Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-08

upon our premises and spirited away,
whether living or dead il is not
known. Ny informant thinks he is
Gving."
who told you such thing7" The
words came almost az a whisper from
the astonished doctor
"He was shot from a window while
in the wng-room which opens into
the garden. He was struck on the
right side Of his head"
Go on!" said the physician, after
a pause, and making desperate efforts
TO be calm. Let us see how far this
wretched informant of yours has
lied"
"Licd7 So upon the impulse OF the
moment I, too, believed But the
fame of q woman is sacred, DR.. Brod-
mar, and this morning ] went into
that room. Upon the wall in the
rear, little out of line from the
window to the chair, in which, il Is
said, the man who was shot had been
sitting, was a bullet mark. On the
Jagged edges OF the hole in the plas-
ter were few hairs and traces of
blood" Holbin unfolded little pack
age upon the table as he spoke place
these under q microscope and verify
nv statement" Again The doctor
was silent; but the look he gave his
visitor was so passionately threaten
ing that Holbin paused
go onl" again the command was
little more than a whisper.
There is but one thing more: upon
the table 1 found this cigar, laid aside
without having been lit"
"Have you finished" Holbin looked
up, uneasy and surprised
Yes"
"Now what would you have % me-"
81 wish you to find out for me the
name of the man who was in that
room"
81 will get YOU his name upon one
condition."
And that is?"
THAT you will tel me the name
of the woman who fired the shot"
Holbn could not, try as he might,
conceal the start these words pro-
vokcd
the case" he said.
II know that you do"
DIR Brodnar!"
Holhn sprang 10 his feet with we'll
affected rage. The doctor continued:
"Only n woman's tracks marked
the soil under that window at dawn
'he morning after that shot was fired.
When l next saw the spot the tracks
had been carefully obliterated." Brod-
mar was still standing and spoke rap
idly, az though he feared that he
could not restrain himself Suddenly
bland smile spread over his face.
The fact is" he said "the shot was
fired at me. Does that surprise you ?"
Holbins face showed that it did. THE
final attack of which Mr.. Brookin
died" continued the doctor, was mo-
mentarily expected. spent the night
sitting in the poor girls room at her
request, to be within call, her old
nurse asleep upon the rug. You may
believe this or not, Mr.. Holbin. but
F. take my suggestion, and II you doubt
the explanation conceal your frame
, OF mind BY the way. lift the lid
Of the box there on my table; now
: compare the cigar that you found
with those in the box. You perceive
that they are exactly alike. I am not
accustomed to offer proof Of my
statements, but make an exception
in your favor, as you are almost a
stranger. As for the pretty theory
of the pistol.ball carrying blood and
hair into the plastering, it evidently
springs from an overheated magma
ton. Blood there Is none: and. for
the hair. you Will find that in all good
plaster. But to conclude the matter,
Mr.. Holhin: if bullet had taken a
piece OF my scalp into the wall, the
' wound would not have healed within
. two days, and if you will examine
my head carefully you will find that
none of the scalp is missing The
doctor lowered his head and moved il
accommodatingly from side to side
"Have you any suspicion as to the
name of the woman who fired this
shot-at you?" asked Holbin, sarcas-
tieallv.
A very strong suspicion; with me
it amounts now to certainty. She
= is woman who dwells in the Brookin
, house, and the only mystery left is
! how the devil did she get up to the
window? ?" This time Holbin's aston
, , ishment was genuine.
II do not understand"
she is a woman whose plans might
have been defeated had the man ~ho
was dimly seen in that room been any
other than myself. Not to be misun-
derstood in the matter. permit me 10
explain that in my opinion the WON
an who fired that shot was your
mother!" Holbin's first impulse was
. to denounce the doctor, as a social
. duty, and take the chances of a per.
sonal ell counter, but the value Of the
honest error into which Brodnar had
, fallen flashed upon him. He affected
=, to understand that the doctor was
making the statement as TO himseli
and Mrs. Brookin in a sense not to be
+ taken as earnest, but to he construed
ms refusal to explain the mystery
d, At this moment, when Holbin was
, taking up his hat and cane to depart
- the doctors assistant within the pri-
vate room threw the door wide open
and Holb,n discovered a man propped
. in an armchair with his head ban