Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-12-23

-
der her charge ever since"
"Ah! and you. OF course. got the
whole story from the grip"
THAT night There is no question
about her frankness or her honesty. II
you could talk with her ten minutes
you would b. assured OF that"
Undoubtedly. And now for the
facts. What are they2"
We'll Lamm." sale Thomas. 'there
are two sets Of facts-the Immediate
and the remote. Whether the remote
have any relation 20 the immediate I
cannot tell Nevertheless. you shall
hear them first To go back TO Richard
Fetridge-"
"Of course" said Iamm. Every
thing in the case seems to have a pc
cuiiar trick OF going back % him"
still 1 am unable to say that he
has any connection with this murder.
Lamm. It's a mystery, old man. as
| you will soon see. Stella merely cor
roborated the facts that I have told
/ you already about Fetridge's connec-
ton with the family 10 was Just as
said; he was IN love with Marion. but
how far they went, whether they were
actually engaged or not. nobody
knows; not even Stella. for the fact
comes out that Marion is a very pecul-
far woman"
Peculiar? DO YOU mean eccentric?"
well. eccentric. perhaps" said
Thomas. doubduny. What I mean Il
that she is exceedingly self-willed and
self-reliant, that she is naturally Sc
cretive. dislikes 90 make conhdants.
repels Intercourse on topics near 20
her. dislkes 90 be sympathized with.
and is extremely sensitive about little
things that ordinary people would pass
unObserved Exaggerate all these oual-
tiles 20 an unusual degree. and YOU
have the traits that make Marion
Stackhouse peculiar. II you call such
character eccentric. she's eccentric.
II you mean. however. the eccentricitv
that is allied to monomania or insan-
ity. fail 90 find that she has ever ex-
hibited any traces OF 70. I questioned
Stella very particularly on this point
AS % whether her sister was ia the
habit OF taking queer freaks. She saws
II might seem so TO anybody who was
not familiar with her peculiar tempera-
meut but she never knew her TO do
anything without the possibility OF a
reason therefor"
Just nay idea OF her exactly" said
Lamm. Anybody who has ever
looked into the restless eye OF n maniac
knows what 10 is. have talked with
clarion Stackhouse face TO face. She
| Is no more insane than am"
II say this" continued Thomas. "to
explain why 60 was that nobody knew
whether Marion was really engaged 10
Fetridge. on account OF the opposi-
ton OF Mr.. North. &c would have been
secret. anyway. 90 some extent. but
| Stella never knew. She only knows
tnat they were together a great deal.
I'll one night they presumably quar-
relied. for his visits ceased abruptly
And the next thing Stella knew. the
engagement 20 Stackhouse was an
nounced."
Wasn't this a marriage from ploue
then, such as we occasionally hear OFF,
$50 fancy. Lamm- Stella will not
express her opinion 90 that effect. but
can see that she thinks so. Well
now. as To Fetridge coming back into
the family again since his return from
Australia. 80 was just as we suruised
ostensibly TO pay Stella some atten-
lions; but the girl declares that he
never spoke of love 90 her. though no
lad plenty of opportunity"
which indicates" said Iamm
quietly, that FetridEe still came 10 see
Marion, despite her marriage TO stack
house"
$50 IT would seem: and that she re-
GREETED her hasty step In marrying too
soon. Well. but this Is only specula-
ton. To 20 on with the facts: Fet-
ridges attentions TO Stella were
thoughuessly received the girl insists
she has no other feeling Tor him than
that Of pleasant acquaintance-bu
after his departure on his recent bust
ness trip the purpose OF which We
cant determine il came 20 her ears
that there was great deal OF gossip
about their association. She deter
mined 20 be more careful In the future
The day before the murder. Fetridge
reappeared az the house. Il would
seem that the instant he got home ne
came 20 the North household He he
cetN w Aae OuA pans At once TO 20
hither and yOn with the girl. But the
poor things suspicious were aroused
by her long month OF reflection She
determined not 20 be made a catspaw
OF for any purpose. and at the first on
portunity-hoving summoned up the
necessary courage-she preached the
tabooed subject 20 her sister"
What time OF day was this?"
1T seems 10 have been about the
middle OF the afternoon. Marion was
not feeling very we'll She was living
down, and Stella was sitting beside her
with a fan. Marion introduced Fet-
ridges name herself making some in
quiries about his visit OF the previous
evening. Then Stella made so bold as
TO ask her advice and finally told what
her suspicious were"
but you don't mean"
simply that Fetridge pretended to
nav attentions IN her (CtelgoA g. a.