The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-08

the delivery Of paper. This man was Archi.
bald Gillespie, stockbroker and railroad
masnate. DR.. Bennett. the family physician
informs the three sons. Alfred, George and
Leighton, that their father had died from 9
dose of prussic acid The coroner is then
called in. A search is made for the child
granddaughter OF Mr.. Gillespie, and she is
found in the attic with Hope Meredith, Z
cousin OF the young men, who is in Mysteries
"hen questioned she gave a hint of an APP
parent estrangement of the family at dinner
ana on being told that her uncle was poisoned
raints away.
CHAPTER V.
HOPE.
This was the proper moment for me to
leave, or, rather, it would have been had
1t not been for the communication in my
pocket which remained to be delivered.
To so without fulfilling my duty in this
regard, or at least, without stating to the
coroner that | held in charge a paper of
so much Importance, seemed an improper
If not criminal proceeding, while to speak,
and thus give UP to public perusal an
enclosure upon the right delivery Of which
the dying man laid such stress, struck me
as an equal breach OF trust only to be
justified by my total inability to carry
out the wish of the deceased as expressed
TO me in his last Ineligible appeal.
That this inability was an assured fact
I was not yet convinced. An idea had
come to me in the last few minutes which,
II properly acted upon, might open way
for NE out of this dilemma. But before
making use of it | felt it necessary to
know more of this family and the ties
which bound, them. To gain this knowl-
edge was, therefore, Of not only great but
Immediate Importance, and where could
l hope to gain 1t so soon or we'll as
here?
l consequently fingered, and the young
medical friend of George, having,
for some reason, shown the same dis
regard as myself to the open hint thrown
out by the coroner, We drew together near
the front door, and fell Immediately into
conversation. AS he seemed on fire to
speak, 1 left it for him to make the
opening remark.
Fine girl,' he exclaimed every fond
his correspondence. I hate to see women
faint. Though l have been in practice
now two years | have never got used to
it,
Anxious as I was to understand the very
relationship he limited at, it was SO obnox-
1ous to me to discuss Miss Meredith wit h
this man whom | had first seen in a condi-
ton little calculated to prejudice me in
his favor, that some what inconsistently
L own, turned the conversation upon
Mr.. Gillespie.
Mr.. Gillespie was then very busy
man." observed. Il judged so from the
look Of his den or study. Overwork often
drives men to suicide
The glance this called out from the now
thoroughly sobered young doctor was
sharp one.
Yes he acquiesced; but it was an
acquiescence which, from the tone in
which 1t was uttered, had a most suspi-
cious ring.
My position had now become an embar-
RAISING one. l looked around for the cor
oner, and Saw him talking earnestly with
the old and enfeebled butler, who seemed
ready to sink with distress. At the same
instant, the rafting Of two keys could be
heard in their several locks. The dining
room was being closed against intrusion,
and it was to the coroner the keys were
brought. .-.- .
Miss Meredith. who had been carried
into an adjoining room, was slowly re-
covering This was evident from the
countenance and attitude of Alfred Giles
pie, who stood half in and half out of the
room, with his eyes fixed upon her face
This left the hall clear, and. as my COM
panion chose to preserve silence I pres
emily could hear the story the old butler
was endeavoring to relate.
Il was waiting on the table as usual
sir and it was my hand which uncorked
the bottle and set it down before Mr.. Gill
lespie. - The young gentlemen had not h.
ing to do with that bottle; they did not
even touch it, for none of; them seemed
Inclined to drink. Mr.. George said he
had headache, and Mr. Leighton, well,
he makes point of not touching port;
while Mr.. Alfred gave no excuse; simply
waved it away when I passed it, so that
the old gentleman drank alone. He didn t
seem to feel quite happy, sir, and that
was why Miss Meredith got so excited.
She never could bear to see her uncle dis
pleased with her cousins
And where is that bottle of port and
the glass out of which Mr. Gillespie drank
at the table?'' .,...
80. sir, you must excuse me- sir but
butt drank what was left In that bottle.
l often do when there is only little left.
Master didn't mind. He often said, If he
was in the mood to remember me- You
may finish that, Hewson,' and though he
did not say 1t Tonight I made so bold as
to remember the times he had. You see
have lived for twenty years in the family
was young man when Mr.. Gillespie
took me- into has service first
and We had become used to each
others ways. AS for the glass.
that was washed, sir, long ago. He was
we'll enough up to 8 o'clock, you see, SIR
"Or until after he had taken the
sherry?"
Yes, SIR" ...,@.
Which you also brought him?'' s.
No. sir; took it out of the buffet, sir;
but it was Mr.. Leighton who carried it
. into the den. He rang for me from the
dining room, and when l came up he
asked for his fathers bottle of sherry,
and I gave it to him. Then l went down
stairs again" Tx ,~
And that bottle has not been found %
Il have not seen it, sir. Perhaps some
one else has. 1t was not a full one. He
had had glass or two out of it before. -
You have not said where the glass
came from, from which Mr.. Gillespie
drank the sherry
From the buffet also. We always keep
supply in one of the lower Fcupboards,
sir
Did you take it out ?"
Il think so, sir
Did you take the first one you came TO
and hand it directly to Mr.. Leighton?"
Il believe so.'' !,a
Was the room dark or light? Could
You see plainly where to lay your hand,
or did you have to feel about for a
glass;. .E
don't remember it as being any too
Ight. lhere was only one gas Jet turned
on ana the room is big one. But saw
the glasses plainly enough. I know Just
where to find them, you see, sir
Very good. Then you probably noticed
whether the one you took out was clean? p
Ihey are always clean. 1 wear my
spectacles when I wash them" The old
butler seemed quite Indignant.
Yes, yes; then you have to wear spec
tacles?"
When wipe the glasses? Yes, sir
The coroner pushed the matter no fur
Their. l think he feared it would seem
like an attempt to fix the guilt on Leigh
ton. Besides, he had no time to do SO,
Tor at this moment Miss Meredith ap-
peared on the threshold of the room into
which she had haan "a rriad and a,.r:,,l