The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-07-25
CHAPTER X.

KM EANWH1LE in a small room OF
IV the court house a still more
serious conversation was in
progress. DIR. Talbot, Mr.. Fenton and
a certain able lawyer in town by the
name of Harvey were in close discus
sion. The latter had broken the silence
of years and was telling what he knew
of Mrs. Webb's affairs.
He was a shrewd mar of unblem-
ished reputation. This is what he said:
Some 10 years ago Philemon Webb
came to me with a small sum of money
which he said he wished to have me
invest for his wife. 1t was the fruit
of a small speculation of his, and he
wanted Ii given Internationally to her
without her knowledge or that of the
%neighbors. l accordingly made out a
deed of gift, which he signed with
joyful alacrity, and then, after due
thought and careful investigation. I
put the money into a new enterprise
then being started In Boston. 1t was
the best stroke of business / ever did
In my life. At the end of a yea 1t paid
double, and after five years had rolled
away the accumulated interest had
reached such a sum that both Phile-
mon and myself thought 1t wisest to
let her know what she was worth and
what was being done with the money.
| was in hopes 1t would lead her
to make some change in her mode
of living, which seemed to me out of
keeping with her appearance and men,
tai qualifications, while he, i imagine,
looked for something more important
still. a smile on the face which had
somehow lost the trick of merriment,
though it had never acquired hat of
Ill nature. But we did not know
Agatha, at least I did not.
when she learned that she was rich,
she looked at first awe-struck and
then heart-pierced. Forgetting me, or
ignoring me, it makes no matter which,
she threw herself into Philemon's arms
and wcpt. while he, poor, faithful fell
low, looked as distressed as If he had
brought news of a failure instead of
triumphant success. I suppose she
thought of her buried children and
what the money would have been to
her if they had lived; but she did not |
speak of them, nor am | quite sure
they were in her thoughts when, after
the first excitement was over, she drew
back and said quietly, but in a tone
of strong feeling to Philemon: You
meant me a happy surprise, and 1t
shall be so, Philemon. This Is heart
money. We will use 1t to make our
townsfolk happy
Il did not know then, and | do not
know now. why they were both so
anxious that all knowledge of their
good fortune should be kept from those
about them, but hat 1t was to be so
Kept was made very evident to me, and
Notwithstanding all temptations to the
contrary, | have refrained from utter
ing "A word likely to give away their
secret, The money, which to all ap-
p%earance was the cause of her tragic
and untimely death, was interest
money which | was delegated to de-
liver To her, | took it to her day be
fore yesterday, and it was Ill in crisp,
new notes, some of them twenties, but
most of them tens and fves. | am free
to say there was not such another roll
of fresh money in town"
Warn all shopkeepers to keep a
lookout of the money they receive
was DR.. Talbot's to the con
stable. Fresh SO and 500 bills are not
any too common In this town. And
now about her will. Did you draw
that up. Harvey?"
n ! did not know she had made
one. ] often spoke to her about the
~adYisability of her doing so, but she
always put me off. And now 1t seems
that she had it drawn up in Boston.
Could not trust her old friend with too
many secrets, suppose"
so you don't know how her money
has been left"
NO more than you do"
Here an interruption occurred. The
door opened, and a slim young man
wearing spectacles came in, At sight
of him they all rose
Well" eagerly inquired DR.. Talbot.
Nothing new" answered the young
man. with "A consequential air. THE
elder woman died from loss of blood
consequent upon a blow given by a
small. three sided, slender blade, the
younger from a stroke of apopleXy in
dueed by fright"
Good ] ann glad to hear my in
stincts were not at fault. Loss of
blood. eh9 Death. then. was not in
s~tantaneous?"
No"
,Strange,' fell from the lips of his
two listeners. "She lived. yet gave no
alarm
None that was heard" suggested
the young doctor, who was from an
other town.
"Or if heard reached no ears but
Philemon's.' observed the constable.
something must hay taken him up
stairs"
81 am not so sure" said the coroner.
that Philemon is not/answerable for
the whole crime, Notwithstanding our
failure to find the Kissing money any
in the hou[ How else account
for the resignation with which she evil |