The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1907-04-19
The We're Best AssOrtmen
pthn-nitu

scene. A woman was ..kneeing beside the
for whose sake would have lmperiled my
very soul. Her great, brown eyes were lifted
to my face; the creamy complexion had
blanched to deathike pallor her golden
hair had and fell IN
bowed with grief and in her eyes, fixed upon
my face, was mute look of horror, horror
unutterable, horror too deep for words.
| came to the side of the PROSTATE body,
and STOPPING, began to examine the wound.
There was no hope of saving him. He was
dead, stone dead; the bullet had passed d.
rectly through his heart and he had died
his pocket on the side upon which he fell.
had been broken. And as 1 turned the body
over the white, cold face was uplifted to the
above. saw that the hands Of the watch
had pointed to quarter past six when the
works had ceased to revolve, and the mechsn.
He had met his death at quarter past six.
1t was now nearly nine. Mechanically,
noted these fats jottg them down IN
lantern.
stopped once more over that which had been
Paul Ernscliffe, and carefully noted every
point of interest in the. case. Silence, only
broken by the sound Of suppressed sobbing.
dead man, her face hidden in her hands.
My heart grew numb and cold as l watched
well had said in my madness two hours
ago that ! could make any sacrifice for her
sake to win her love, yet sometimes even a
My brain was dizzy. and grew faint My
temples throbbed madly. ] felt as II I was
about to fall. Someone had gone for the
body until hasty inquest should be held.
| stood there faint and trembling; a mufled
S Ss aTaya s in RH GTao % pwn
so 1t seemed, voice reached my ears; and
at last l realized that someone was speaking,
a new arrival upon the scene.
Slowly his words reached my brain ard
stole to my understanding.
Are you sure?. heard as in a dream.
Eyes, sir; sure's sh0otin' ~ came the an
swer. And then with a fearful effort
aroused myself from the lethargy WHICH was
stealing oyer my senses and benumbing my
ened to what he had to say.
'Yes SIR, can sweart to It," the man
was repeating In scared sort OF voice, with
a frightened glance at the dead body. Il
certainly did hire boat to fellow to run
over to Dead Mans Point to meet Mr. Paul
Ernscllife. The man said he had business
let him have the boat twas a skif called
the Ellen, and seen him pull out from
shore and head toward Dead Mans Point at
minutes row over here from my place. About
half-past six he came back lookin' pale and
all broke up asked him If # he S seen Ino Mr.
mad enough to bite ten-penny nail In two;
and he said to mind my own business that
Ensc was yan and fes0 to be
tween the two, sir and -and-the man aint
got, the best reputation in these parts. Name.
sim Yes ss trsd e vow O ai0u sa
sir You see, wardour's got daughter
Ruby is her name-a mighty pretty girl she
Mr.. '' Ernseliffe was acc a.comin there too fire.,
quent of late-to the Wardours cottage, I
means-and I know little Ruby set great
distraction. oh, it's cruel in a man, gen
tleman like Mr.. Ernsciffe, to trife with an
innocent girl. Whatever there was between
with swift glance In the direction of Esme,
"but l know little Ruby Wardour has left
home, and nobody. seems to know where the
child has gone She's only seventeen, and as
mo wonder the father was half crazy over
it and think that's the tn, mis- mission he had
Is true, then the world is well rid of man
like Ernscliffe.
"But / thought soon as 1 heard of his
about the hard feelin's Steve had for the dead
man. He'd be arrested anyway, and l want
proyocation to punish this man. And Mr..
Ernscliffe was uncommonly ugly to poor old
Steve, and treated him with contempt. And
this man, he only done what any other father
in his place would have done. That's all
have to say, gentlemen. If can help you In
The new arrival, a tall, solemn looking In
dividual, dlsmounted from his horse and
slowly approached the spot where the body
lay. A few moments later jury was found
and an impromptu inquest prepared to take
place. l drew Colonel Lyell aside.
Colonel" said, quickly, you had better
remove your daughter. This is no fit scene
for her."
looking quite humble for the first time In his
Then he went to where Esme crouched
upon the sand beside the body Of the man
who had been her lover.
Daughter - Colonel Lyell lifted her to
her feet Come with me, dear. This Is no