The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1907-03-21

NOui uuSDdilu uIeSSlIB Oull, anu
could find nothing to explain the un-
usual sound. You ordered her to go
into my brothers room, but she de-
INJURED unless you accompanied her.
The girl entered first. You followed;
my brother was found lying on the
floor, pistol wound in his head.
know all that, but | know much
more"
IF you knew more, why did you
not tell 1t to the coroner when he
vals here?" demanded Mrs. Dalrymple,
coldly. Her tone was firm, but her
lips lost their ruddy hue and mute ter
ror filled her dark eyes
Il had good and sufficient reasons
for Withholding what i knew" de-
clared Dalrymple dryly. Il deemed
1t wiser to tell you first. To be frank
with you, | will say that my brother
came to me yesterday morning and
told me that he had learned certain
facts concerning your conduct before
and since your marriage. He had
made an investigation and was salts
fled of the truth of what he had heard.
From what he told me of his inten-
tions concerning your future, | am
sure he neither laughed or joked with
you when he returned home. l, there
fore, believe you misrepresented mat
ters that far to the corner"
Even if this be true" retorted Mrs.
Dalrymple, her courage returning with
the hope that this was all her brother
in-law knew, would you have had me
reveal these matters to be banded
about through the papers? | should
think your family pride would shrink
from such a scandal"
You did not conceal your real con-
versation with my brother out of re-
gard for our family pride" he re-
turned, quietly. 1T was done to- save
yourself, yet l thank you for it. To
proceed, the sound of a pistol shot
on the second floor may sound like
the crash of an unfastened shutter to
those III the kitchen, but it would
not sound so to any one in room
not ten feet away. Why did you
not investigate the strange sound in
stead of ringing for SERVANT"
Il was doing at the time, and
could not determine from whence the
sound proceeded. Mrs. Dalrymple
averred, note of triumph in her soft
ly modulated tones. ''If | had been
awake | would undoubtedly have
known that the sound came fro" Ed
wards dressing room"
Perhaps So" returned Dalrymple,
in tone by no means reassuring. Il
have one question to ask, however.
Why did you place my brothers pis-
tol close to his hand as the servant
left the room to summon a physi-
cian?"
Il didn't! 1t is false!" stammered
Mrs. Dalrymple, but her actions dis
proved her words. Her head fell for
ward on her breast, her hands drop
ped nervelessly by her side, and she
trembled visibly under the storm of
proof that her brother-in-law had hurl-
ed upon her
You did" William Dalrymple had
risen and lowered above her shrinking
form like an avenging spirit. His
tones were cold and stern without a
| trace of pity. You sent Nora for a
doctor, and as she left the room, you
drew my brothers pearl-handled re-
volver from your bosom, and placed it
50 that the world would think he had
committed self-destruction. You kill
ed him!"
Mercy! Mercy" she walled, fall
| ing upon her knees and clutching his
hand in the agony of terror. Have
mercy and / will do as you wish.
Only don't send me to prison cell" !"
Dalrymple drew back from her as
if her touch polluted him. Il shall not
send you where you would receive
your just punishment" he said, quiet
ly, "if you do what / wish. The pride
of the Dalrymples alone saves you
from the fate you so richly deserve.
The taint of suicide is hard enough to
endure, but the trial and execution of
one bearing our name would trail our
pride in the dust. For this reason,
will not diyulge the truth if you
agree to my demands
But Nora" gasped the guilty WON.
an. TREMENDOUSLY. She will tell, and
it will come out"
81 have provided for that" replied
l.Dalrymple. coldly. Nora is an old
servant of our family. and is dis
Greet To make sure of her silence
| have agreed to pension her for the
rest of her life. and. at her death
give a certain amount to her children
in the event of her maintaining a per
petual silence. My brothers prop
erty is devised to you. as you prob
ably know. You may take it without
any objection on my part, if you leave
as soon as the funeral is over and &c
to Europe. assuming your maiden
name, and promising never to re
turn to this country or to use oul
name in any way. If you do this and
adhere to V. you may so free, with
only your remorse to haunt you. II