Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-09-05
CHAPTER NiIi.
Philip Grayson's VIII.

laid In the vault OF Greenwood Gene
terry, long since prepared for the Gray
sons, and with IL had been. apparently.
mysterious blow that had stricken 10
death the new-mads bridegroom.
The verdict at the ~coroner's INQUEST
had been "Murder-by some person
unknown" And. like so many mystic
rious murders. the affair seemed likely
to remain a mystery until the day when
all secrets shall be revealed. The ex-
element gradually died away. and. ex-
cept by the family and immediate
friends, was soon forgotten.
Mrs. Martin was, indeed, as anxious
as ever-if possible. more soto fix the
guilt OH Shirley Austin. and, through
him, to implicate Clarice; but Detect
I've Hantlin was quietly, but obstinate
ly and persistently following ZIP every
clue that seemed likely to lead him 70
the criminal. Blu he maintained an
absolute silence; and, as for the lady,
another subject divided. at least equal
ly, her attention. and his was the dis
position OF he property left by her
brother.
That he had made a will some years
previous TO his death, she, of course,
knew very well: but his marriage had
rendered that worthless, except as in
dicating his wishes.
"She VII have her widows third, of
course" Mrs. Martin reflected, envying
Claricsa even that piece OF coed luck.
"and, out OF slch wealth as Philips.
that alone would be q fortune for her
bit h can't be helred must be borne
as well as possible. / am lucky to get
off so we'll. Robert and myself are the
only heirs to the rest, and we will be
rich-rich! Oh, what JOY, after the life
of psnching and patching and manag-
ing tSfat | have led! Thank goodness,
1t will be all settled soon, and / suppose
it is as well to hear the will read, use-
less though it Is now
And Kate Martin consulted tie law
yer's letter in her hands In which Mr..
Baldwin had hidden her to the reading
OF Philip Grayson's will, which was to
take place at his late residence.
To-day at IL o'clock. and 1t IS now
o." she said. looking at her watch. II
will so alone. Robert has received a
similar summons, but i will meet him
there. AS to the girls. / will not take
them. What would be the use, poor
things? Only to disappoint them in
case they ere not namSd in the will.
Besides-bless their pretty faces!-they
will have plenty from me now. and no
longer shall they have TO wear out their
bright eyes making over old gowns
that are filter for the rug bag than for
two young and charming girlsi"
Her face was quite winning and wo-
manlike while these thoughts of her
daughters passed through her mind;
and with that pleasant look on it. Mrs.
Martin hurried away to give orders for
the day to the Observation-Disclosures. and.
afterward. TO prepare herself for the
visit to Mrs. Grayson's.
When she reappeared, the bereaved
sister was arrayed in heavy mourning:
but a liberal supply of jet trimmings
glinting and glittering here n there.
reviewed the somber effect OF paramat-
ia and Grape. AMI Kate Martin knew
that she mad seldom in her life looked
more elegant or attractive.
Her thoughts were full of Philip, and
she felt that she had never SO dearly
loved him. Was he not the occasion of
that rich and becoming garb, and was
she not TO inherit nearly a quarter of a
million-perhaps more--in consequence
Oh his uRdtn Z nut ufrTG tOutu liiA W
overflow with owe and tender appreci-
tion at such a time?
Bertha, love- she seid, kissing her
eldest daughter good bye, IT will leave
the house In your charge; you will take
good care of everything. The sick gen.
tleman is doing well. and will soon be
able TO relieve us of further charge of
him.
"Oh, no, mammal exclaimed Bertha,
coloring brightly.
She was not yet aware that their sick
guest was Shirley Austin, and her
mother had carefully concealed The fact
from her, She chose for the present to
keep tina circumstance a secret from
all except herself and Detective Hant-
lin, and she was SO occupied with that
thought as 70 leave unncticed Bertha'a
agitation and the vivid blush that
turned the girls fresh young face into
the color of a rose.
II mtan.' continued the daughter, in
corfusion-"of course the gentleman is
better-much better. But Ii will be a
long while, mamma dear, before he will
be well enough TO leave u.s.
THAT remains to be seen. However.
take care of him for the present. He's
getting on marvellously well. and hat
Naylor is quite wonderful as a nurse.
The doctor wilt BE- here this morning.
too she added. But there. i must be
off. Bertha, or i shall be late"
And Mrs. Martin hurried away.
A carriage--the best the livery stable
could furnish-was waiting for her, and
as she settled herself into IL and felt
herself driven rapidly away. her mind
was divided between q sense of luxury
n conjecture as 10 the former ae-
quaintance between Shirley Austin and
his physician, DIR. Bethune.
Sac had reached no satisfactory con-
clusion on the subject when she arrived
at her destination. The door was open,
ed by Susan. her special favorite
among the ~servants of the house, and
she was at once shown into the recep-
fion room; but on tie way h con-
trived to ask q question or two:
How Rave things been going, Susan.
since the funeral?"
tfweil ma'am, the missus do seem TO
bear up com wen, an she's very
quiet. The French maid Is more i'm
rnrtnnt than ever. an she do be With