The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-05-09

extremely acute, but as my room Is
on the third floor. all the sounds
heard were faint and mufflcd."
Did you hear Mr. Cartoons cry
for help"
81 did. but at that distance 70
did not sound loud However | was
sufficiently alarmed to open my door
and step out into the hail I had
not taken of my evening gown. and.
seeing bright lights downstairs, OF
course | Immediately went down.
The household was nearly all as.
scmbled when ! reached the library.
saw AZ once what had happened,
and | saw too, that Mrs. Markham
and the younger women were quit"
frantic with fright and excitement.
! thought It my duty therefore n
take up the reins OF government,
and took the liberty of tclcphcning
for the doctor | think there Is
nothing more of Importance that
can tell you"
At this Fcsscndon barely rcprcss
ed smile. for he could not see
tha MISS Morton had told anything
of Importance at all
- would like said Mr. Benson.
for you to inform MS as to your
relations with the Van Norman
houscho.d Have you been long ac.
uuaInted with Miss Van Norman"
About two years" replied Miss
Morton. with u swapping together OF
her teeth which was one of her
peculiaritics of manner
And how did the acquaintance
come about"
"IIcr uncle and | were friends
many years ago." said Miss Merton.
Il know Richard Van Norman before
| Madeleine was born. We quarreled.
/ and | never saw him again. After his
/ death Madeleine wrote to me. and
several letters passed between us.
At her invitation | made her short
visit here about a year ago. Again,
at her invitation, | came here yes
terday to be present at her we'd
ding
Miss Morton's manner, though qui.
ct. betokencd represscd excitement,
rather than suppressed emotion. In
no way did her hard. bright eyes
show grief or sorrow, but they flash
d in a way that indicated high ner-
vous pressure.
"Did YOU know that you were to
inherit this house and large sum
OF money at Miss Van Norman :
DEATH" the question was thrown at
her so suddenly that Miss Morton
almcst gasped
She hesitated for an appreciable
instant. then with sudden snap oi
her strong. angular jaw. she said
mo-"
You had no Intimation of it what
over?"
NO" Again that excessive decision
of manner. which to Fessenden'S
mind at least, stultified rather than
A
ccrroborated the verify of her state
ment
But Coroner Benson expressed NJ
doubt OF his witness. but merely said
casually:
Yet. on the occasion of the trag
cdy last night. you at once assumed
the attitude cf the head of thu
house. You gave orders TO the ser
wants. you took up the reins of man
agement. and seemed TO anticipate
the fact that the house was eventu
y ally to be your own"
Miss Morton looked aghast. If on
chose to think so, she looked as !
detected in false statement. GlanC
!" ing round the room. she saw tn
eyes of Kitty French and of Marie
the maid intently fixed on her Thi
seemed TO unnerve her, and in
broken. trembling voice, almost
: whine, she said:
IF | did so, II was only with
" helpful motive. Mrs. Markham wa
so collapsed with the shock she ha
y Just sustained. that she was reall
Incapable of giving orders. II di
so, ii was only from desire to b
Of service
This seemed plausible, and III
n rnost casual observer would kno'
that Miss Morton's "helpfulness
could be- accomplished in pereml
o tory and dictatorial manner.
"Wil you tell us why Miss Va
Norman chose tO leave YOU SO lare
bequest. when she had know
you so slightly Asked Mr.. Bel
son.
"" Fessenden thought Miss Morto
We would resent the question, but Il
stead she answered willingly enough
Nc Because she knew that excel
- frr my unfortunate quarrel vii