The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-07-18
Continued from Yesterday

Look up" whispered a voice into
his ear.
He did so and saw a woman's body
hanging half out OF an upper window.
1t hung limp, and the sight made him
sick Notwithstanding his threescore
years of experience. -
whats that" he cried. That's not
Agatha Webb's head and shoulders"
mo, it's Batsy, the cook. She's dead,
too. We left her where we found
her for the coroner to see."
But this is horrible!" murmured Mr..
Sutherland. HAS there been a butcher
here?"
AS he uttered these words he felt an
other quick pressure on his arm. Look
ing down, he saw leaning against him
the form of a young woman, but be
fore he could address her she a
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 to the house." volun-
teered a man who was standing as a
sort of guardian at the main gateway,
"Some of the sailors wives who a
been to the wharfs to see their hus-
bands off on the ship that sailed, at
daybreak saw 1t 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 a 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 h house and came
directly toward him. 1t was Amos
Fenton, the constable.
"Ah, Mr.. Sutherland" said he, "sad
business, a 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. l 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
gracefully 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 a man stood, who at sight or
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 at
titude 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.
Watt" said he. Take n look at
poor Philemon before you disturb him,
He was sitting just as you see him
when we broke into the house a half
hour ago, and we have let him be for
reasons You can easily appreciate. TX
amin him closely, Mr.. Sutherland; he
won notice IT."
But what ails him? Why does he
sit ~crouched against the table? Is he
hurt, too
mo; look at his eyes
Mr.. Sutherland stopped and pushed
ps'de the long gray locks that half
concealed the c~ouhtenance 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 still, Some of the
neighhors wanted to awake him, but I
would not let them. His wits are not
sire hg enough to bear a sudden shock"
mo, 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 a
glass of port, but that is all. The other
glasses AVE had no vine in them, nor
have the viotuals been touched"
Seats for three and only one occu-
pied" murmured Mr.. Sutherland.
Strange! Could he have expected
guests?"
at looks like it. 1 don't know that
his wife allowed him such privileges.
But she was always too good to him
and / fear has paid for 1t with her
. life .. =
NONSENSE! He never killed her.
Had his love been anything short of
the worship 1t was, he stood in too
much awe of her to lift his hand
against her, wen in his most demented
moments" &
II don't trust men of uncertain wits"
returned the other. "You nave not no
ticed everything tina. is to be seen in
this room"
M C,,tbarIoal roo,nod en- bio d,ttxy