Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-10-15

"0UICK, Uncle Amos, somebody's
killed Marjory!'
The speed with which she had come
left seant breath 70 deliver her mes
sage, and she ierked il out in short
gasps TO the old man sitting so peace
fully in a rocking chair on the little
porch. bringing him to his feet with
something Of the yigor Of 20 years be-
fore, while a motherly little old wom-
an hurried out from her task in the
kitchen, her hour-smeared hands
raised to Heaven in shocked surprise
Horror was on the faces Of her au-
ditors as the girl sobbed her tale. Tkey
had been gathered about the piano.
she. Marjory and two girl friends
Mariory was playing. The windows
were open. In the midst Of the music
there was a shot and Mariory, clasp.
ing her side, tumbled from her seat
and died. almost without a word. Who
had doueit? They had not stopped to
inquire While a servant had run for
the nearest doctor she had hurried for
Uncle Amos.
As he listened there were reflected
Ia the old mans eyes the qualities
which had made him the recognized
power that he was in the little COM
muuity, the shrewd common sense, the
unfaltering resolution. the undaunted
courage Of a born leader Of men. A
few rapidly spoken orders set busy
hands al work on strap and buckle,
and almost before the messenger had
finished her tale a buggy, drawn by
fast-stepping horse, was brought
around from the stable and Uncle
Amos had taken his seat ard turned
the animals head into the shady lane
that led toward the scene Of the trag-
edy.
1t was a setting filter for a pastoral
than a tale Of blood. that rambling
house. hiding Its gable ends in clam
boring rose vines and crouched in the
shade Of noble elms. Always one Of
the picturesque spots Of the neighbor-
hood. il had lost nothing OF its attrac-
tiveness IN the hands Of it's new ten
ant. Mrs Dennison, who two years be-
fore had come into the community and
made her home az Rose Gable. As she
made no secret Of the fact that she was
unhappily married and had separated
from her husband, the good people re-
garded her rather askance. until. won
by the charming simplicity and blame
lessness Of her life they had recon-
structed their code OF ethics on
broader scale and had ended by loving
her. And now she was dead. muir
deredl Who could have done il? What
did IL mean?
Uncle Amos asked himself these
questions time and time again while
his trotter drew him swiftly 20 the
scene of the tragedy, but he was far
from imagining an answer when he
drew rein in the drive before the house
and confronted the tear-stained faces
Of the household. Silently he listened
10 their recital Of the occurrence.
which added nothing to what he had
already learned from Lucy.
"The shot was fired through this
window; the position of the wound
proves as much, ana the assassin prob
ably fired from tina; clump of lilacs
See. ii is a perfect line from there to
the piano"
Ii was the doctor who spoke.
"And has search been made that
way?" asked Uncle Amos, waving his
hand in the direction of the !ilacs
Every foot Of the ground has been |
gone over. clear to the road"
"And you have found"
Nothing Absolutely nothing, ex-
cept a broken stalk of the lilac bush" |
Broken. how?"
with the hand, apparently 1t is at |
about the height of a man and looks |
as though 1t might have been twisted |
aside and broken by some one hiding !
there who wished a clearer view Of the |
house"
"And has any one touched it since?" !
Touched it? No"
"Then there is a way" Uncle Amos /
exclaimed "See to it that no one dis /
turbs the place until return"
"But what are you going to 6o?"
Get the bloodhound from the peo- 1
pie at the Ole quarry and put him on +
the scent: arouse the neighborhood /
and run the scoundrel to earth"
Without further words he clambered 4
into his buggy and, gathering up tue
lines. was whirled away into the I.
shadows of the after
noon. +
The sun had almost set when the
buggy. followed by men, women and 4
children. all who were able to walk,
again drew up before the door Of Rose
Gable. The great brute was lifted out
and stretching its gaunt, powerful