Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-12-02

follow Aunt Comforts progress by her
calculations. partly natural. partly the
result OF her excitement OF mind As
be waited her return. be thought. with
pardonable self-Complacency, on the
facts which the good woman had dis
closed, and wondered II IL would be hts
good fortune TO find the young North
ladies half so ready % speak he was
aroused from bis reflections by the re-
appearance OF Aunt Comfort at the
door.
But Mr.. Thomas had no thought for
the excellent aunt after his eyes fell
on her companions.
This is Mrs. would say Mr..
Norths elder daughter" Aunt Com
fort introduced Marion. And this IL
Miss Stella, his younger child My
dear girls. this is a friend OF your poor
father. Mr.. Thomas. He takes deep
interest IN your welfare. and will only
be too grateful. he says, &; be can be
OF some service"
Mr. Thomas inwardly congratulated
himself that bis was a real and no
simulated interest in the case for he
felt perfectly sure that the orbs OF this
blonde-haired, stately reserved woman
would detect IN an instant any pre-
tense.
Il was 10 Marion that he turned. but
his thoughts, not less than his SYM
pathies. were with her delicate. grief
stricken companion.
Il do not know that Mr. North had
a single enemy in his business af-
fairs" be began, yet Il seems plain
that somehow or other he had gained
the hostility OF some person. and that
person must have been concerned in
this terrible crime"
Just what the police detective said"
Aunt Comfort interposed. But II Mr..
North had an enemy. It was certainly
no one IN this house"
She looked around for some words
OF confirmation. but Stella was still
quietly crying, and Marion said moth
Ing.
Cannot you think Of any person. ="
resumed Mr.. Thomas. who might
have had a grudge against your IA
therf Any discharged employer" He
looked az Marion.
Let me speak for my sister as well
as myself. Mr.. Thomas" declared
Marion. rising. We neither OF us
have any idea whatever 20 express as
70 the possible or probable guilt Of
anyone. We thank you for your
prefer Of assistance. but will not
trouble you further at this time.
Come, Aunt Comfort Good evening.
sir"
The two young ladies had left the
room, with Aunt Comfort In unwilling
tow like some unwieldy. harmless
barge. before Mr.. Thomas realized that
the conference was at an end. One
pleasant association only he carried
away with him. the charm OF the pres
ence Of the younger girl. whose gentle
inclination OF the head as she looked
At him Just before leaving the room
seemed 10 Rccentuate his feeling that
here was a helpless. beautiful girl. who
appealed 70 his sympathetic interest.
and whom. IL occasion should come,
he would most gladly serve.
Mr.. Thomas. as he wrote OF the days
developments In the North case. graph
ically presented certain facts. be kept
others. quite as important untold.
Among these undisclosed matters the
name and standing OF Richard Fet-
ridge in the North household were in
cluded.
There is no rest day" in the re-
porter's week. Sunday came and
brought TO Mr.. Thomas new duties. In
all the daily papers OF Saturday this
announcement had appeared:
''The funeral OF the late Paul North will
take place from his late residence swamps-
colt, al three p. m on Sunday. June -
Relatives and friends invited without fur.
thsT notice. Burial private"
In the throng that pressed into the
house OF mourning. IL would have
taken attentive observation TO single
.Sput Mr.. Thomas. But be was there
among the hrst: a nod OF recognition,
given and returned. secured for him q
place after his own heart, where he
could see AL and not be seen. From
this point OF vantage. Thomas looked
over the assemblage quite at his
leisure. and noted many a face familiar
In State street and on change
Rather a young man in black, whom
he remembered TO have seen often, was
escorted 10 q place Of some prominence.
He exchanged some whispered words
with those in authority, and Mr..
Thomas set him down. unhcsitatingly,
a. Richard Fctridge. And Richard
Fetridge IL was, and none other.
Thornton stackhouse. looking worn
and almost h&ggard. appeared on the
threshold OF the great parlors. He
had been looked for obviously. for he
vss At once approached by the master
OF ceremonies, with his mourning face,
and escorted to the seat reserved for
him not far from the family group.
By some potent influence. Mr.. Tholn-
as syes. a. well a. his thoughts. were
tarnct toward these silent. motionless
~nusa On@N rnn~s nat A.. -.