The Washington times., 1911-10-02
CHAPTER III (Continued).

could be dead-merry. Iight-hearted
Phil, who, except for the last week
or so, had always been 30 gay and
joyous
And Mildred Leslie's life hung in the
| balance.
DR.. Burton's news Of her had been
kthis: She had been shot in the right
shoulder, and the wound was danger
Gus but not Of necessity fatal
Partially paralyzed by the shot, or
perhaps only fainting from fright, she
had fallen to the floor and struck her
temple as she fell. presumably against
the corner OF the table near which she
stood.
1t was this blow that had made her
unconscious, and which had left its
mark In a huge, swollen discoIoratIon
on her fair brow.
She had as yet uttered no word, for
she had been placed as soon as possi-
BILE under the influence of ether while
the doctors probed for the bullet.
1t had been successfully extracted and
was now in DR.. Sheldon's possession.
DR.. Burton thought that Miss Leslie
deemed It exceedingly unwlse TO que.,-
ton her, or TO excite her IN any way for
some time to come. Indeed, he said he
was sure DR.. Sheldon would allow no
one to see her for several days except
the nurse and possibly her sister.
At last Mr.. Maxwell and Miss Miriam
da were persuaded to retire, and the
rest of us were advised to do so.
But Gilbert Crane announced his In
tention OF staying at the house all
night. He said some one should be in
general charge. and as Philips best
friend he considered he had the right
to assume such a position. He estab-
lished himself in Mr.. Maxwelrs study
and told the servants and doctors to
call him in any emergency.
Seeing that Mr.. Hunt sat down there,
too, with the evident intention of dis
cussing the affair, ! delayed my retir-
ing and Joined them.
Soon Mr.. Whiting and Irene came In,
What were Mr.. Philip Maxwelrs
sentiments toward Miss Leslie?" in
qutred the detective.
No one seemed inclined to reply, and
as I thought II my duty to shed all the
light possible on the case, l said:
II have good reason to believe that,
at or about the time Of his death, Mr..
Maxwell was asking Miss Leslie to
marry him.
'Did she ever favor his suit?" pur-
sued Mr.. Hunt.
No" broke in Irene, ''she did not.
She told me so only this morning.
Put that would be no reason for her
SELF" walled Edith Whiting. "Oh! I'm
sure Mildred never did It, Or, at least,
not Intentionally.
i've reasoned 1t all out, and I think
he must have been showing her his
pistol, or explaining It to her, and II
grief and fright. she turned the weapon
on herself"
WAS it Philips pistol? asked Irene
Yes said the detective, that is. II
oh It was Phirs pistol. said Gill
bert Crane. II know 1t well. And he
always keeps it in the top drawer OF
that big table-desk they were stand
How do you know they were stand
sharply.
Because" said Gilbert quietly.
there were no chairs near the desk. |
They both fell near the desk. Philip '
could not have walked a step after that /
shot through his heart. and Mildred |
must have been standing near the desk |
TO fall and hit her head on IT. Am I
clear?'
Perfectly" said Mr.. Hunt. /
Mildred never shot Philip intention
ally" reiterated Mrs. Whiting She is
/ rattle-pated girl-a coquette, / admit
and she was not in love with Philip
Maxwell; but truly she was no more
capable OF a murderous thought or IN
'tinct than l am. You know that, don't
you, Irene?'
Irene Gardiner gave me quick
glance. and like a flash I remembered
nur conversation in the train about op-
Jortunity creating a criminal.
Could II be that pretty Mildred. hold
ng pistol in her hand. and alone with
IN unwelcome suitor could-no, could
~ hnIf hn IN M /
dashed a look OF amazed dlsapproval at
rene But she was already speaking.
I'm sure Mildred didn't shoot Philip
It all. Edith" she said. II think he
hot himself and she tried TO wrest the
'istol from him. and in doing so
herself
This explanation struck us all as so
'lausibIe that we gladly accepted it
IL of us except Gilbert Crane-and
we hadn't thought Of II be-
ore Gilbert said slowly.
There could have been no struggle
fter that shot entered Philips heart.
Z he shot himself. and Miss Leslie then
ook the pistol from him. II was after
e had ceased to breathe"
Was death, then, absolutely instan- I:
aneousT' I asked.
Yes" said Mr.. Hunt; both doctors
re sure of that" /.
Just here Tom Whiting came down.
tairs and Joined us in the study. His
ace wore pecular expression one vi
we and perplexity, yet tinged with a
ertain relief.
"I think YOU ought to know" he said.
that Mildred Is coming out of the
theirs influence, and has spoken sew
raj times. but only to repeat the same
hing over and over. She continually
ries:
{" He shot me! oh, to think he should
boot me! I tell you this in justice to
ly wife's sister"
III knew Mildred didn't do itr' cried
,dith, almost fainting in her husbands
rms IT don't care how black the evil
ence against her. I knew she never