Fergus County argus., 1901-02-06
ICoNTINUEp.l
CHAPTER Y.
,,,,, VIM, r,,p ,oro pr,pn

Meanwhile In n small room of the
courthouse n still more serious con.
Versation was in progress Dr. Talbot,
Mr.. Fenton and a ccrtaln able lawyer
in town by the name of Harvey were
in close discussion. The latter bad
broken the silence Of years aud was
telling what he knew Of Mrs. Webb'5
affairs.
He was shrewd man Of unhlcm-
ished reputation When called upon 10
talk. be talked WE'LL but hr much pre-
ferrcd listening. and was. as now gp-
pearcd the safest repository of secrets
to be found in all that region. lie had
been married three times and could
still count l3 children around bis
board. one reason perhaps why he had
learned to cultivate silence to such a
degree. Happily the time had come
for him to talk, and he talked. This Is
what hc said:
"Some II years ago Philemon Webb
came 10 me with a small sum of money
which he said he wished TO have me
invest for his wife. Ii was the fruit
of n small speculation Of his, aad he
wanted II given uncnudtiuually To her
without her knowledge or that IL the
ncshbors. accordingly made out
decd OF gift which he signed with
joyful alaerlty. and then. after due
thought and careful Investigation. |
put the money into a new enterprise
then being started IN Boston II was
tac best stroke ~ business | ever did
IN my lie. " the end of year il paid
double. and after nyr years had rolled
away the Accumulated interest had
reached such a sum that both Phle.
mon and myself thought Il wiscst 10
let her know what she was worth
and what was boip. done with the
money. was In hopes il would lead
her 10 make some chang" ln Ecr mode
Of living. which seemed 10 Mc out of
keeping with her appearance ard men.
tai qualifications while be. imagine,
looked for something more important
still. a smile On Tie face which had
somehow lost tie trick II mcrriment.
though il Lad neTe. acquired THAR T.!
III EutUic. EH wc did mot know
Agatha, ut least | did not
"Mhpu she laa.uC that Sic was rich.
she looked ~ Erst awe struck aud then
heart pierced. Fcr4oiting mr, or !-npt.
ing me. il makes Lo matter which, She
threw herself j8,o phllrmpu', arms and
wcpt. while le. poor faithful follow.
4 fE. Ia. 4
brought news NJ a failure Instead Of tri.
umphant success. | supp93cslr thought
of her buried clildrrH and w,at tie
money would have hrru 10 her IL they
had lived; but size did not sp,ak ot
thcm. nor am quite surc they were I"
her thoughts when, after the lirst cX
cltemcut was over, she drew lack aud
said quietly, hut In a tDue of stron.
feeling to Philemon: Yuu meant me- q
happy surprise, and II shall hc So, Phil
cmOr. This IL heart money We Will
use IL 10 make our lOwnsrolk happy
saw him glance at her dress, which
was a purple calico. | remember 1t he
cause or tlat look and because Of ia,
sad smile with which she followed hi,
glaticc. Can we not afford now d,
venturCd, n little show of luxury. OF
Mt least Il ribbon or SO for this bcauti
full throat OF yoursT She did not an
swcr him. but her look had a rare com
passion In IL. a compassion, strange I,
say. that seemed 10 be expended upoI
him rather than upon herself. Phle
mon swallowed his disappointment
Agatha Is right he said 10 me. we dt
not need luxury. | do not know how
so far forgot myself as TO mention II.
That was ten years ago. and every da!
since then her property has Increased
did not know then. and do not know
now. why they were hoth so anxious
that all knowledge OF their good for
tune should he kept from those abou
them. but that IL was to be SO kept wa
made very evident TO me, aud, not
withstanding all temptations to th
contrary. | have refrained from utter
Ing a word likely to give away thei
secret. The mu'lcy, which to all an
pearance was the cause Of her tragi
and unlimcly death. was interest mon
ey which | was delegated to deliver /
her. ! took it TO her day before yes
terday. aud il was all In crisp, ncy
notes. SONG Of them twenticS. bat mas
OF them tens and llvcs. am free I
say there was not such another roll U
fresh money In town"
"Warn all shopkecpcrs to Keep
lookout Of the money they receive.
was DR.. Tnlbot's comment to the COZ
stable. "Fresh $40 and 500 bills ~
not any TOO common In this tow
And now about her will Did yo
draw that up, IIarycyT"
mo. ] did not know she had mad
one. | often spoke 10 her about III
adyisablIty Of her doing so. hut sl
always put mo off. And now II seen
that she had II drawn up in Bostor
Could not trust her old friend vii
too many secrets. suppose"
$50 you don't know how her none
has been left"
"No more than you DO"
Here an interruption occurred. II
door opened, and slim young ma
wearing sprctacles came In. At sigl
of him they all rose.
"WellT' eagerly inquired Dr. TIA
bot.
Nothing new" answered the your
man. with consequential air. "Tl
elder woman died from loss of bio,
consequent upon blow given 10y
small, three sided, slender blade; Il
younger from n stroke Of apoplexy /
duced by fright"
Good. i am glad TO hear my /
efincfs Npnrn NOT M fnrIA -.