El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-16

the ones at the back; and as for the
pantry. there is not even scrap there
a mouse could eat l struck a match
and glanced into the -four barrel. 1t
looked as If it had been licked l de-
clare it makes a fellow sick"
The constable with a shudder with
drew toward the door.
"The atmosphere here is sitting"
said he. Il must have a breath Of
outdoor air."
But he was not destined to any such
Immediate relief. AS he moved down
the hall the form of a man darkened
the doorway and he heard an anxious
| voice exciaim:
"Ah Mr. Fenton. Is that you? 1 have
been looking for you everywhere"
1t was Sweetwater. the young man
| who had previously shown so much
anxiety to'be of service to the coroner.
Mr.. Fenton looked displeased.
"And how come you to find me
hereT' he asked.
"Oh. some men saw you take this
road, and I guessed the rest"
"Oh. ali. very good. And what do
you want. SweetwaterT
The young man. who was glowing
with pride and all alive with an en-
thusiasm which he had kept suppress
ed for hours. slipped up to the con
stable and whispered in his ear: Il
have made n discovery, sir. 1 know
you, will excuse the presumption, but
; couldn't bring myself to keep quiet
! and follow in that other fellows wake.
1 had to make Investigations on my
own account, and-and'-stammeri
in lic m oornocS-ssfbar have haon Src-
cessful, sir. l 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 towart
the room from which he had just
emerged. "You are late, Sweetwater,"
said he. 1--WE have found him out our
selves, and he lies inside there, dead"
1t was dark in this narrow passage
way and Sweetwater's back was to
the moonlight, SO that the blank look
that must have crossed his face at this
announcement was lost upon the con-
stable. But his CONSERVATION was evil
dent from the way he thrust out either
hand to steady himself against the
walls, and Mr.. Fenton was not at all
surprised to hear him stammer out:
''Deadi Hei Who do you mean by
he, Mr.. Fenton?'
1.-THE man in whose house we now
are" returned the other. us there any
one else who can be suspected of this
crime"
Sweetwater gave a gulp that seemed
to restore him to himself.
There are two men living here, both
very good men. I thought Which of
them do you mean, and why do you
think that either John or James label
could have killed Agatha WebbY'
For reply, Mr.. Fenton drew him to-
ward the room in which such a great
heart tragedy had taken place.
Look" said he, land see what can
happen in a Christian land, In the
midst of Christian people living not 80
rods away. These men are dead,
Sweetwater, dead from hunger. The
loaf Of bread you see there came too
late. 1t was bought with a $40 bill.
taken from Agatha Webb's cupboard
drawer"
Sweetwater, to whom the whole
scene seemed like some horrible night
mare. stared at the figure Of James
lying on the floor. and then at the
figure Of John seated at the table, as IL
his mind had failed to take in the con-
stables words
"Dead?' he murmured. "DeadI John
and James label What will happen
next? Is the town under a cursor
And he fell on his knees before the
PROSTATE form Of James. only to start
up again as he saw the eyes Of Knapp
resting on him.
"Ah," he muttered, 1.-THE detectiver'
And after giving the man from Boston
q close look he turned toward Mr.. Fen
ton
"You said something about this good
old man having killed Agatha Webb.
What was It? I was too dazed to take
II in"
Mr.. Fenton. not understanding the
young mans eagerness. but willing
enough to enlighten him as to the situa-
ton, told him what reasons there were
for ascribing the crime in the Webb
cottage to the mad deed Of these starv-
ing men. Sweetwater listened with
open eyes and confused bearing. only
himself when his eyes by
chance fell upon the quiet figure of the
fro through the room.
''But why murder when he could
have had his loaf for the asking?" re-
Sweetwater. Agatha Webb
would have gone without a meal any
time to feed a wandering tramp. How
much more to supplv the necessities
or two or ner DIGEST ana dearest
friends"
YES" remarked Fenton, "but you
forget or perhaps never knew that the
master passion of these men was pride
James label ask for breadl / can