Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-07-20

hbly his mind was on his next line Of
inquiry. But Mr.. Jeffrey did not take
his silence with the calmness lie had
shown prior to the last attack. AS no
word came from his unwclcomc guest,
he paused in his 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? Il it not
plain enough that my wife took her
own life under misapprehension of
my state Of mind toward her? WHY
should you feel it necessary to rake up
these personal matters. which. how
ever interesting to the world ut large,
are of u painful nature to mc?
"Mr. jeffrey" retorted the other,
with a 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 uues-
lions and show this interest because
the charge of suicide which has hitler
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."
1t was startling to observe the effect
of this declaration upon him.
Impossible" he cried out in a pro-
test rs 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 fred that dead
ly shot unless it was myself-unless 1t
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 aud 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 a
doubtful light he stood before the law
remarked with rs light touch OF
irony us 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 though
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 thu
first chair he came to and became, n.
it were, lost in the vision of that ghast
~ ribbon tying md the solitary blow
ing out Of the candle upon this scene o.
Cling sense of having heard something
which called for answer, he rose blind
ly to his feet and managed to let fal
these words:
"You are mistaken. No one was there
or, If any one was, it was not l. There
is man In this city who can prove it.
But when Mr.. jeffrey was asked t.
give the name of this man he showed
confusion and presently was obliged t.
admit that he could neither recall hi
name nor remember anything abou
him, but that he was some one whom
he knew well and who knew him well
He affirmed that the two had met ant
spoken near Soldiers home shortly aft
or the sun went down and that tn
| 1,o IN, ~;
meeting If we could only find him.
AS Soldiers home was several mile
from the Moore house and quite out o
the way Of all his accustomed haunts
Coroner z. asked him how he came t
be there. He replied that he had JUS
come from the Rock Creek cemetery
that he had been in a wretched stat
Of mind oil day, and. possibly being in
fluenced by what lie had heard of tn
yearly vigils Mr.. Moore was in tn
habit of keeping there, had taken
notion to stroll among the graves II
search Of the rest and peace of min
he had failed to find in his aimles
walks about the city. At least, tina
was the way he chose to account 70
the meeting he mentioned. Falling In
to reverie again, he seemed to be try
ing to recall the name which ut thi
moment was Of such importance t
him. But it was without avail, as b
presently acknowledged.
II cannot remember who it was. NJ
brain is whirling, and l can recollec
nothing but that this man and mysel
left the cemetery together on the nigh
mentioned, just ms the gate was bein
closed. AS 1t closes at shutdown, tn
hour can be fixed to minute 1t wa
somewhere near Z, believe; nea
enough, am sure, for it to have bee
/ impossible for me to be ut the Moor
house at the time my unhappy wifi
. is supposed to have taken her life
: There is no doubt about your bclievin
this?" he demanded with suddc
haughtiness, as, rising to his feet, Ii
confronted us in all the pride of hi
exceptionally handsome person.
I'VE wish to believe It," assented til
coroner, rising in his turn. 'That GU
, belief may become certainty will you IL
, us know, the instant you recall 1t, til
name Of the man you talked with q
the cemetery gate? His testimony, ia
Jeffrey tells his story
4 AANN rgaA: i; ! /: