The Washington times., 1907-11-17
Widow Of Major Fairfax Tells How He Slowly Crushed
Her Heart for Twenty Years. While She Drudged on
as His Housekeeper, an Unacknovvledged Wife u
Light Begins to Fall on
Trail Of the Murderer
Through the Wonan's
fearful Story Of Past.

SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS.
Annerly, detective, has been called by
Major Fairfax, Of The Orchards. 10 make
some Investigations Arriving at the sta
tion, be is met by Antrim. the major sec
retary- who tells him that Fairfax died
suddenly that morning. Foul play is sus-
pected
The family at The Orchards consists OF
Major Fairfax 5 sister-iD-lGW. Walter. ana
Rosamond Foster, and Laura and Jeanne
fdiTTaX. ali orphans, children OF the atoT
own brother and sister. There are also ser
wants. a hOusekeeper tMTs. Edmunds). and
Jefferson, the majors tody-servant.
Reynolds, lawyer OF uncertain Teputs-
ton, conducts the inquest. Mr.. Dalton Is
OF the opinion that the major was poisoned
Mrs Fairfax is certain that the death was
caused by one OF the household Ostensibly
the benefeiary OF the majors win. which
Adolph Myers, the family LAWYER has
charge Of. At the inquest Myers discovers
that he has brought away from his Office
1he wrong papers, and the viii is not read.
AEteF the inquest. AnnerIy and Myers start
10 drive TO town. The lawyer speaks Of the
mInual hatred Of Mrs Fairfax and the
housekeeper, and declares that there has
been a cruel wrong in the entire proceeding
On the bank OF a river the horse shies
and they are precipitated into the stream.
Myers Is killed and Anneriy barely escapes
with hts life.
Jean tells Anneri-F that on the night be
fore her uncle's death he talked with a man
on the veranda who made him a present OF
q small parcei. The mans voice was
familiar She heard him mention finding
something at Quivering Bayou.
Annerly goes to the bayou on the next
day. and comes upon elderly couple
living there In an old cabin. Upon hearing
OF the majors death the man seizes An
nerly's horse and sets OF 70 ind Myers
being ignorant OF his death.
On the way back Annerly stumbles upon
Walter Foster and a girl. statia, with
whom h is in love. She lives with the old
couple, but Is obviously OF a different sort
Foster takes Annerly home. and on the
way TO the Orchards also refers 10 the
veranda interview previously mentioned BY
Jean. Walter declares that the man was
Antrim. as does Mrs. Fairfax, who also
saw the mysterious visitor. Prom Antrim,
Annerly dnds that there was someone in
the house who possessed a great influence
over the major. No ons seems to know who
Il is.
Dalton discovers that the top layer Of
cigars in the box that he received from his
the major was smoking when he died) has
been changed. he forms a theory that they
we're poisoned with newly discovered and
very deadly drug The purchaser OF the
cigars answered TO the description Of An
trim.
Myers partner knows nothing OF the will.
but shows a note which he has found
among the dead lawyers effects, referring
to some one whom the major wishes 10 put
IN the penitentiary.
Mrs. Fairfax produces a viii made some
years before and entirely In her favor. II
is quite legal. ana she becomes mistress OF
The Orchards. Her first act Is to demand
that Mrs. Edmunds leave the house. An
nerly learns from Mrs. Edmunds that she
IS Major FairfaX's unacknowledged wife
and that their child, a daughter, has been
entirely lost track OF. Mrs. Edmunds knows
20 whom the majors note refers, and
thinks that one TO be the murderer. but she
VIII not disclose his name