he had listened, and partly
aware that much Of it was elaborated
for his benefit, was. nevertheless,
touched by the dramatic style Of Its
delivery. and more still by the tokens
of grief with which Mrs. Martin had
broken down at the end OF II.
He spoke soothingly and kindly to
the lady, who. in the presence of gen
tlemen. retained her old-time art OF
pleasing, and then he said:
ITO me this dreadful affair seems TO
be wrapped in mystery. But one thing
seems pretty Certain-the crime could
not have been perpetrated long before
the time when you discovered II. The
murderer may not have left the house.
My advice would be. madam-if you
will allow me to give ii unasked-that
you will lock this door. and give up the
key only to the detective who will be
put in charge of the case. In the mean
time Mr.. Grayson's legal adviser should
be sent for Immediately, In order that
he may te here when the police arrive.
Mr.. Grayson's desk. safe, private pa
pers-in fact. everything in the room
should be sealed for the present, and
the proper person to do this is the law-
yer"
"Oh thank you-thank you, doctor!
You are so kind and so thoughtful to
think Of everything for me. Forum
ately. I know where my brothers law
| yer-Mr. Baldwin-is most likely to be
| found. His office is only in the next
| street. and he can be here in five min
utes. 1 will give orders that a mes
sage be carried TO him Immediately"
DR.. Sprague was already in the act
OF leaving the room while he spoke,
on6 Mrs Martin accom- named him into
the hall where, in his presence, she
locked the door, removed the key. and
then tried the door. showing that 1t
was securely fastened.
The key she held fast clutched in her
hand, and then, accompanied by Dr.
Sprague, she moved slowly a little way
down the hall toward the stairway, but
both remained where their eyes could
rest on the closed door which shut in
the dread sight of murdered Philip
Grayson.
There was now no difficulty in OBJ
tanning the attention of the servants,
for every domestic in the house was
c~ongregated either on the stairs or in
the hallway below.
Mrs. Martin quickly gave her order.
and the Swiss valet. Carl, who had
been the first to think of DR.. Sprague,
FASTENED ava in search of the lawyer.
The gentleman to whom Mrs. Martin
had intrusted the task of notifying the
police had already gone personally to
obey her behest, having first dismissed
the company, the greater part Of whom
went gladly as soon as they had re-
covered from the shock OK such a
CHASTITY and unusual interruption to a
wedding party.
A singular and almost appalling ST.
lence now succeeded the previous hub
bud Of excitement, while all waited
b%reathlessly for the arrival of the law
yer and the police before any effort
could be made to penetrate the mystery
Of the murder.
Occasionally a hushed whisper could
be heard among the servants, but as
the sound startled even those who
made 1t, all efforts at speech OF any
kind soon ceased, and the silence grew
more gloomy and tomblike.
Suddenly II was broken by the shrill
n terrified voice Of a woman. and
Mrs. Mowbray, wild with terror,
pushed past the servants at the foot Of
the stairs, and, despite their efforts to
restrain her, rushed up the steps to the
landing above.
She was closely followed by Brian
Mowbray. her husband, who was also
agitated, hut calm in comparison with
his excited wife.
They had only arrived, having gone
home first, after witnessing the we'd
ding ceremony, because Mrs. Mowbray
insisted on seeing that her daughters
various trunks and other belongings
were properly sent off TO her new home.
She had been distracted with grief
that the wedding breakfast could not
have been eaten at the brides home,
but determined that everything else
should go right: and now the news had
met her from the crowd outside the
Grayson mansion, who were telling va
rious versions of the recent tragedy
within, seemed to have almost turned
her brain.
Brian Mowbray, better able to control
his agitation than his delicate wife, was
using all his influence to prevent her
from making a scene: but IL was too
late. The poor woman, temporarily
crazed with fright. had burst all bonds
of restraint. and was far beyond tina
reach OF quieting words.