The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-17

not pass this person. whom | instinc.
lively knew TO be man. followed
him till | came to high board fence
IL was that surrounding Agatha Webb's
house. and when l saw IL | could not
help connecting the rather stealfhy
gait of the man in front Of me with q
story I had lately heard of the large
sum of money she was known to have
in her house, Whether this was before
or after this person disappeared round
the corner | cannot say, but no sooner
had I become certain that he was bent
upon entering this house than my i'm
pulse to follow him became greater
than my precaution. and, turning aside
from the direct path to the labels.
hurried down High street just in time
to see the man enter Mrs. Webb's front
gateway.
cit was a late hour for visiting: but.
as the house had lights in both its low
er and upper stories. should by good
rights have taken it for granted that he
was an expected guest and gone my
own WAY to the labels. But | did not
The softness with which this person
stepped and the skuIking way in which
he hesitated 1T the front gate aroused
my worst fears and after be had open-
ed that gate and slid in l was so pur-
sued by the idea that he was there for
10 good that I stepped inside the gate
myself and took my stand in the deep
shadow cast by the old pear tree on
the right hand side Of the walk. Did
any one speak?"
There was q unanimous denial from
the five gentlemen before her, yet she
did not look satisfied
Il thought l heard some one make a
remark" she said and paused again
for half minute, during which her
smile was study. 1t was SO cold and
In such startling contrast to the vivid
glanees she threw everywhere except
behind her on the landing where Fred
erick stood listening to her every word.
I'VE are very much interested" re-
marked Mr.. Courtney. Pray go on"
Drawing her left hand from the bal
ustrade where it had rested, she looked
at one Of her fingers with an odd back
ward gesture.
81 WILL" she said, and her tone was
hard and threatening. Five minutes,
no longer, passed when 1 was startled
by a loud and terrible cry from the
house, and. looking up at the second
story window, from which the sound
proceeded, / saw a woman's figure
hanging out in a seemingly pulseless
condition. Too terrified to move, l
chung, trembling, to the tree, hearing
and not hearing the shouts and laugh
ter of dozen or M ore men who at that
minute passed by the corner on their
way to the wharfs. / was daZed, /
was choking, and only came to myself
when sooner or later, l do not know
how soon or how late, fresh horror
happened. The woman whom / had
Just seen fall almost from the window
was a serving woman, but when I
heard another scream l knew that the
mistress of the house was being at
tackled. and, riveting my eyes on those
windows, | beheId the shade of one of
them thrown back and hand appear,
fiinging out something which fell in
the grass on the opposite side of the
lawn Then the shade fell again. and,
hearing nothing further. l ran to where
the object flung out had fallen and,
feeling for it. found and picked up an
old fashioned dagger, dripping with
blood. Horrified beyond all expression.
dropped the weapon and drew back,
into my former place of con-
cealment.
'But I was not satisfied to remain
there. A curiosity, a determination
even. to see the man who had commit
ted this dastardly deed attacked me
with such force that I was induced to
leave my hiding place and even to en-
ter the house where in all probability
he was counting the gains he had just
obtained at the price of such precious
blood The door, which he had not
perfectly closed behind him. seemed
to invite me In. and before ! had real
lied my own temerity l was standing
In the hall of this i'll fated house."
The interest which up to this moment
had been breathless now expressed it
self in hurried CALCULATIONS and broken
words. and Mr.. Sutherland. who had
listened like one in dream, exclaimed
eagerly and in tone which proved
that he for the moment at least be-
Iieved this more than improbable tale:
"Then you can tell US if Philemon
was in the little room at the moment
when you entered the house"
As every one there present realized
the Importance OF this question.
GENERAL movement took place, and each +
md all drew nearer as she met their /!
yes and answered placidly:
"Yes; Mr.. Webb was sitting in a /
.hair asleep. He was the only person
saw"
ooh, I know he never committed this /
,rime." gasped his old friend, in re- /
ief so great that one and all seemed
o share it.
"Now / have courage for the rest.
20 on. Miss Page"
But Miss Page paused again to look /
It her finger and give that sidewise /
.oss to her head that seemed SO IN /
,alled for by the situation to any who i
lid not know of the compact between /
lerself and the listening man below.
81 hate to go back to that moment"
aid she, ''for when l saw the candles s
burning on the table and the husband
If the woman above sitting there in +