The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-09

on tne ourskIrIs or the CROWD pIocEIn.
! up every entrance to the house, muir
1 muir of welcome went up. after which
I way was made for him to the front
! door.
But before be could enter some one
/ pluclzed him by the sleeve.
Look up whispered a voice into
! ais ear.
! He did so and saw a woman's body
| hanging half out of an upper window.
1 1t hung limp. and the sight made him
I sick Notwithstanding his threescore
I years Of experience.
who's that?" he cried. That's not
Agatha Webbs head and shoulders"
"No. it's Batsy. the cook. She's dead
/ too. We left her where we found
her for the coroner to see"
But this is horribIe"' murmured Mr..
Sutherland. HAS there been a butch
er here:"
As be uttered these words he felt an
other quick pressure on his arm. Look
ing down. he saw leaning against him
the form of n young woman. but before
he could address her she had started
upright again and was moving on with
the throng. 1t was Miss Page.
at was the sight of this woman
hanging from the window which first
drew attention 10 the house." volun-
teered man who was standing as a
sort of guardian at the main gateway.
"Some of the sailors wives who had
been 10 the wharfs to see their hus-
bands off on the ship that sailed at day
break saw il as they came up the lane
on their way home and gave the alarm.
Without that we might not yet have
known what had happened"
But Mrs. Webb?'
"Come in and see
There was board fence about the
simple yard within which stood the
humble house forever after to be point
ed out as the scene Of Sutherland
towns most heartrending tragedy. In
this fence was a gate. and through this
gate now passed Mr. Sutherland and
his would be companion. Miss Page.
A path bordered by lilac bushes led the
way to the house. the door of which
stood wide open. AS soon as Mr..
Sutherland entered upon this path a
man appeared from the house and
came directly toward him. 1t was
Amos Fenton. the constable.
"Ah. Mr.. Sutherland" said he. "sad
business. very sad BUSINESS! But
what little girl have you there?'
This is Miss Page. my housekeeper's
niece She would come. Inquisitive-
ness. the cause. | do not approve of
it,
Miss Page must remain on the door
step. We allow no one inside except
ing Yourself" he said respectfully, in
recognition Of the fact that nothing of
importance was ever undertaken in
Sutherlandtown without the presence
of Mr.. Sutherland
Miss Page courtesied. looking so be-
witching in the fresh morning light
that the tough old constable scratched
his chin in grudging admiration. But
he did not reconsider his determination.
Seeing this. she accepted her defeat
gra cefully and moved aside to where
the bushes offered her more or less pro-
lection from the curiosity of those
about her. Meanwhile Mr. Sutherland
had stepped into the house.
He found himself in a small hall
with a staircase in front and an open
door at the left. On the threshold of
this open door man stood. who at
sight of him dotted his hat Passing
by this man. Mr.. Sutherland entered
the room beyond. A table spread with
eatables met his view. beside which, in
an attitude which struck him at the
moment as peculiar. sat Philemon
Webb. the well known master of the
house.
Astonished at seeing his old friend in
this room and in such a position he
was about to address him when Mr.
Fenton stopped him.
wait" said he. Take a look at
poor Philemon before you disturb him.
He was sitting just as you see him
wher we broke into the house a half
llur ago. and we have let him, be for
reasons you can easily appreciate. Ex-
anime him closely. Mr.. Sutherland; he
won't notice it,.
but what ails him? Why does he
sit crouched against the table? Is he
hurt, too:'
NO; look at his eyes"
Mr.. Sutherland stopped and pushed
aside the long gray locks that half con-
cealed the countenance of his aged
friend.
why" he cried startled, they are
closed, He isn't dead!''
mo; he is asleep
Asleep"
YES. He was asleep when we came
in and he is asleep yet. Some of the
neighbors wanted to awake him. but
would not let them. His wits are not
strong enough to bear a sudden shock.
NO. no. poor Philemon. But that he
should sit sleeping here while she-but
what do these bottles mean and this
parade of supper in the room they were
not accustomed to eat in
I'VE don't know. 1t has not been
eaten, you see. He has swallowed
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