Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-04-04
CHAPTER XXXuI

Olive Dutnbarton spent a wakeful,
restful, and troubled night. vivid and
| soaring thoughts she was powerless to
Danish, pcturing the past with its
troubles, dwelling on the present with
its seemingly impenetrable mystery
showing the future with its dread pos
sibilties. But when at last sleep came
it was profound, nor did she wake until
late in the morning. The fog which
had hung mournfully over the city tile
previous evening had not vet quite
lifted, and at first thought the dull gray
atmosphere was the light of early dawn.
A glance at her watch show I'd her it
was past 10 o'clock, and she touched
her bell.
As if awaiting the signal, Veronica
immediately entered, hastily yet noise
lessly crossed the room, and hingihg
one arm round her mothers shoulders,
kissed her.
"Oh, mother, mother" the girl muir
INJURED with sob in her throat
The terror dominant in Veronica's
voice struck its hearer, in whose mind
Immediately arose foreShadowing of
pain, forebodng of horror
What is it, child?' she asked,
scarcely able to frame her Sentence.
Something has happened"
"Ah, | know; he is dead" Olive
Dumbartou replied in a tone of despair.
Not Mr.. Bostock,' said Veronica,
quickly.
No. Who them her mother ask
ed hurriedly, a load lifted from her
heart, her eyes fixed questioningly upon
her daughters.
"Nalerius."
VaIerius?" repeated Olive Dunbar
ton incredulously, the truth not yet
reaching her mind.
"He was found dead this morning on,
a couch in his study. His man came
here to tell us, but | would not disturb
,ou. 1t is terrible, terrible, mother
dear"
A low moan was the only reply Olive
She realized the sudden death of one
whom she had seen i'll health and
strength few days previously than her
active mind began to form surmises. her
vivid imagination TO shape fears After
a long pause She said:
This is pitiful poor Valerius. Tell
me ALL Vcronica?'
1T is thought-it is feared-but
hothing yet known A letter lay on
his desk directed to George CoriS, and
on the table a bottle which had contain
ed choroforn."
Presently she asked in a voice that
was almost whisper
Is there no letter for me :"'
Il don't know, mother. | have been
so scared, but III go and see.''
Left alone in the ni-darkened room,
her grief and pity for 'Valerius, to-
gether with the fear which lay behind
them, overcame her, and she began to
sob and cry Historically. Seeing this,
Veronica, on her return, could not keep
back her tears, and they both Wept BIT
terly for some time. When eventually
the girl was able to control herself and
had partially succeeded in soothing her
mother, she produced an envelope difec-
ted by Valerius and sealed with red
wax, bearing his monogram. And the
curtains having been drawn and the
blinds raised, Olive Dunibarton with
trembling hands opened the letter and
read there the confession she had dread
ed and anticipated.
Meanwhile all was confusion in the
house where the body of Valerius Gal
braith lay; servants going from room
to room with bewildered air; police
men going to and ffo; the chilling,
stagnating atmosphere of death weigh
ing upon. all. And among those who
came and went was Mackworth, who,
not without disappointment, realized
that the case which had puzzled him
had been brought to an end without
his aid or intervention.
But the previous night the inspector
had returned from Paris, whittier he
had gone, to ascertain for himself if
Valerius had been there on the night
of the Hoxton Road tragedy. Without
much difficulty Mackworth had learned
of Galbraith's absence from his hotel
on that date, and armed with this fact
had fastened to London, resolving
further to trace the movements of the
man who it now seemed possible was
connected with Dumbarton's death.
With morning Mackworth found his
labors unnecessary. Valetius had es-
capped, leaving a letter which ackhow-
lodged his deed.
When in due time jury had re-
turned verdict declaring Valerius Gal
braith guilty of the death of David |
Dumbaftoh and the innocence alike of |
Olive and George Bostock was estab- |
lished. t hat the latter had confessed |
to a murder of which he had not been |
guilty was set down by the press and
received by the public as conse-
offence of the delitium from which he
had suffered, self-accusation being a not |
tnconifnon occurrence with those whose |
minds were temporarily affected by
drink, fever or accidents.
AS time passed George Bostock's
consciousness, at first faint and Fit |
ting, gradually strengthened and re-
tained its hold for longer periods; and
five days after the last operation he
was enabled to answer questions. His /
replies, which were always monosyllabie,
seemed delivered with reluctance, and Ii |
was thought advisable not to tax his
mind by addressing inquiries, or en-
him regarding what had |