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


She let the hood drop from her head
and. turning. surveyed him with slow
smile. There was witehery in that
smile sufficient TO affect a much more
cultivated and callous nature than his.
and though he had been proof against
it once he could not quite resist the
effect of its repetition.
Il insisted upon entering" said she.
do not blame the men. They did not
want 10 use force against a woman"
She had not a good voice and she knew
it, but she covered up this defect by
choice of intonations that carried her
lightest speech TO the heart. Hard
yisaged Amos Fenton gave a grunt.
which was as near an expression OF
approval as he ever gave TO any one.
We'll. well.' he growled. but not Ill
naturally. Its a morbid curiosity
that brings you here. Better drop il.
girl 1t won't do you any good in the
eyes of sensible people"
Thank you." was her demure reply.
her lips dimpling at the corners in
way to shock the sensitive Mr. Suther-
land.
CHANGING from her to the still out
lines of the noble figure on the couch,
he remarked with an air OF mild re-
proof:
II do not understand you. Miss Page.
If this solemn sight has no power 10
stop your coquetries nothing can. AS
for your curiosity. il is both i'll timed
and unwomanly. Let me see you leave
this house at once. Miss Page, and If
in the few hours which must elapse
before breakfast you can find time TO
pack your trunks. you will still further
oblige me-"
''Oh. don't send me away, entreat
you"
1t was q cry from her inner heart
which she probably regretted. for she
instantly sought to cover up the anxi-
ETY. 1t showed by a submissive bend OF
the head and step backward. Neither
Mr.. Fenton nor Mr.. Sutherland seemed
to hear the one or see the other, their
attention having returned to the more
serious matter In hand.
The dress which our poor friend
wears shows her to have been struck
before retiring" commented Mr.. Suth-
erland. after another short survey Of
Mrs. Webb's figure. IF Philemon
Excuse me. SIR" interrupted a voice,
Ddt thS souhS "ou1dn Is iiSltllluS "
what you say. She is still in the hall"
1t was the young man speaking. who
had been left in the hall.
'She is, is sher' exclaimed Fenton
sharply. his admiration for the fascin-
ating stranger having oozed out at his
companions rebuff. IL will soon show
her But the words melted into thin
air as he reached the door. The young
girl had disappeared. and only faint
perfume remained in the place where
she had stood.
"A most extraordinary person."
grumbled the constable, turning back.
but stopping again as faint murmur
came up from below.
1.-THE gentleman is waking" called
up a voice whose lack of music was
quite perceptible at a distance.
With q bound Mr.. Fenton descended
the stairs. followed by Mr.. Sutherland.
Miss Page stood before the door Of
the room in which sat Philemon Webb.
As they reechad her side she made a
IIIIe DOW tnat was hair mock1ng, haif
deprecatory, and slipped from the
house. An almost unbearable sensa-
ton Of incongruity vanished with her.
and Mr.. Sutherland, for one, breathed
like man relieved.
II wish the doctor would come"
Fenton said, as they watched the slow
lifting of Philemon Webb's head. Our
fastest rider has gone for him, but he's
out Dorchester way. and it may be an
hour yet before he can get here"
'Philemonr'
Mr. Sutherland had advanced and
l. Ii. Ill fv.;1 eli
philemon, what has become Of your
guests? You've waited for them here
till morning"
The old man with a dazed look sur
veyed the two plates set on either side
of him and shook his head.
flames and John are getting proud"
said he. cor they forget. they forget"
James and John. He must mean the
Fables, yet there were many others
to these names in town. Mr..
Sutherland made another effort.
philemon. where is your wife? do
not see any place set here for herT'
"Agatha's sick, Agatha's cross; she |
don't care for poor old man like me-"
"Agatha's dead and you know it,
Numbered back the constable with i'll |
judged severity. Who killed her? Tell
me that. Who killed herr
A sudden quenching of the last spark |
of intelligence in the old mans eye
was the dreadful effect of these words. I
with that strange gurgle |
which proclaims an utterly irresponsi- |
BILE mind, he cried:
1.-The pussy cat! 1t was the pussy |
cat. Who's killed? I'm not killed. |
Let's go to Jericho"
Mr.. Sutherland took him by the arm
and led him upstairs. Perhaps the /
sight Of his dead wife would restore /
him. But he looked at her with the /
same Indifference he showed to every
thing else.
II don't like her calico dresses said I
he. .'She might have worn silk, but /
she wouldn't. Agatha. will you wear
silk to my funeral:'
The experiment was too painful. and 1
they drew him away But the consta-
ble's curiosity had been reused, and /
after they had found some one to take
care of him he drew Mr.. Sutherland /
aside and said:
what did the old man mean by say