Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1901-04-24
CHAPTER VI.


the grave in Hollywood the remains
OF the wealthy and once distinguished
John Broollin there was, aside from
family servants, but one sincere
mourner. The slender figure of his
daughter Frances. supported by the
strong arm OF DIR. Brodnar, shook
with an agony of grief. She had not
looked on death since her mother
died, and the passing of the SANITY
woman had been but as sleep pro
longcd into eternity. But here was
the consciousness of n great wrong;
the discovery of an error beyond rem
!edy; here was the end of a tragedy
IN which she had been made to act
"a fatal part. Her rightful protector
had been stricken from her.
Courage. my. child"-she heard the
doctors voite'.and felt his arm press
upon her HAND courage! Save your
strength for the struggle TO come Live
.now, TO defeat, the enemies of your ia
Their" Her frail figure strengthened
and grew steady; she no longer Leaned
upon his arm.
Dust TO dust, ashes TO ashes" The
minister's voice rang out the sad and
solemn words; the clay dropped and
shattered solemnly upon the coffin.
box.
The prayer that followed was marked
by a dramatic incident, Frances knelt
by the open grave with moving lips that
uttered no sound. DR.. Br66dhar alone.
understood that her petition was no
prayer. but pledge that would never
he forgotten. The widow stood oppo-
site, yelled in deepest black, the apothe-
osiS of grief.
1t was matter of general comment
that Raymond Holbin was not present
at the funeral. 1t was given out that
sudden indisposition had detained
him at home. But :he indisposition of
Raymond Holbin was a fiction pure
and simple. There would have been
no more discreet and well-behaved
mourner by the grave than he; but
there was nothing to he gained in at
tending the funeral, and there was Il
matter of vital Importance which must
be settled in the deserted residence
OF the deceased.
For Holbin was a bewildercd anu
unhappy man. Not that he feared Lou
Use. The Brookin will and the death
OF the testator apparently secured his
interests. even should Louise be rash
enough TO carry out her threats OF eN-
posture. This, however he felt assured
she would never attempt. Terror OF
the law had already proved itself po-
tent to control her. In his hurried and
frequent visits to the hotel he had as
certained the fact that she was for the
time being completely in his power
Reaction from her fierce excitement
had set in; she chung to him, helpless
and penitent. That she had seen man
at midnight in the wing room Of the
Brookin house and had shot him, he
did not doubt that she believed. As
for himself, there were times when
he had thought her simply insane
the victim OF an illusion: and yet the
facts seemed to support her statement
that she had visited the premises
Clearly his best course lay in The sup
port OF the illusion.
This, then. was the invention which
Holbin carried to the ears of the mis-
erahic woman: The man she had slain
was indeed the lover of the woman IN
that room; he had been killed instant
~, and a friend had carried away the
body. TO save the family's name a
suicide had been declared; rejected
over and over. il was said the young
man had come into the garden AND had
shot himself. All the evidence auG the
surrounding circumstances pointed
plainly 20 this theory. The man who
discovered him. il was said. had fourc
note from he suicide upon his table.
directing him where 10 look for nj,
body; but ADDED Holbin. while the
coroner had by a skillful selection OF a
jury from among he family's friends
secured q hasty verdict in accordance
with the theory Of suicide. n was APP
parent that the police were suspicious.
and IL was said that some Of them were
quietly searching for the woman who
had left tho imprints Of number two
shoes under the window OF he wing.
room. Such was the story
Louise believed It implicitly. The
horror of her crime deprived her for
the time Of her mental powers and
good Judgment She suffered herscif
20 be guided and directed by Ho.bir.
She was consigned 20 the care Of an.
elderly negro woman. and readily no.
ccptc0 her room as her prison. T. was
not long before she was physically
poWcrlc-s TO leave ST.
Raymond Holbin's most serious ap.
prchcnsiou during the Car which wit
messed the death OF John Erookir
grew ou' of the FAC, Chat by infer
cDce al least hc had been charged with
crime iu connection with Louise His
common sense old him that sometime
said by France, in her last interview
with her father had provoked the sud.
den accusation. Whaj did France
know 81 Louise and who was her in.
formant. Gradually durits INC dav
bis suspicious nature secureG ascend.
ancy over his common sense. s sc-
cret yisi; outside TIC window of Tho