The Atlanta constitution., 1901-02-11

| of General Burnley was a distinct dis
| appointment to the reporters and to the
public None of the expected sensational
revelations were forthcoming: and, after
a quantity of dull technical evidence. the
verdict was given that "the deceased had
met his death at the hands Of some per-
son or persons unknown"
The theft of tho Boojum and its sup
posed connection with tho affair was not
even mentioned, much to the relief of
Norah. who did not wish her sale OF 1t
to the general to be made public. She
knew well the trouble she might look for
with her mother. had such disclosure got
into the papers.
All that Game out at the inquest was
that Mrs. Lazenby and the workhouse
servant had retired as usual at nine
o'clock. leaving their master pottering
about his collection. They heard no shot.
and knew nothing of the crime until they
found the general dead in the morning.
The medical evidence showed that the
murdered man must have been standing
in the middle of the room with his face
toward the window. and that the assassin
outside must have had ample time to take
good aim. The poor old man had been
shot through the heart So there was no
doubt that the crime was premeditated
and deliberate. 1t was also presumed
that the murderer entered the room by
passing his hand through the broken win
dow ard turning the handle which closed
1t. But nothing was proved as to the
truth Of all this. Nor-as has been said
before-was there any mention made or
the criminals object in entering the room.
Teddy, Dyke and Maker knew well
enough what II was. since the idol ap-
peared, according to the housekeeper. to
be the only thing missing. But this evil
q "a n Z
not Forthcoming, and the jury knew moth
Ing of 1t. Neither did the reporters nor
the public Therefore that aspect of the
case remained, as the inspector had
wished, untouched upon: with the result
that general opinion voted the whole al
fair fiat stale and unprofitable
Both at the inquest and at the funeral
General Burnley's relatives were present
in great force Like many vultures
they swooped down, hungry for what
pickings they could get out of the estate.
But when the will itself came to be read,
the anger of one and all knew no bounds
The crazy old soldier had left his money
In trust for a museum to be bullt ana
endowed at Oldport; the nucleus OF the
collection to be the curlos whlch ne niiii7 ~
self had collected, and which he lett 10
the trustees. The whole of his large for-
tune was to be applied to TINS purpose
not one penny was left to his many heeuy
relatives. On the llllJlbllNe pl dt L.N "
the most well-to-do or these the will was
disputed on the ground that the genera
had been of unsound mind when he made
II, with the result only, 10 theh' oA
large expenditure in law costs.
When all was over and the general Is
body had been buried in Oldport ceIne-
terry. Teddy went up to town with Maker
on the wild. goose erase OF looklns, I4a ta
GaskelPs advertisement. and both he ana
Norah were fast losing heart. But ItuIy
comforted them by announcing that he
and Maker Intended together TO follow
up the clew of the Fairy
When after many earnest "farewells
and good wishes the valiant Teddy had
taken his departure, there came came ,h iqil
ing was said. and Teddy remained absent
for two weeks.
Nevertheless that period was not wholly
uneventful at Trafalgar VIVA. for one
thing Mrs. Wharton had managed 10
learn that Norah had sold the idol, ana
pounced down on her at once to get the
money. 40,
cried the fiery little woman. You know
well enough how poor we are. In three
days have TO pay seventy-flve pounds TO
Eli Marks and l have only ten IN haiHi-
How much did you sell IL forF
Forty pounds"
"Goodi That will make fifty. No doubt
he will agree TO wait for the rest. | do
call II right down brutal of you, Norah, to
have hidden this money, when you knew
what straits L was in. Why did you
sell lt?' ,
"I sold II for Philips sake" The girl
saw that she would gain nothing now by
concealing the truth.
Mrs Wharton's eyes flashed. and her her
voice became shrlll with anger. philip!
You would give money to that wretcn
and see your mother in poverty. Wen -
she gasped and glared-"this beats all
You wicked girl, How-how dare you?
Some one must help Philip" said NO
rah. bitterly. "even II his own mother
casts him off"
"Did I cast him Off until he had broken
nv heart, snapped every bond of anec-
tiOn? He took every penny he could get
from me How often have I lifted him
out of the mud only for him TO fan back
again? Give him money and you are his
worst enemy"
''I believe that, mother. But Philip
said he was going to America to start
afresh, and | sold the idol to get him
money for his passage. DO you think L
would have parted. for any other pur-
nose with poor I.eonard's last Stft?
The widow softened somewhat. MY
dear. I daresay you acted for the best;
but your sacrifice would have been vain
PhiIiD will never reform-never! am
thankful he did not get the money. ana
49, q. will pO tO nav Marks ana Keen