The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-10-13
CHAPTER vII-continued.

IT viii have to say It, dare say. to
help you understand the situation.
Rosy and Laura were never one the
best OF terms even from the beginning
My sister was jealous OF her cousins
influence over her uncle, and Laura
has a nasty disposition.
And after the will things grew
worse. Laura persisted In haunting
my sitter as II she already knew that
she was my uncle's heir And to make
matters worse, Rosy. 1 am sure. had
more than half a liking for Antrim.
and Il Infatuated her that he persisted
In showing his preference for Laura so
openly.
II do not mean that my sister was
in love with him." he added hastily.
II am quite sure that she never was
that, but he was young and handsome
and she resented the fact that Laura,
little younger and no handsomer than
herself, shoul. parade her knowledge
Of his infatuation so openly"
4 understand the situation now"
said Annerly.
''As I have said, after the will was
made things Of course went from bad
TO worse. Laura pretended to know
W
lie stared at the names a long time
as II enlightenment must come in some
way from the senseiess characters I'D
on the bit Of paper. Then he walked
to the window and looked outside.
The sun had set behind the tender
growth Of budding forest-a rosy stain
mat swept across the wide horizon
and melted in the upward sweep of
grading pink Of apple buds and bios
SONS faded a little as the shadows
fell into a drift OF white. Spring was
qu1ckening n thousand stems into
color and fragrance.
He had forgotten the paper in his
hand and the problem to which he
could not find an answer. And then
suddenly Up the driveway he saw some
men coming toward the house carry
ing an empty coffin between them.
The shadow Of it. black and ominous,
fell across the threshold.
Anncrly shivered a little as he heard
Tire measured tread Of the bearers In
tie hall outside. His eyes grew stern
and his lips smileless He took the
ndper from his pocket again. and op-
pcsite one OF the names he had so
lately written he drew a straight
black line that dropped at the end
like a hangman's loop.
The body OF Adolf Myers, pending
It's removal to his brothers home An
the city, from which the funeral was
TO take place, rested in the back par
Tor. room little frequented at any
time by the family. and separated
from the apartment where the shroud-
ed body Of aMjor Fairfax lay in SOL
tmn state by fast-locked door.
When Annerly entered, it was cool
and empty save for the dead body.
The windows, left open slightly. were
on the north size of the house. and
through the half-drawn curtains the
detective caught a tantalizing glimpse
Of the shacowy forest.
An old pear tree. gnarled and
crooked, held withered arms across the
low sill as II to greet the sodden bur
den which death had brought. The
den which death had brought. The
wind brought fragrant harvests of
pale. sher-like pink petals and laid
them about the black coffin resting
en- its low trestles.
May you not have been mistaken.
Foster?T asked Annerly quietly. May
not Laura Fairfax have really
known?"
II am quite sure that she did not.
sir. My uncle liked to see the strife
between the two. 1 have sometimes
doubted II. after all. he cared any
more for Laura than for my sitter And
I have more than once thought that
Jean. with her quiet. mouse-lilxe ways,
was more to him than the others. Only
It would have spoiled the sport for him
had Jean been the fortunate one. and
known tt
Antrim"
"Knew quite as little as the others.