The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-09
CHAPTER ".
A MYSTERIOUS WOMAN.

LIS eChliCAldu hdS SOmS
nation to give. AS he was returning
home from the bedside Of a sick parish
Toner some little time before he had
been run against on this very corner
by a man rushing out of the gateway
In state of great agitation. This man
held something In his hand that gilt
tered, and. though the encounter near
ly upset them both, he had not stopped
to utter an apology, but stumbled
away into the darkness in a dazed and
feeble way. showing that he was
neither young nor active. The minister
had not been able to see his face, but
Loticed the ends Of long beard blow
ing over his shoulder as he hurried
away.
Philemon was a clean shaved man.
Asked il he could give the time of his
encounter. he replied that it was after
IL and before Il. for he was in his own
house by u.
Ibid you look up at these windows
before leaving?" asked Mr.. Fenton,
for this interview had taken place in
the presence of the dead.
II must have, for 1 now remember
they were both lighted"
Were the shades up?'
II think not. or should have noticed
the ceiling of the room. i remember
seeing nothing"
How We're the shades when you
broke into the house this morning."
inquired Mr.. Sutherland Of the con-
stable.
"Just as they are now; we have NOV
ed nothing. The shades were both
down-one OF them over an open win
dow"
'Well, we may find this encounter
of Mr.. Cranes of decided Importance"
81 wish | had seen the mans face"
remarked the latter.
what did the object look like you
saw glittering in his handY
II should not like to venture IN
opinion. / saw it but an instant"
"Could it have been a knife or an old
fashioned daggerT
LIT might have BEEN"
ALAS. poor Agatha! That money,
something she so despised. should
cause the death Of creature SO grand
and simple. Unhappy life. unhappy
for Agatha Webb
Let sue StcLlS u udbc PC0C0
Mt last" said the minister. II have
never seen her look 50 contented."
Then leading Mr. Sutherland aside he
whispered: What is 1t you say about
money? Had she any considerable
amount OF it? l ask because In spite
of their humble means Of living she al
ways put a generous donation on the
plate, and | have received more than
once during my passionate an unexpect-
eddy large and anonymous contribution
for certain charities. AS it was always
for sick or suffering children r.
Yes. yes. / have no doubt it came
from her. She was by no means poor,
though I myself never knew the extent
OF her means till lately. Philemon was
a good business man once. but they ev-
identity preferred to live simply, having
no children living
They have lost six. l have been
told
so the Porchester folks say. They
probably had no heart for display or
for even the simplest luxuries. At all
events they did not indulge in them"
philemon has long been past indulg-
ing in anything"
"Oh. he likes his comfort. and be has
had it too. Agatha never stinted him"
But why do you think her death
was due to her having money"
"She had large sum in the house,
and there are some who knew this"
And is it gomez"
THAT we shall know later"
As the coroner arrived at this mo-
ment the minister's curiosity had to
wait Fortuna tely for his equanimity
no one had the presumption to ask him
to leave the room.
The coroner was a man Of but few
words and but little given to emotion
Yet they were surprised at his first
question.
~"Who Is the young woman who IL
standing outside there, the only one in
the yards o.
Mr. Sutherland. moving rapidly to
the window. drew aside the shade.
1T is Miss Page. my housekeepers
niece" he explained Il do not under.
stand her interest In this affair. She
followed me here from the house and
could hardly be got to leave this room.
into which she intruded herself against
my express command"