The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-25

|! Mn I. ..N' \ ] ]. APC)I.1S JOUKN
glass he had lust lifted on the rnantel-
shelf Of the dining room
The doctor was at his side in mo-
ment.
,'sWhat is that?" he demanded
The butler stopped for the pieces.
"Only the glass Mr.. Gillespie drank out
of. He asked for wine a half-hour ago.
Your words frightened me, sir
He did not look frightened; but old SER
wants of his stamp possess a strange i'm
mobility.
II will pick up these pieces said the
doctor, STOPPING beside the man. Is,
The butler drew back. Or. Bennett
picked UP the pieces. They were all dry.
Evidently the glass had been drained.
AS he came out he cast keen but not
unkindly glance at the group of young
men drawn up in the doorway.
(Which Of you was the witness of Mr..
! Gillespies death?" he asked.
bowed. I dreaded his questions, yet
saw no way of evading them If only Mr..
Gillespie had been able to articulate the
| one word which would have relieved me
| of all further responsibility in this mat
| ter!
You are the person who was called
| into the house by Mr.. Gillespie's grand
child?'' the doctor now asked, meeting my
| eye with the same expression Of instan-
| taneous and complete confidence 1 had
| seen on the features of his unhappy pa
| tient.
II am replied, and proceeded to re-
/ late the circumstances with all the sim
plicity the occasion required. Only said
| nothing about the letter which had been
entrusted to me for delivery to some I'M
known person. How could I? There had
| been no encouragement In Mr.. Gillespie's
! expression when I asked him if the note
| had taken from him was meant for his
! doctor.
! The account I was able to give of the
| deceased brokers' last moments seemed
| to deepen the impression which had been
made upon the physician by the condition
in which he found him. Taking up the
pieces of glass he had collected from the
| dining-room hearth, he shifted them care
| fully, during which act the two sons OF
| Mr. Gillespie watched him with starting
eyes. When he laid them down again we
could none of us conceal our curiosity.
You have something dreadful to COM
| municate," murInured the elder son.
The doct or hesitated; then he glanced
from one to the other of the two hand,
Your brother Is not here. Do you
know If he is likely to return soon?"
Where is Mr.. Leighton?" inquired AL
| fred, turning towards the servants. Il
thought he meant to remain home to-
night"
The butler respectfully advanced.
Mr. Leighton went out an hour ago."
| said he HE and Mr.. Gillespie had a.
| few words in the den, sir, after which he
| put on his hat and coat and went out"
did you see your master at that timer"
mo sir, I only heard his voice.
| 'fDid that sound natural?"
! The old servant seemed 10th to reply.
but feeling the doctors eye resting i'm
! peratively upon him. he hesitatingly adj
mitted:
.It wasn't quiet, sir, if you mean that.
| Mr.. Gillespie seemed to be angry or very
| much displeased. He spoke quite loud
! Where were your
''In the dining room, sir, putting away
| the last of the dinner Dishes
| ''Did you hear what your master said?"
"No sir; it was something about rel1-
gion; too much religion"
| my brother attends too many mission
services to please my father" explained
! Alfred in low tone.
| The doctor heard but did not take his
| eye from the old servant. go
! WAS this before he took the glass of
wine you have just told us he asked for?'
| Eyes, sir, just before. It was Mr.. Leigh
| ton who came for 1t. He said his father
| looked tired
"Ah, and how came the glass to be back
| then on the dining-room mantel shelf"
| r. 81 don't know, sir. Perhaps Mr.. Giles
pie put it there himself. He never liked
any litter on his study table, sir
! At this statement / the older brot her
opened his lips, but noticed he did not
speak. There were no traces of intoxica-
! ton about him now. 49,, - s,-.g-.
81 wish you would show me the bottle
| from which you poured the wine.
| The butler, whose name L aft erWards
| learned to be HeWson, led the way to a
large buffet extending half across the
dining-room wall. From where I stood in
the hallway could see him pointing out
a bottle of what looked like sherry; Sud
denly he gave start
THAT isn't the one," he cried, loud
enough for me to hear. ''The bottle I
| took out for Mr.. Leighton was half empty.
| This is quite full"
| Again I saw the lips Of the elder broth
er move, and again he refrained from
| speaking. ,--.. 81: -,..'s
81 should like to have that bottle
found" said the physician; "but no one
need look for it now. Indeed. itwould be
Leighton's ~ return u - before ai' maxi
ing any further movement. George,
Alfred, may ask you to leave me alone
with your father for a few minutes. And
let the dining room he cleared. don't
| want to have to make any excuses to the
| coroner when he arrives. Your father
has not died Ia natural death" .ss
| 1t was an announcement for which we
had been in a measure prepared by the
serious manner Of the young doctor, yet
| it seemed to nae it ought to have occa-
| stoned q greater. or at least a different
display CT feeling on the part OF the two
most Intimately concerned I looked for
an exchange Of chances between them OF
at least some hurried words of sorrow OF
| Gismay. But though all evinced strong
emotion, no looks passed between them
nor did they make the least attempt al
mutual sympathy or encouragement. We're
they not on confidential terms? The mo-
ment certainly was enc to call out what
ever orotherly feeling they possessed.
81 shall have to make use of the tele.
Phone" DR.. Bennett now announced
you must pardon my seeming disrespect
4 And with one hurried look to see thai
the dining room had been cleared Of the
budding servants, he stepped back int
> the so-called den and closed the doc
behind him.
,, Next moment we heard his voice ris
in the inevitable "Hallo!"
IT don't understand DR.. Benefits yer.
strange demeanor,' now heard uttere
in remark near me- 1t was George speak
, | ing in low tone to his brother.
. Bit that brother. with one Of his anx
: ious looks up the stairs. failed to answer
T Father was in the habit of takin
choral, but thought he always waite
-