Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-01-16

II lookS IKE IL. wat know that
his wife allowed him such privileges.
But she was always too good TO him
and fear has paid for 1t with her
life"
Nonsense! He never killed her.
Had his love been anything short Of
the worship It was. he stood in too
much OF her to lift his hand
against her, even In his most demented
moments"
Il don't trust men OF uncertain WITS"
returned the other. "You have not no.
ticed everything that Is to be seen In
this ROOM
Mr.. Sutherland, recalled to his duty
by these words, looked quickly about
him. With the exception Of the table
and what was on and by il there was
nothing else in the room. Naturally
his glance returned to Philemon Webb.
Il don't see anything but this poor
sleeping man." he began.
Look at his sleeve"
Mr.. Sutherland, with n start, again
bent down. The arm Of his old friend
lay crooked upon the table, and on It's
blue cotton sleeve there was a smear
which might have been wine but which
~was-blgod.
AS Mr., Sutherland became assured Of
this, he turned slightly pale and looked
lnqulringly at the two men who We're
lutcntly watching him.
'"This Is bad" said he. ANY other
marks Of blood below stairsT'
"No. That one smear is ALL
"Oh, Philemon burst from Mr..
Sutherland In deep emotion. Then as
he looked long and shudderingly at his
friend lie added slowly:
"LIe has been in the room where she
was killed, so much is evident. But
that he understood what was done
there ! cannot believe or he would not
he sleeping here like a log. Come, let
us 20 upstairs"
Fenton, with an admonitory gesture
toward his subordinate, turned directly
toward the staircase. Mr.. Sutherland
followed him, and they at once pro-
ceedcd to the upper hall and into the
large front room, which had been the
scene of the tragedy.
II was the parlor or sitting room Of
this small and unpretcntiouS house. 4
rag carpet covered the floor. and the
furniture was OF the plainest kind. but
the woman who lay outstretched on the
stlf old fashioned lounge opposite the
door was far from being in accord with
the Eomely type Of her Surroundings.
Though the victim of n violent death.
her face and form. both Of a beauty
seldom TO lee found among women OF
any station, were so ma icstic in their
calm rrpose that Mr.. Sutherland, rs.
cust0mcd as he was to her noble ap-
pCarancc, experienced a shock of sur
prise that found vent IN these words:
Murdered, She? You have made
some mistake, my friends. Look at
her face"
But even in the net Of saying this his
eyes fell on the blood which had dyed
her cotton dress. and he cried:
where was she struck and where is
the weapon which made this ghastly
woundy'
"Shc was struck while standing OF
sitting at this table" returned the con.
stable, pointing TO two or three drops
Of blood on It's smooth surface. 1.-THE
weapon we have not found, but tie
wound shows that it was inflicted by O
three sided dagger"
~ three sided dagger?"
eyes"
81 didn't know there was such 9
thing In town. Philemon could have
had no dagger"
at does not seem so. but one car
eve tell. Simple cottages like these
often contain the most unlocked for ar
ticles."
Mr.. Sutherland thought Of what THU
cottage did contain and scrutinized tn,
constable closely. But the latter show.
ed no discomposure.
Il cannot imagine a dagger being
among its effects" lie pursued. "Where
was the body of Mrs. Webb lying when
you came ing'
where you see 1t now. Nothing has
been moved or changed"
"She was found here, on this lounge,
in the same position in which we see
her nowf"
Yes, sir"
"But that ia incredible. Look at the
way she lies. Hands crossed. eyes
closed, as though made ready for her
burial. only loving hands could have
done this. What does it neanf'
lit means Philemon; that is what il
means, Philemon"
Mr.. Sutherland shuddered, but said
nothing. lie was dumfounded by these
evidences Of n carry mans work
Philemon Webb always seemed &C
harmless, though lie had been failing
in mind for the last ten years.
But" cried Mr.. Sutherland suddenly
rousing, there is another victim.
saw cid woman Batsy hanging from 1
window ledge, dead
'Ycs: she is In this other room; bu
there is no wound on Batsy."
GLOW was she killed. then?'
"That the doctors must tell u.s."
Mr.. Sutherland, guided by Mr.. Fen
tons gesture. entered a small room
opening into the one IN which the.
stood. His attention vas at once a,
tracted by the body Of the woman h
had seen from below, lying half in an'
half out Of the open window. That sh'
was dead was evident; but, as MI
Fent0n had said, 10 wound was TO b.
seen upon her, nor were there an.
marks of blood oISor about the plac