The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-08-17

for an instant her eyes wore nghtedSu u
with q CLEAN OF JOY. sSsES
Philip Grayson dead! Then shSwa
free. and Shirley Austin had not re
turned in vain. s98
Her heart throbbed wildly. the bloc,
rushed to her brain, and, dizzy from
the strange feeling that overcame hes
she caught at the nearest chair 70
support, and almost fell into Il. s
Then came q reaction. She grew liv
i'd with q horrible f~orebodinE; aschil
terror struck to her very heart till nh
shuddered and shook as IL In aglle.
A suspicion that had not yet oc
Cured to any n there. almost frog
the life-blood in her veins. II Philil
Grayson was murdered, who had dom
the deed? Who was the murderer
Who 30 likely to have killed the maj
loved her. and from whom q base riva
had stolen her with wicked Lies and
false reports Of death?
my husband dead?" she murmured
b%rokenly. "Dead-so sudden. 30 un'
thought Of! I can scarcely believe It
Who says he has been murdered?"
There is no room for doubt, deal
madam" DR.. Sprague here interposed
For Detective Hantlin had produced
the effect he had intended, and was
now studying 1t. He left the task OF
answering Mrs. G%rayson's further ,ques.
lions to whoever chose to undertake it
while his gaze took in every detail OF
her appearance and everyvarying ex-
preston Of her lovely ~countenance.
I'VE have desired to spare you, qs far
as possible, the horror of this fearful
tragedy, Mrs. Grayson. But Of the fact
there is no possible doubt. I have
myself seen and examined the body,
and the case is one Of foul and cruel
murder"
"who has done it?" Clarice gasped, in
a dying voice. you icannot-surely.
you don't suspect"
Eyes, darling. they suspect you!" here
broke in Mrs. Mowbray, embracing her,
as though to protect her from all the
world.
Then. turning suddenly. on those
present. the excited mother added,
f1ercely and defiantly:
Though how any Of you can be fool
enough to suspect my, darling child,
passes my comprehension. An idiot
might see that she Is too innocent,
Her face shows It plain enough. But
lawyers, and police and detectives. and
all the rest Of you. I suppose you'd 8
pect the angels in heaven! Look at
my daughter-look at her hands-her
dress! A baby just. born is not more
innocent. Could that delicate hand
deal the blow that killed Philip Gray
son? Don't you see that she Is still in
her wedding dress-the dress she wbre
home from the church? Look at that
sweeping train, and be ashamed OF
yourselves-one and all! No sign of
blood on it-not q speck-not a stain!
With hat dress on, h couldn't have
gone within three yards Of the muir
dered man without showing the proof
Of it,"
Mrs. Mowbray's words, disconnected
and rambling, caused repressed smiles
among many of her hearers. But her
argument, though somewhat incoher-
ent,t produced an unmistakable effect.
II any one present had really sus-
pected Clarice. n glance at her white
and spotless robe, her stainless hands,
must have turned aside the suspicion
as too absurd to be entertained.
The effect of her mothers words up
on Clarice had been that of utter
amazement at first, then, almost Of re-
lief. They suspected her! All. how
much less terrible that, was than to
suspect Shirley!
She even smiled slightly 90 she an-
swered Mrs. Mowbray.
"No one suspects me, dear mother.
It would be utterly foolish" !
"You are quite right, madam" sai0
Detective Hantlin. once o consti-
tuting himself chief speaker Of the oc-
casion. 1
He had been intently watching Clar-
ice. II his suspicion shad at first
pointed towards her, they were now
somewhat turned aside. He was now
more inclined to think that she either
guessed or positively knew who the
murderer was. and he was determined
that in come way she should betray
her knowledge or suspicious. Some one
else either knew or suspected, too.
And his sharp eyes had been keenly
observant from the first OF the French
maid, Leonce.
OAO lIcSS IWO WOAAASAA CNSQSSe
same person, or did they really know
who the murderer was? Were they
endeavoring to screen the murderer, or
were they screening each other?
It promised to be q delightfully-ih,
teresting case. and the detective felt his
blood boil pleasantly in his veins at the
prospect Of working 1t out. This and
much else passed through his mind.
while he spoke in the coolest. quietest.
but most polite tones, to Mrs. Grayson.
mo one can for q moment suspect
you, Mrs. Grayson. We believe you to
be as eager to clear up this horrible
mystery as any Of US. What dol say?
More eager, Of. course! For to you It Ia
most terrible. Therefore. we intruds
upon you, not to insult your sorrow
with groundless suspicious. but to bes
your aid In carrying on the investtga-
tion."
"she will tell US all that she know
she will answer all Questions!' MRS.
Mowbray burst out.
And Clarice felt grateful for the Y
burst-it gave her time to placesherself
on guard.
..What information can I give you,
sir?" she asked, coldly.
when did you zee Mr.. Grayson fos
the last timer" the detective asked
easily.
when we entered the house togeth-
'er, on our return from church. NE.
Grayson's valet gave him some mes
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