Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-30

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his own special sleeping place under
the table. HAS she run upon ghost
In those dismal apartments? You In
terest me greatly. I did not think she
would ever have the pluck to visit this
house again after what happened at
her wedding"
"She has had the pluck" I assured
him, land, what is more, she has had
enough Of 1t not only to re-enter the
house, but to re-enter it alone. At least,
such is the present inference. Had you
been blessed with more curiosity and
made more frequent use Of the chair
so conveniently placed for viewing the
opposite house, you might have been
in position to correct this inference.
1t would help the police materially to
know positively that she had no COM
panion in her fatal visit
"Fataly' he repeated, running his
finger inside his neckband, which sud
denly seemed to have grown too tight
for comfort Can it be that my niece
has been frightened to death in that
old place? You alarm me-"
He did not look alarmed, but then he
he was Of the same human clay as the
rest Of u.s. and, II he knew no more Of
this occurrence than he tried to make
out, could not be altogether impervious
to what l had to say next.
"You have right to be alarmed" I
fpiO oh IN
death. yet is she lying dead on the
library floor" Then, with a glance at
the windows about me, added lightly,
II take it that pistol shot delivered
over there could not be heard in this
ROOM"
He sank rather mechanically
into his seat, yet his face and form did
not lose that sudden assumption Of
dignity which / had observed in him
ever since my entrance into the house.
81 am overwhelmed by this news"
he remarked. "She has shot herself?
Why?'
II did not say that she had shot her
SELF" I carefully repeated. Yet the
facts point that way and Mr.. jeffrey
accepts the suicide theory without
question"
"Ah, Mr.. jeffrey is there!'
''Most certainly; he was sent for at
once.'
"And Miss futile? She came with
him Of course?"
"She came. but not with him. Sne is
very fond of her sister"
Il must go over at once!" he cried,
leaping again to his feet and looking
about for his hat. ut is my duty to
make them feel ut home; in short, to
Ito put the house at their disposal"
Here he found his hat and placed it on
his head. '.rhe property is mine now.
you know" he politely explained. turn
ing, with keen light in his gray eye,
full upon me and overwhelming me
with the grand air of man who has
come unexpectedly into his own. Mrs.
Jenfrey's father was my younger broth
er-the story is an old and long one
ana the property, which in all justice
should have been divided between us,
went entirely to him. But he was a
good fellow in the main and saw the |
injustice Of his fathers will as clearly I
as did. and years ago made one on
his own account bequeathing me the
whole estate in case he left no issue or
that issue died. Veronica was his only I
child; Veronica has died; therefore the
old house is mine and all that goes
with it-all that goes with it."
There was the miser's gloating in
this repetition Of phrase sufficiently
expressive in itself, or, rather, the
gloating Of man who sees himself
suddenly rich after life Of poverty.
There was likewise callousness as
regarded his niece's surprising death
which considered myself to have
some excuse for noticing.
You accept her death very calmly"
| remarked Probably you knew her
to be possessed Of an cratic mind"
He was about to bestow an admoni-
tory kick on his dog, who had been in
discreet enough to rise at his masters
Eirst move, but his foot stopped in mid
mir in his anxiety to concentrate all
his attention on his answer.
II am man Of few sentimentali-
ties," he coldly averred. II have loved
but one person in my whole life. Why,
then, should / be expected to mourn
over a niece who did not care enough
for me to invite me to her wedding?
1t would be an affectation unworthy
he man who has at last come to I'LL
lis rightful position in this community
IS the owner of the great Moore es-
ate. For great 1t shall be-" he en-
)hatically continued. '.In three years
you will not know the house over yon-
Ter. Despite it's fancied ghosts and j
leath dealing fireplace, 1t will stand ,
Al in Washington. I, David Moore,
promise you this, and am not man !
o utter fatuous prophecies. But l
must be missed over there
Here he gave the mastiff the long de- .
aged kick Ridge. stay here! The
opposite is icy. Besides, your I
lowls ar. not wanted in those old
wallis tonight even If you would go
With me. which doubt. He has never Z
,een willing to cross to that side of !!
he street" the old gentleman went on
o complain. with his first show of ir- {
itation. 'But he'll have to overcome
hat prejudice soon. even if havc to
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