Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-02-20

which she had just slain Agatha Webb.
Then she stole out again and In 20
minutes more was leading the dance
again In Mr.. Sutherland's parlor."
"Well reasoned" murmured Abel.
expecting the others TO echo him. But,
though Mr.. Fenton and DR.. Talbot
looked almost convinced. they said
nothing. while Knapp. OF course. was
quiet as an oyster.
Sweetwater. with a quiet smile cal
eulated to hide his disappointment,
went on as II perfectly satisfied.
Meanwhile John awakes. sees the
dagger and thinks to end his misery
with IL. but finds Himself too feeble.
The cut I'm his vest. the dent In the
floor, prove this, but IL you call for fur
Their proof, a little fact. which some II
not all OF you seem TO have overlooked,
viii amply satisfy you that this n at
least Of my conclusions Is correct. Open
the Bible, Abel; open IL not To shake It
for what will never fall out from be-
tween its leaves, but TO find In the 81
bic itself the lines | have declared to
you he wrote as n dying legacy with
that tightly clutched pencil. Have you
found themy'
NO" was Abel's perplexed rctort.
II cannot see any sign of writing on
ly leaf or margin"
Are those the only blank places In
the sacred book? Search the leaves
devoted to the family record. Now,
what do you end thereY"
Knapp, who was losing some of his
Indifference, drew nearer and read for
himself the scrawl which now appear
cd to every eye on the dlscolored page
which Abel here turned uppermost.
almost illegible," he said. zone "a
just make out these words: Forgive
me, James-tried to use dagger-found
lying-but hand wouldn't-dying with.
out-don't grieye-t true men haven't
dlsgraced ourselyes-God bless That
is ALL"
THE effort must have overcome him."
resumed Sweetwater in q voice from
which he carefully excluded all signs
of secret triumph, "and when James
returned. as he did a few minutes lat.
er, he was evidently unable to answer
questions even il James was In a con-
dition to ask them. But the fallen dag
ger told its owl story, for James pick
cd it up and put 1t back on the table,
and 1t was ut this minute he saw, what
Johhhad not, the $40 bill lying there
with It's promise of life and comfort.
Hope rcyives. He catches up this bill,
dies down TO Lotions, procures a loaf
Of bread and comes frantically back,
gnawing it rs he runs, for his own hun.
ger is more than he cans endure. Re.
entering his brothers presence, he
rushes forward with the bread. But
the relief has ONE too late. John has
died in his absence, and James, dizzy
with the shock, reels back and sue
cumbs to his own misery. Gentlemen,
have you anything to say in contradic-
ton Of these various suppositionsy"
For u moment DR.. Talbot. Mr.. Fen.
ton and even Knapp stood silent; then
the latter said, with ~pardonable dry
ness:
"All this Is ingenious; but, unfortu-
natcly, it Is upset by a little fact which
you yourself have overlooked. Have
you examined attentiycly the dagger of
which you have so often spoken, Mr..
Sweetwateri"
Not rs | would like to, but ! noticed
it had blood OH its edge and was of the
shape and size necessary to intict the
wound from which Mrs. Webb died.
Very good, but there Is something
else of interest to be observed on II,
Fetch it. Abel"
Abel, hurrying from the room, soon
brought back the weapon in question.
Sweetwater, with a vague sense Of dis.
appointment disturbing him, took II
eagerly and studied il very closely.
But he only shook his head.
Bring it nearer to the light" sug.
gested Knapp, land examine the little
scroll neal The top of the handle"
Sweetwater did SO ard at once chang.
ed color. In the midst of the scroll
were two very small but yet perfectly
distinct letters. They were u. z"
How did Amabel Page come by a
dagger marked with the label mi
tialsT' questioned Knapp. do you
think her foresight went so far as to
provide herself with a dagger ostensi'
| lIr haInnnfnn fa ntnn of thaSn hrathnro.
And then have you forgotten that when
Mr.. Crane met the old man at Mrs
Webb's gateway he saw in his hand
something that g%listened? Now, what
was that IL not this daggerf"
Sweetwater was more disturbed than
he cared to acknowledge.
THAT just shows my lack Of expert.
ence," he grumbled. Il thought | had
turned this subject SO thoroughly over
in my mind that no one could bring an
objection against it."
Knapp shook his head and smiled
Young enthusiasts like yourself are
great ut forming theories which wei
seasoned men like myself must regard
as fantastical. However" he went on
there is no doubt that Miss Page was
q witness to, even II she has not profit
ed by. the murder we have been consid
ering. But with this palpable proof Of
the labels direct connection with thu
affair | would not recommend her ar
rest as yet"
"Sbe should be under surveillance
though" intlmated the coroner.
Most certainly" acquiesced Knapp.
AS for Sweetwater, he remained 81
lent till the opportunity came for hin
to whisper apart to DIR. Talbot, wher
he said:
For all the palpable proof Of which
} Mr.. kuaDp speaks-tle i. r. on tn,