The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-09-19


lied"
Lied? So upon the impulse OF the
moment ], too, believed. But the
fame OF a woman is sacred. DIR. Prod-
mar. and this morning I went into
that room. Upon the wall In the
rear. little out OF line from the
window TO the chair, In which. II In
said. the man who was shot had been
sitting. was n bullet murk. On the
jagged edges OF the hole In the plas-
ter were n few hairs and traces OF
blood Holbin unfolded little pack
age upon the table rs he spoke. "Place
these under a microscope and verify
my statement" Agnin the doctor
was silent; but the look he gave his
visitor was 30 passionately threaten
ing that Holbin paused.
60 on!" again the command was
little more than a whisper.
There Is but one thing more: upon
the table ] found this cigar, laid aside
without having been lit"
Have you finished? 2" Holbin looked
up. uneasy and surprised.
ayes
Now what would you have Of me?"
81 wish you TO find out for me the
name OF the man who was in that
room"
81 will get you his name upon one
condition"
And that is?"
THAT you will tell me the name
OF the woman who fred the shot"
Holbin could not. try as he might.
conceal the start these words pro.
yoked.
81 do not know of any woman in
the case" he said.
81 know that you DO"
"Dr. Brodnar."
Holbin sprang to his feet with we'll
affected rage. The doctor col inued:
Only woman's tracks marked
the soil under that window NJ dawn
the morning after that shot was fired.
When ! next saw the spot the tracks
had ncn carefully obliteratcd." Brod.
mar was still standiag and spoke RAJ.
idly. as though he feared that he
could not restrain himself. Sr,ld, My
bland smile spread over his face.
The fact is" he said. "tbe shot was
fred Mt me. Does that surprise YOU"
Holbin's face showed that Il did. 9Th.
final attack of which Mr.. Brookin
died. continued the doctor, "was mo.
mentarily expected. spent the night
sitting In the poor girls room nj her
request. to be within call. her old |
nurse asleep upon the rug. You may
believe this or not. Mr.. Holbin. but |
take my suggestion. and II you doubt |
the explanation conceal your frame i
OF mind. BY the way. lift the lid |
of the box there on my table; now
compare the cigar that you found |
with those In the box. You perceive
that they are exactly alike. ] am not
accustomed to offer proof OF my
statements, but I make an execution
In your favor. as YOU are almost n
stranger. As for the pretty theory
OF the pistol-ball carrying blood and |
hair into the plastering. ID evidently
springs from an overheated imagina- 4
tion. Blood there Is none; and. for
the hair. you will find that In all good
plaster. But to conclude the matter,
Mr.. Holbin: IL a bullet had taken n
piece Of my scalp into the wall. the
wound would not have healed within
two days, and II you will examine
my head carefully you will find that
none OF the scalp In missing" The
doctor lowered his head and moved IL
accommodatingly from side to side.
Have you any suspicion as to the
name OF the woman who fired this
shot-at you?" asked Holbin, sarcas.
tically.
"A very strong suspicion; with me
II amounts now to certainty. She
Is n woman who dwells In the Brookin
house, and the only mystery left is,
how the devil did she get up to the
Window This time Holbin's aston.
ishment was genuine.
II do not understand"
"She Is a woman whose plans might
have been defeated had the man who
was dimly seen in that room been any
other than myself. Not To bc riisun.
derstood In the matter. permit me to
explain that in my opinion the won.
an who fired that shot was your
moiher!" Holbin's first impulse was
to denounce the doctor, as a sociaI
duty, and take the chances of u per.
sonal encounter, but the value OF the
honest error into which Brodnar had
fallen flashed upon him. He affected
TO understand that the doctor was
making the statement as to himself
and Mrs. Brookin In sense not to br
taken as earnest, but to he construed
as refusal TO explain the mystery.
At this moment, when Holbin was
taking up his hat and cnne to depart.
the doctors assistant within the pri.
cate room threw the door wide omen.
and liolbin discovered u man propped
In an armchair with his head ban.
dngcd. The mans back was turned
towards the departing guest. and he
saw him but one instant. DIR. Brodnar
closed the door.
"This, SIR" said Holbn in n rage. SIS
In Infamous! | demand the name OF that
person"
ASK your mother, sir"
81 shall have satisfaction for this,
DIR. Brodnar! ! shall publish these
facts!" Brodnar looked upon him with
inexpressible contempt. Then u grim
smile came and dwelt upon his lips.
"As | understand IT," he said, you
must marry TO obtain a fortune. II
you find satisfaction In blackening the
name OF some woman, indulge yourself
rs much as you please; but II you value
your life don't venture to handle the
name Of Frances Brookin In public. II
have no objection to being shot at by
mistake while discharRInR the duiies