The Washington herald., 1911-01-02
CHAPTER XIV.
Clinord's Proposition.


When Paul reached Castlesteads. he had
made up his mind to 60 at once to Al
lington Hall. But he would go on Black
Sally. for 1t would never do for him
to steal there like a thief in the night,
or, if Clifford managed to wreak his ven
geance that night. IT would give color to
anything he might say. AS he entered
the house the butler came toward him,
saying:
There's a groom from Arlington Hall
wishes to see you. sir"
A groom from Arlington Hall at mid
night, Paul at once realized that there
was something wrong; moreover. he no
| ticed a restrained excitment in Evans
manner.
"Where is he?' he said.
Jones, come here" said the butler.
A sharp. alert-looking young man STEP
ped forward. Holding his cap in his
hand, and touching his forehead. he
| spoke:
Miss Shenstone told me to come and
| tell you as there was trouble at the
Hall" Then the man paused.
Trouble! What kind of trouble? Speak
out, man."
ed. and Miss Shenstone wants to know
| if you'll please come to the Hail."
Paul regarded the man with horror.
Judge Shenstone murdered? Who has
done it," he calculated, his thoughts 60
| ing to Clifford.
I'm sure 1 don't know, sir. I ex-
pect the police will find out It's hard
| to believe as any one could want to
send such pleasant gentleman out Of
the world"
IT'S terrible and Paul put his hand
| to his head-hs felt confused Presently
! he turned to the butler. saying:
viii you tell a groom to saddle Black
Sally and bring her around?'
Here the groom from the Hall inter-
posed:
If you please. sir. there's the horse
I rode at the door. l can walk back"
THANK you. 1 will ride your horse"
| and without another word Paul mounted;
then touching the horse lightly with the
whip. he galloped down the avenue, his
mind in a whirl.
Had Clifford caused the judge to be
killed, and had he, Paul. been asked to
go to the Hermitage, in order that it
could be proved he was out at the time
of the murder. and make it easier to
lay the guilt on him. Paul asked him
his own peril. as he thought of Mar
garet's sufferings. She had loved her
father tenderly, and somehow he felt that
the loss would be greater to her than to
Mrs. Shenstone.
The horse was a good one, and only a
short time elapsed before he entered
Arlington Park. and as he rode quickly
toward the house Paul saw that many
of the rooms were lighted. A footman
took his horse and the bullet met him
in the hall. informing him that Miss
ShenStone was with her mother, but had
said she was to be told as soon as he
arrived Paul followed the man to the
drawing-room. but on the threshold he
paused. saying:
How did it happen?''
THE judge went into the smokeroom
after the ladies retired. He liked his
half hours quiet smoke. Sometimes he
stayed longer, but / began to wonder
when he was going upstairs. 1t was
way of his If he was going to be up
late reading to tell me to go to bed, but
when he went for a smoke he never sat
very long. 1t would be about twenty
past eleven, sir. when I thought heard
the master go upstairs, SO I went to the
smokeroom to put the lights out 1 was
bit surprised to see the door shut, but
thinking the room was empty I opened
1t and went in, and the first thing l saw
was the master lying on the floor face
downward. with blood on his coat"
Did you notice the windowsT' asked
Paul
"Yes. sir; they were both shut, and the
blinds up. The master never did like
to have the smokeroom blinds down;
he'd a way Of stepping out onto the We
randa and taking a bit Of stroll, even
in the winter time"
Paul did not reply. and the man turned
away, saying he would inform Miss Shen-
stone that he had come, but at the door
he was stopped by the doctor. who asked
him if it was true that Mr.. Clelland had
come
Yes. sir; he's In there" replied the
butler, and DR.. Barry entered the room.
I'm glad you've come, Mr.. Clelland.
It's better telling you than the ladies;
but the judge had been shot In the head:
the bullet has pierced the brain. It Is
terrible thing. I'll leave it to you to tell
them Mrs. Shenstone won't see me, but
I'm going to send her a sleeping draft"
he said.
Have you any idea what time 1t hap
pened?' asked Paul.
Il should say about II, or little after.
II the butler had gone In few minutes
sooner he might have saved him. And
now I'll 60; Miss Shenstone won't require
me- said DR.. Barry.
a minute after Margaret stole nOlSeieSS
ly into the room-such a pale, sad Mar
garet-with a look of horror in her eyes.
He held ont his arms, and she clung to
him as she whispered:
My poor father! Oh, Paul; 1t is ter
riblei"
He drew her closer to him, and whis-
pered words Of endearment. He could not
comfort her, but he could assure her OF
his love, and at last Margaret wept. tears
that eased her burdened heart.
The April morning had dawned, and
Paul had persuaded her to go upstairs
and lie down. before he left the house.
Some Of the servants were about, and
the policeman was still there. also the
superintendent and a couple Of inspectors
from the nearest town. who. having been
telegraphed for. had driven over.
) It was Sunday-Easter Sunday-Paul re-
membered. as he walked slowly back to
Castlesteads, his heart full Of sorrow for
the dead and the living. He had not seen
Mrs. Shenstone. Margaret had told him
she would not allow her to stay with her.
but had insisted upon being left aIone.
On reaching homo Paul found that
Evans and some Of the maids were astir.
and very soon . tempting breakfast was
served. and In spite OF the experiences Of
the night. hunger asserted itself. and he
made q good breakfast ordered Black
sally to BE- sAddl4d, and by o'clock he
was ON his way 10 the Hermitage. On
arriving there he asked 70 sse Mr.. Cfif-
I0fd tellinR the fo6tman that It Waa no