The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-05-20
6bs
FILTGREE BALL
by.
ANNA KATHARINE GREEN.
Author Of "T7e Mastery Of Agag,a W-ebb.n
Lost Mans Lane" Etc.


Ills tormentOr 0lu 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.
be 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 questions
in tones of such suspicionY Is It not
plain enough that my wife took her
own life under q misapprehension OF
my state Of mind toward herr why
should YOU feel II necessary to rake M
these personal matters. which. how
ever interesting to the world az large,
are Of a painful nature TO meg
"Nlr jeffrey" retorted the other,
with a 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 ques-
tiOns and show this interest because
the charge Of suicide which has hither-
70 been made against your wife is not
entirely sustained 10y 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 bin.
"Impossiblew he cried out in a pro-
test as forcible as it was agonized
"Y0u are playing with my misery. She
could have had no one there; she would
not. There is not a man living before
whom she would have fred that dead
ly shot unless it was myself Il
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 Il was this gen
tleman's right to know in what a
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 refute a
suggestion that fell just short OF per.
sonal accusation. he sank down in the
first chair he came to and became. as
il were. lost IN the vision OF that ghost.
" ribbon tying and the solitary blow
ing out Of the candle upon this scene of
mOurnful death. Then. with a strug-
Cling sense of having beard something
which called for answer. be rose blind
ly to his feet and managed to let fall
these words
"You are mistaken. No one was there,
or, If any one was. it was not l. There
is a man in this city who can prove it %
But when Mr. Jeffrey WAS asked ia
give the name of this man he showed
confusion and presently was obliged to
admit that he could neither recall bis
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 aft
er the sun went down and that the
man would be sure 10 remember thii
meeting II we could only hud him
NHsaa
from the Moore house and quite out OF
the way OF all his accustomed haunts
Coroner u. asked him how be came "a
be there. He replied that be had just
come from the Rock Greek cemetery
that he had been IN a wretched stats
OF mind nR day. and. possibly being in
huenced by what he had heard OF tbs
yearly vigIls MT Moore was IN th'
habit OF keeping there. had taken 9
notion to stroll among the graves ir
search OF the rest and peace OF mind
be had failed 10 md 10 his aimles'
walks about the city. Al least. thai
was the way he chose 10 account fOI
the meeting he mentioned. Falling In
70 reverie again. he seemed to be try
ing to recall the name which at thii
moment was Of such importance tS
him. But II was without avail, as be
presently acknowledged.
II cannot remember who II was. Ny
brain is whirling. and can recollec
nothing but that this man and myself
left the cemetery together on the nigh
mentioned just as the gate was. being
closed AS il closes at sundown, th'
hour can be fiyed TO minute II wat
somewhere near Z, believe; nea
enough. I am sure. for ii 10 have beer
impossible for me 10 be at the Moore
Louise at the time my unhappy wifi
is supposed 10 have taken her life
There is no doubt about your believing
thisT' he demanded with suddeI
haughtiness, as. rising 10 his feet h,
confronted MS in an the pride Of hi
exceptionally handsome person.
"We wish TO believe H." assented tn
coroner, rising in his turn THAT on
belief may become certainty will you le
us know the instant you recall it. IN
name Of the man you talked with a
the cemetery gate? His testimony, IA
Jeffrey teils h.s story