Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-08-07
"SUICIDR" HE REPLIED.

low In every way. A great grief that
he had had of late had brought us close
together, and held him to be my best
| friend.
"Dcad!' exclaimed. IAN accident?"
Suicide" was the reply.
l was conscious of surprise In the
midst of my confusion, for this servant
had hated Jack with the unforgiying
persistence of an Aldian since day
long ago when my cousin had exposed
him in trifing delinquency.
dressed with all haste and hurried
across to my uncles house, accompa-
MED by the trembling servant When
we entered l saw a group at the head
Of the broad stairway. Mr.. Halstead
was upon the topmost stair and tow
cred above the others.
Upon a lower stair stood Arthur
Morrow, son of the late Mrs. Halstead
by a former marriage. A step or two
higher and ascending was DR.. Norton
Carr, the old physician of the family.
AS approached the stairway my uncle
extended his long right arm over the
heads Of the others and shook his fin
ger at me-
This Is no better than murderr he
cried. You are responsible" for this"
What do you mean" l demanded.
Come here, and III show you" he
replied in choking voice.
We entered Jacks bedroom. The
poor fellow lay there In bis bed his
mortal part reposing in the final sleep,
MI Halstead paused by the head of
the bed and tapped with his finger up-
on small table. l came forward and
looked down. There lay a little vial
containing white tablets and beside IT
small tube. There was label on the
vial, and l knew what was marked ND
on it-"Morphine, one-half grain: DR..
Halstead."
He got these things of Won" said |
my uncle. Il call it murder. What DOS
slble excuse? You knew that he was
heartbroken for Dora. She is going
away; he has lost her. You have seen
how he has been Of late"
Il did not give him this" said
How can you imagine that would do
such thing? He took them out of nv
office"
And you knew itv' Numbered Mr.
Halstead. you knew it. and Won
1ldn't tell me! You made no effort to
save him. Why did you suppose he
wanted this poison? Had he any prom
sr need of this drug?"
shook my head.
i loved him." said my uncle. lavin1
lis hand upon the dead mans breast
tie should have had the bulk of nv
ortune, and you knew 1t. You ruined
lis life"-
You are mad to say sog' exclaimed
He sneered at me.
why Is that girl going awayY' he
"Do you think I don,t
now? Because penniless rascal has
Won her away from my boy here. She
ouidht marry you because you hadn't
lie money to buy her roof and her
read. But you would have had a III.
le at my death and were content m
,ait." :"
AS long as l have known Dora" ,
ald with all the earnestness at NV
II have never spoken one
ora OF love to her. DO you suppose I
'ouid step In and rob Jack? Whv. .
on yourself have praised me for NV
'yalty TO him."
4 was deceivedw he cried. "You
ere too deep for me. You have
USED MS death. Look at this"
lie picked up from the table a card
Jon winch was written in Jacks hand t
g simplest possible message, Good
,, Dora" n
l lie tears sprang to my eyes, but 1t
as necessary to control emotion in
Is Crisis. turned to DR.. Carr
1he'n cf1 h no q ubt rs to the g.
use CT de- h?" s.cd. II
lie did not reply in words, but bent e
r"ard ana tapped the vial with his
ger. :,
Tel me how it happened" asked. t,
VINO saw him last?
: was Thomas, the butler, who re. a
ca. lie seemed to have risen n