Sharp County record., 1907-03-08


could find nothing to explain the IN.
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, a pistol wound in his head.
know all that, but know much
more"
IF you knew more, why did you
not tell it to the coroner when he
was here?" demanded Mrs. Dalrymple,
coldly. Her tone was firm, but her
lips lost their ruddy hue and mute ter
ror filed her dark eyes.
Il had good and sufficient reasons
for Withholding what knew" de-
clared Dalrymple, dryly. "I deemed
it 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
fed 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 ioked with
you when he returned home, |, there
fore, believe you misrepresented mat.
fara tbat for IN tho oNrnarb ~
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? l 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 | thank you for 1t. To
proceed, the sound Of pistol shot
on the second floor may sound like
the crash of an unfastened shutter to
those In the kitchen, bu: it would
not sound so to any one in a room
not ten feet away. Why did you
not investigate the strange sound in.
stead Of ringing for servant"
81 was doing at the time, and
could not determine from whence the
sound proceeded" Mrs. Dalrymple
ayerred a note Of triumph in her soft
ly modulated tones. III 7 had been
awake | would undoubtedly have
known that the sound came from Ed.
wards dressing room"
Perhaps SO" returned Dalrymple,
in a 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 physi.
ciah"
II didn't! II ls faIse!" 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.lnlaw had hurl.
ed upon her
You did" William Dalrymple had
risen and lowered above her shrinking
form like an ayenging spirit. His
tones we're cold and stern without
trace Of pity. you sent Nora for a
doctor, and as she left the room, you
drew my brothers pearlhandled re.
volver from your bosom, and placed Il
80 that the world would think he had
committed selfdestruction, You kill.
ed HIM"
Mercy! Mercy" she walled, fall.
Ing upon her knees and clutchlng 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
II her touch polluted him. II shall not
send you where you would receive
your Just punishment" he said, quiet.
ly, III you do what wish. The pride
OF the Dalrymples alone saves you
from the fate you 80 richly deserve.
The tant Of suicide Ia 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 II YOU
agree TO my demands
But Nora" gasped the guilty wom.
an, tremulously. She will tell, and
IL will come out"
II have provided for that" replied
Dalrymple, eoldly, Nora IL an old
servant Of our family, and Ia dis.
Greet TO make sure Of her silence,
have agreed to pension her for tho
rest OF her life, and at her death,
give q certain amount to her children,
In tho event Of her maintaining O per.
petual silence, My brothers prop.
erty is devised 10 you, as you prob.
ably know You may take II without
any objection on my part, II YOU leave
hg aoon aa tho funeral IL over and 20