Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-02-13

ran hurriediy through IFS leaves, then
turned il and shook II Oye the table.
Nothing fell out; tie bills must be
looked for elsewhere.
"The furniture Is scanty." Abel OBJ
served, with an inquiring glance about
him.
"Very, very scanty," assented the
constable, still with that biting re-
morse Mt his heart. "There Is nothing
In this cupboard" remarked the de-
t~ective, swinging open a door In the
wall, 'but n set Of old china more or
less nicked."
Abel started. An old recollection had
come up: some months ago he had
been present when James had tried to
sell this set. They were all In War
ner's store. and james Zabel-he could
see his easy attitude yet and hear the
Oifhand tones with which he tried to
carry the thing on-had said. quite as
II lie had never thought Of 1t before,
by the 10y. | have n SGT Of china that
came ovcr in the Maynower. John
likes II, but It's grown TO be an eyesore
20 me, and II any of you hear of any
one wanting such n thing send him mp
TO the cottage. will let the old thing
go for n song" Nobody answered, and
James had soon disappeared. Ii was
the last time, Abel remembered. that
he had been seen about town.
81 can't stand IT," cried the lad. 81
can't stand 1t. If they died of hunger
! must know 1t. | am going TO take n
look Mt their larder." And before any
one could stop him he dashed to the
rear Of the house.
The constable would have liked to
have followed him, but he looked about
the walls of the room instead. John
and James had been fond of pictures
and had once INDUCED their fancy to
the verge of extravaganza, but there
were no pictures on the walls now,
nor was there so much as a candle
stick on the empty and dust covered
mantcl. Only on a bracket in one cor
Ler there was a worthless trinket made
out of cloves and beads which had
doubtless been given them by some
country damsel In their young bachelor
days. But nothing Of any value any
where, and Mr.. Fcnton felt that he
now knew why they had made so
many visits to Boston ut one time and
why they always returned with a
thinner yalise than they took away.
He was still dwelling on the thought
Of the depth Of misery to which highly
respected folk can sink without the
knowledge Of the nearest neighbors,
when Abel came back looking greatly
troubled.
"lt's the saddest thing | ever heard
of" said be. "These men must have
been driven wild by misery. This
room Is sumptuous In comparison to
the ones at the back; and as for the
pantry, there Is not even a scrap there
a mouse could cat. ! struck a match
and glanced into the -four barrel. Ii
looked as If it had been licked. | de-
clare II makes q fellow sick"
The constable with a shudder with
drew toward the door.
The atmosphere here Is sitting"
said he. II must have a breath Of
outdoor air"
But he was not destined to any such
immediate relief. AS be moved down
the hall the form Of q man darkened
the doorway and he heard an anxious
voice eXclaim:
"Ah, Mr.. Fcnton, is that you? | have
been looking for you everywhere"
1t w1s SwcVtwater, the young mar
who had previously shown so much
anxiety 10 be Of service TO the coroner.
Mr.. Fcuton looked displeased.
"And how come you TO find me
herei" he asked.
"Ob. some filen saw you take this
road, and ! guessed the rest"
"oh. alb. very good. And what dc
you want, SwCetwater?"
Tie young man, who was glowing
with pride and all alive with an en-
thusiasm which he had kept suppress,
cd for hours, slipped up to the con
stable and whispered in his ear: II
have made Q discovery, sir. | know
you will Gus the presumption, but
| couldn't bring myself to keep quiet
and follow in that other fellows wake.
| had to make Investigations on my
own account, and-and"-stammering
in his eagerness-"they have been sue
cessful, sir. / have found out who
was the murderer OF Agatha Webb"
The constable, compassionating the
disappointment in store for him, shook
| his head with a solemn look toward
the room from which he had just
emerged. "You are late, Sweetwater,'
said he. I'VE have found him out our
selves, and lie lies inside there, dead
1t was dark In this narrow passage
way and Sweetwatcr's back was tC
tie moonlight, so that the blank lool
that must have crossed his face at this
announcement was lost upon the con
stable. But his CONSERVATION was cvl
dent from Tie way he thrust out eItnel
hand TO steady himself against thu
walls, and Mr.. Fcuton was not at al
surprised To hear him stammcr out:
dead. He! Who do you mean by
he, Mr.. Fcnton?"
"The man in whose house we now
are" returned the other. rs there AM
one else who can be suspected of this
crlme:"
Swcetwater gave a gulp that seemet
10 restore him 10 himself.
"Therc are two men living here, boil
very good men, | thought. Which o
them do you mean, ana why do yol
think that either John or James Zabe
could have killed Agatha Webb!'
For reply, Mr.. Fonton drew him TO
ward the room In which such n grea