The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-07-29
CHAPTER XVII.

All the witnesses who mad anything
to say had long ago given in their
testimony, and when at noon Sweet
water slid into the seat he had sue
ceeded in obtaining near the coroner It
was to lind In two faces only any
signs of expectancy. But as these faces
were those of Agnes Halliday and AM
abel Page he soon recognized that his
own judgment was not at fault. ~.
Frederick was not visible in the great
hall; but that he was near at hand
soon became evident from the change
Sweetwater now saw In Amabel.
Next moment the door opened, and
Frederick came in. ,~
Frederick was looking at Amabel, and
his erect head and determined aspect
made him a conspicuous figure in h
room. She who had called up this ex-
preston and alone comprehended 1t
fully. smiled, as she met his yes
Frederick. to whom this smile on
veyed a last hope as well as a last
threat. looked away AS soon Aas pos
sible, but not before her eyes had fallen
in their old, inquiring way to his hands,
from which he had removed the ring
which up to this hour he q invariably
worn on his third finger. In this glance
of hers and this action of his began the
struggle that was to make the day
memorable in many hearts. :,
The old fear had again seized the vic
tim of Amabel's ambition, and he found
his right hand stealing toward the left
In the significant action she expected.
He had not meant to yield, but now
that the moment had come, now that
he must at once and forever choose be-
tween a course that led simply to per-
sonal unhappiness and one that In
volved not only himself. but those dear
est to him. in disgrace and sorrow. he
felt himself weaken to the point OF
clutching at whatever would save him
from the consequences of confession. AS
stroke after stroke fell o n the ear he
felt himself yielding beyond recovery
and had almost touched his finger in
the significant action of assent. The
memory of a face full of holy pleading
rose from the past before his eyes. and
with an inner cry of "Motheri" he
clutched his arm in a way to break for
ever tho effects of the fascination that
was working upon hin. Next minute
the last stroke rang out. and the hour
was up which Amabel had set as the
limit of her silence. Then Frederick
drew all eyes loWdIo ltlAllSCAA WAeAA eAO
cry: ~ ,ra
Let me be put on my oath. have
testimony to give of the utmost I'M
portance in this case"
The coroner was astounded.
"If you have testimony" said that
gentleman, you can do 10 better than
give It to us at once"
This moment was intense. The coro-
---5 L. A-x 49, ,.~lxn~co1 AV-
element, for his first question was a
leading one and brought out this star
Ting admission: - So
81 have obtruded myself into this In
quiry and now ask to be heard by his
jury because no man knows more h
I do of the manner and cause OF Aga
tina webb's death. This YOU viii be-
lieve when / tell you h a I was the
person Miss Page followed into Mrs.
Webb's house and whom she heard de-
scend the stairs during the moment she
crouched behind the figure of the Sleep
ing Philemon.
81 know what this Acknowledgements
must convey to the minds of the jury
and people here assembled, but If any
one who listens to me thinks me guilty
of the death I was so unfortunate as TO
have witnessed. he will be doing me a
wrong which Agatha Webb would. be
the first to condemn. DR.. Talbot and
Won. gentlemen of the jury, in the face
of God and man. l here declare that
Mrs. Webb in my presence and before
INV ewes gave to herself the blow which
has robbed us all Of a most aluao
life. She was not murdered
II was a solemn assertion. but 1t failed
m convince he crowd before him.
AS by one impulse men M women
broke into tumult, and cries of Never!
was too good! A wretched lie!"
broke from every part of the room.
81 have made an assertion,
Frederick, before Coed and thisss
To make it seem credible I shei
to tell my story from the4d
l allowed to do so, NJ
you are" was the