Cañon City record., 1906-08-30
CHAPTER V.

| george BostOck was eager to hear
| Mrs. Dumbarton'S account of the event.
| Not that he needed words of hers to
confirm his belief in her innocence-of
that none was more certain than he
but he was impatient to hear how il
came 70 pass that she was found in a
position and under circumstances that
conveyed an idea of guilt
Veronica, likewise, longingly awaited
this narrative. which she felt certain
would prove a complete vindication of
her mothers innocence.
when you had left last night" Mrs.
Dumbarton said, turning toward the pub
| Usher, who sat at a little distance, his
| grave, anxious face expressing interest
and sympathy. Il took up the book which
had arrived by the last post and began
TO read. Feeling no. and feverish, |
kept the lower window open. All within
was perfectly silent, no sound came from
without and the peace seemed rcstful to
my senses.
''The book interested me and felt no
inclination TO Sleep" Mrs. Dumbarton
continued. and then paused while slight
shudder passed through her frame, as
if some distressing sight presented it
self to her vision
How long did you continue TO read ?"
George Bostock asked.
Probably for a couple OF hours after
you left know | was suddenly startled
BY hearing the garden gate flung violently
back and sounds of footsteps rushing to-
ward the house: but before could real
ize what had happened figure darted
through the open window and stood
within the room-a mans figure, whose
actions were frantic. as If he were
4. q
from pain At this sight / screamed, then
paralyzed by terror, ! remained speech
less and motionless.
Il saw that the man before me was
my husband. Scarcely had | understood
this when he came staggering toward
me. but before he reached me he fell.
a cry for help and mercy on his lips. As
he did not move, | drew nearer TO him,
fascinated. fearful. expectaut, until, over
coming my~terror and the sense of rcpul-
sion that filed me. stood beside him,
when for the first time | saw saw a
knife had been thrust into his breast.
'As yet there was no sign of blood.
no forcwarning of death: my sense of
dread was underlined. The sight of his
white. haggard and distorted face ap-
pcaled to me through all, and ! had but
one thought, to save him from danger,
when, acting on impulse, | stretched out
my hand and drew the knife from his
breast. As did blood gushed from the
wound upon my hands, upon my dress,
and he moaned as If stricken anew. I'm
able to grasp what had happened, bent
over him, to see his eyes grow CLASSY
and his face become livid. Then / knew
he was dead
"Of what happened afterward / was
but dimly conscious" Olive Dumbarton
continued. "As one sees figure in a
dream ] saw my maid rush into the room
and as suddenly disappear; then came
Veronica. and finally the servant returned
with policeman At sight of him a
| fresh sense of horror and heavy forebod-
ings of i'll fell upon my senses, and |
remember no more
did you see no one else-no second
figure pursuing him?" George Bostock
asked, his anxiety plain to witness.
NO"
"And he mentioned no name-spokc
no word that would lead you to know
or suspect why he had been murdered ?'
"The only words he spoke were those
| in which he asked for help and mercy"
"You arc sure nothing has escaped
your memory"
Nothing. You thinl; my case seems
hopeless she said, reading his thoughts.
"I have no doubt" George Bostock
said, with the object of cheering her,
that the truth regarding this unhappy
affair will come out-that is. that the
truth of your innocence will be proved"
God grant that it may" she cried i;
'but cannot fail to see that my danger
is great"
"You are not guilty." he answered,
deeply moved by her words and the pain
with which they were uttered. Surely
that can be proved"
"Only by discovering who is" she re-