The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-07-30

4
air. Jeffrey WINGED. but he made a
direct reply.
les; gave look at that old pic-
lure; got up, as you say, on a chai, to
90 so. Wasn't that the freak of an idle
man. wandering, he hardly knows wbv
from room to room in an old and AZ
serted houser' ~ W
his tormentor did not answer. Prob
nnly his mind was ON his next line Of
inquiry But Mr.. jeffrey did NOT toka
MS silence with the calmness he bad
SHOWN prior to the last attack. Az no
word came from his unwelcome ruest
ne paused in his rapid pacing and
casting aside with one impulsive ges-
ture his hitherto imperfectly held re.
straint, be cried out sharply:
| why do you ask me these auestions
In tones of such suspicion? Is II NOT
plain enough that my wife took her
own life under misapprehension of
my state of mind toward her? wbv
should you feel 1t necessary to rake nm
these personal matters, which, how.
ever interesting to the world Mt largo
sre CT painful nature to me~
Mt jeffrey" retorted the other
with sudden grave ASSUMPTION of
dignity not without its effect in a case
OF such serious import, 1--WE do nothing
without purpose. We ask these cues
ions and STOW this interest because
she charge of suicide which has bitber
10 been made against your wife is not
entirely sustained by the facts. At
least she was not alone when she took
her life. Some one was in the house
with her"
1t was startling to observe the effect
of this declaration upon him.
"Impossibler' he cried out In q pro-
test as forcible. as 1t was agonized.
You are playing with my misery. She
could have had no one there; she would
not. There is not man living before
whom she would have fired that dead
~ shot unless it was myself-unless 1t
was my own wretehed, miserable self"
The remorseful whisper in which
those final words were uttered carried
them to my heart, which for some
strange and unaccountable reason had
been gradually turning toward this
man. But my less easily affected COM
panion, seeing his opportunity and pos
sibly considering that it was this gen
tleman's right to know In what
doubtful light he stood before the law,
remarked with as light a touch of
irony as was possible:
you should know better than we In
whose presence she would choose to die
If she did so choose; also who would
be likely to tie the pistol to her wrist
and blow out the candle when the
dreadful deed was over"
The laugh which seemed to be the
only means of violent expression re-
naming to this miserable man was
kept down by some amazing thought
which seemed to paralyze him. With
out making any attempt to refuse O
suggestion that fell just short of per-
sonal accusation, he sank down in the
first chair he came to and became, as
it were, lost In the vision of that ghast-
~ ribbon tying and the solitary blow
ing out of the candle upon this scene of |
mournful death. Then, with strug- |
Cling sense of having heard something |
which called for answer, he rose blind |
ly to his feet and managed to let fall |
these words:
"You are mistaken. No one was there,
or, IL any one was, it was not /. There
is q man sn this city who can prove it"
But when Mr.. Jeffrey was asked to
give the name of this man he showed
confusion and presently was obliged to
admit that he could neither recall his
name nor remember anything about
him. but that he was some one whom
he knew well and who knew him well.
He affirmed that the two had met and
spoken near Soldiers home shortly art
er the sun went down and that the
man would be sure to remember TINS
meeting If we could only find him.
AS Soldiers home was several miles
from the Moore house and quite out or
the way of all his accustomed haunts,
Coroner q. asked him how he came TO
be there. He replied that he had just
come from he Rock Creek cemetery;
that he had been in a wretched state
Of mind all day, and. possibly being IN
1uenced by what he had heard OF the
yearly yigils Mr.. Moore was In the
habit of keeping there, had taken a
notion to stroll among the graves 10
search of the rest and peace or mind
le had failed to find In bis aimleSs
walks about the city. At least Fnat
vas the way be chose TO account fof
be meeting he mentioned Failing IN
q reyerie again, be seemed 70 be try
ng 10 recall the name which at this
moment was OF such Importance 10
lin. But e was without avail us ne
presently acknowledged,
n cannot remember who II was ny
,raiD ~ whlrling, aud ! can Feeo'iee.
aothing bar that this man ana mypeN
Ell the cemetery together on tue nlspl
just as the gate was pslns
.s-..na - a. .laQQA al RuQuOMNt Has ]