Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-05-07

; ! + + + + + + sf'asA
Mr.. JEFFREY WINGED, but he made a
direct reply
Eyes; l gave look at that old pic
ture; got up, as you say. on chair to
do SO. Wasn't that the freak of an idle
man, wandering, he hardly knows why,
from room to room in an old and de-
serted housew'
His tormentor did not answer. Prob
ably his mind was on his next line of
inquiry. But Mr.. jeffrey did not take
his silence with the calmness he had
shown prior to the last attack. As no
word came from his unwelcome guest,
he paused in bis rapid pacing and,
casting aside with one impulsive ges-
ture his hitherto imperfectly held re-
straint, he cried out sharply:
"Why do you ask me these questions
in tones Of such suspicion? Is It not
plain enough that my wife took her
own life under Misrepresentation Of
my state Of mind toward her? Why
should you feel 1t necessary to rake up
these personal matters, which, how
ever interesting to the world at large,
are Of painful nature to meT
''Mr. jeffrey" retorted the other,
with sudden grave assumption Of
dignity not without its effect in a case
of such serious import, I'VE do nothing
without purpose. We ask these ques-
tons and show this interest because
the charge Of suicide which has hither-
to 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"
It was startling to observe the effect
Of this declaration upon him.
"Impossibler' he cried out In pro-
test as forcible as it 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 fred that dead
~ shot unless 1t was myself unless It
was my own wretched. 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 1t was this gen.
tleman's right to know in what
doubtful light he stood before the law,
remarked with as light 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-
manning to this miserable man was
kept down by some amazing thought
which seemed to paralyze him. With
out making any attempt to refute
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
death. Then, with strug-
CLING sense Of having heard something
which called for answer, he rose blind
" to his feet and managed to let fall
these words:
"You are mistaken. No one was there,
or, II any one was, it was not I. There
Is man in 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 we'll and who knew him well.
He affirmed that the two had met and
spoken near Soldiers home shortly aft
Or the sun went down and that the
man would be sure to remember this
meeting IL we could only and him.
AS Soldiers home was several miles
from the Moore house and quite out OF
he way of all his accustomed haunts,
Coroner z. asked him how he came to
,e there. He replied that he had just
.ome from the Rock Greek cemetery;
hat he had been in wretched state
# mind all day, and. possibly being In
luenced by what he had heard OF the
vearly vigils Mr.. Moore was IN the
labit Of keeping there, had taken
lotion to stroll among the graves IN
earch Of the rest and peace OF mind
le had failed to ind in his aimless
walks about the city. At least, that
vas the way he chose to account for
he meeting he mentioned. Falling In
o reverie again, he seemed to be try
ng to recall the name which at this
moment was Of such Importance to
i'm. But It was without avail, as he
acknowledged.
Il cannot remember who 1t was. My
rain is whirling, and l can recollect
othing but that this man and myself
eft the cemetery together on the night
aentioned, just as the gate was being
losed. AS it closes at shutdown, the
our can be fixed to minute. 1t was
omewhere near Z, believe: near
nough, 1 am sure for it to have been
Don't expect to enjoy good health as
ios ;!Il!:!,!! :: ::. !; !: