Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1907-03-07
CHAPTER XxXIII.

IT'S SCCtniiSy liiipcilctIdDic mystery,
showing the future with its dread pos
sibilities. But when at last sleep came
it was profound, nor did she wake until
late in the morning. The fog which
had hung mournfully over the city the
previous evening had not yet quite
lifted, and at first thought the dull gray
atmosphere was the light of early dawn.
A glance at her watch showed her it
was past 10 o'clock, and she touched
her bell.
AS if awaiting the signal, Veronica
Immediately entered, hastily yet noise
lessly crossed the room, and flinging
one arm round her mothers shoulders,
kissed her
"Oh, mother, mother" the girl muir
INJURED with a sob in her throat.
The terrier dominant in Veronica's
voice struck its hearer, in whose mind
Immediately arose foreshadowing of
pain, foreboding of horror
What is it, child?' she asked,
scarcely able to frame her sentence.
Something has happened"
'Ah, | know; he is dead" Olive
Dumbarton replied in tone OF despair
Not Mr. Bostock," said Veronica,
quickly.
mo. Who them" her mother ask
ed hurriedly, load lifted from her
heart, her eyes fixed questioningly upon
her daughters.
| "Valerius."
'Valerius?" repeated Olive Dunbar
ton incredulously, the truth not yet
reaching her mind.
He was found dead this morning on
a couch in his study. lis man came
here to tell us, but ! would not disturb
You. 1t is terrible, terrible. mother
dear"
A low moan was the only. reply Olive
Dunbarton gave. But no. sooner had
she realized the sudden death of one
whom she had seen in health and
strength few days previously than her
active mind began to form surmises, her
vivid imagination to shape fears. After
long pause she said:
This is pitiful poor Valerius, Tell
me all, Veronica?"
at = is thought--it is feared-but
nothing yet known. A letter lay on
his desk directed to George Coris, and
on the table bottle which had contain
ed chloroform."
Presently she asked in a voice that
was almost whisper:
rs there no letter for me?"
Il don't know, mother. have been
so scared, but I'll GO and see"
Left alone in the semi-darkened room
her grief and pity for Valerius, to-
gether with the fear which lay behind
them, overcame her, and she began to
sob and cry Historically. Seeing this,
Veronica, on her return, could not keep
back her tears, and they both wept bit
terly for some time. When eventually
the girl was able to control herself and
had partially succeeded in soothing her
mother, she produced an envelope direc-
ted by Valerius and sealed with red
wax, bearing his monogram. And the
curtains having been drawn and the
blinds raised, Olive Dumbarton with
trembling hands opened the letter and
read there the confession she had dread
ed and anticipated.
Meanwhile all was confusion in the
house where the body of Valerius Gal
braith lay; servants going from room
to room with bewildered air; police
men going to and fro; the chilling,
stagnating atmosphere of death weigh
ing upon all. And among those who
came and went was Mackworth, who,
not without disappointment, realized
that the case which had puzzled him
l Idu OSCH DIOuSlI u oil CIlQ WITHOUT
his aid or intervention.
But the previous night the Inspector
had returned from Paris, whittier he
had gone, to ascertain for himself if
| Valerius had been there on the night
of the Hoxton Road tragedy Without
much difficulty Mackworth had learned
of Galbraith's absence from his hotel
on that date, and armed with this fact
had FASTENED to London, resolving
further to trace the movements of the
man who it now seemed possible was
connected with Dumbarton's death.
With morning Mackworth found his
labors unnecessary. Va1erius had es-
capped, leaving a letter which acknow-
lodged his deed.
When i'll due time jury had re-
turned verdict declaring Valerius Gal
braith guilty of the death of David
Dumbarton and the innocence alike of
Olive and George Bostock was estab-
lished That the latter had confessed
to a murder of which he had not been
guilty was set down by the press and
received by the public as conse-
quence of the delirium from which he
had suffered, self-accusation being a not
uncommon occurrence with those whose
minds were temporarily affected by
drink, fever or accidents.
As time passed George Bostock's
consciousness, at first faint and fit
ting, gradually strengthened and re-
tanned its hold for longer periods; and
FIVE days after the last operation he
was enabled to answer questions. His
replies, which were always mouosyllabic,
seemed delivered with reluctance, and it
was thought advisable not to tax his
mind by addressing inquiries, or en-
Tightening him regarding what had
happened until his brain regained more
of its former strength.
Again and again Headwick had felt
prompted to tell him of Galbraith's con-
fession, but that he feared to disobey
orders. But when one afternoon, while
seated beside the patient, the latter sud-
denly asked:
"How is she?"
'fHeadwick, knowing to whom he re-
ferred, assured him she was we'll A
look of contentment that relieved its
WEAKNESS passed across BostocRs face.