Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-08-15

for an instant her eyes were lighted up
| with 6 CLEAN OF joy.
| Philip Grayson dead! Then she was
free, and Shirley Austin had not re-
turned in vain.
Her heart throbbed wildly, the blood
rushed to her BRAIN, and, dizzy from
the strange feeling that overcame her
she caught at the nearest chair for
support. and almost fell into 1t.
| Then came a reaction. She grew liv-
id with a horrible foreboding; chill
terror struck to her very heart till She
shuddered and shook as if in ague.
A suspicion that had not yet oc-
CURED to any one there, almost froze
the life-blood in her veins. If Philip
Grayson was murdered. who had done
the deed? Who was the murderer?
Who so likely to have killed the mar,
she had married as that other man who
loved her. and from whom base riva,
had stolen her with wicked lies and
false reports of death?
My husband dead?" she murmured,
brollenly. "Dead-so sudden. so UNI
thought of! 1 can scarcely believe 1t.
Who says he has been murdered?"
There is no room for doubt, dear
madam" DR.. Sprague here interposed.
For Detective Hantlin had produced
the effect he had intended, and was
now studying it. He left the task of
answering Mrs Grayson's further ques-
tions to whoever chose to undertake it,
while his gaze took in every detail of
| her appearance and everyvarying ex-
preston of her lovely countenance.
| I'VE have desired to spare you, as far
as possible, the horror of this fearful
tragedy, Mrs. Grayson. But of the fact
| there is no possible doubt. I have
myself seen and examined the body,
and the case is one of foul and cruel
murder"
who has done it?" Clarice gasped, in
dying voice. you cannot-surely,
you don't suspect"
Eyes, darling. they suspect you!" here
broke in Mrs. Mowbray. embracing her,
as though to protect her from all the
world.
Then, turning suddenly, on those
present, the excited mother added,
fercely and defiantly:
Though how any of you can be fool
enough to suspect my darling child,
| passes my comprehension. An idiot
might see that she is too innocent,
Her face shows it plain enough. But
lawyers and police and detectives. and
all the rest of you. suppose you'd sus-
| pect the angels in heaven! Look at
my daughter-look at her hands-her
dress! A baby just born is not more
innocent. Could that delicate hand
deal the blow that killed Philip Gray
son? Don't you see that she is still in
her wedding dress-the dress she wore
home from the church? Look at that
sweeping train, and be ashamed Of
yourselves-one and all! No sign of
blood on it-not a speck-not a stain!
With that dress on, she couldn't have
gone within three yards of the muir
dered man without showing the proof
of it,"
Mrs. Mowbrav's words, disconnected
and rambling, caused depressed smiles
among many of her hearers. But her
argument, though somewhat incoher-
ent, produced an unmistakable effect.
If any one present had really sus-
pected Clarice, one glance at her white
and spotless robe, her stainless hands,
must have turned aside the suspicion
as too absurd to be entertained.
The effect of her mothers words up
OIL SldIlCe udtl UGCu lIldI VI uII0I
amazement at first, then, almost of re-
lief. They suspected her! All. how
much less terrible that was than to
suspect Shirley!
She even smiled slightly as she an
swered Mrs. Mowbray.
mo one suspects me, dear mother.
1t would be utterly foolish"
You are quite right, madam" SAID
Detective Hantlin, once more consti-
tuting himself chief speaker Of the oc-
| casion.
He had been intently watching Clar.
| ice. If his suspicion shad at first
pointed towards her, they were now
somewhat turned aside. He was now
more inclined to think that she either
guessed or positively knew who the
murderer was, and he was determined
that in some way she should betray
her knowledge or suspicious. Some one
else either knew or suspected, too
And his sharp eyes had been keenly
observant from the first of the French
maid, Leonce.
Did these two women suspect the
same person, or did they really know
who the murderer was? Were they
endeavoring to screen the murderer, or
were they screening each other?
1t promised to be a delightfully-ih,
teresting case, and the detective felt his
blood boil pleasantly in his veins at the
prospect Of working it out. This and
much else passed through his mind,
while he spoke in the coolest quietest,
but most polite tones, to Mrs. Grayson.
mo one can for a moment suspect
you, Mrs. Grayson. We believe you to
be as eager to clear up this horrible
mystery as any of us. What do 1 say?
More eager, Of course! For to you it is
most terrible. Therefore, we intrude
upon you, not to insult your sorrow
with groundless suspicious, but to beg
your aid in carrying on the investiga-
tion.'
''She will tell us all that she knows
she will answer all questions!" Mrs.
Mowbray burst out.
And Clarice felt grateful for the out
burst--it gave her time to place herself
on guard.
what information can I give you
sir?" she asked, coldly.
when did you see Mr.. Grayson TO.
the last time?" the detective asked
easily.