The Washington times., 1913-10-21

L nounced quietly. He is quite
conscious but very weak,
and his grief overwhelms
him. He has asked for his brother
The coroner interposed hastily. Gag
erly.
Il should like TO see Mr.. Van Rensse-
laer first for few moments
'If he is disturbed with any question
ing at this moment, l should not like TO
be responsible for the consequences,
returned Madge firmly.
The man is on the verge of insanity
from grief You could obtain no coher-
ent statement from him now.
Later, in an hour or two, perhaps,
when he Is calmer. but jus. now he Is
beside himself. His, brother is the only
person who can Soothe him and bring
him to a state approaching normality.
If you wish him ultimately to give you
any information which will be of value
to you, you must trust me and leave
him in my hands for a little time.
If he is more composed. and better
able TO look his sorrow in the face, and
to think and speak coherently when his
brother leaves him, l shall call you at
once"
The coroner yielded as gracefully as
he could, although his eagerness for an
interview with the husband of the muir
dered woman was no less keen than
Franklyn Yorke's.
He doubtless felt the force and truth
of Madge's argument: and rather tlan
run the disk which would be incurred
2oading with torturing questions the
mind already tottering on the verge OF
oblivion, he seated himself again, to
wait with what patience he could mus
ter the time when he might with safety
be admitted.
Not so Franklyn Yorke. The few
casual sentences he had but lately over
heard had started a vague train OF con-
lecture. 1t would be a very long shot.
indeed. if his chance guess should prove
10 be not wide of the mark, but it was
well worth confirming
After a few desultory interchanges OF
remarks with Bertram and Phillip he
sauntered carelessly from the room,
conscious of the watchful eye of the
coroner upon him.
Once out on the veranda, however, he
drew from his pocket the little photo
graph of Mrs. Van Rensselaer, with the
great borzoi at her feet, glanced at 1t
hastily. and thrust it back in his pocket.
Then he made for the stables.
He found a mar sitting tilted back in
his chair against the wall by the door,
ioly polishing a harness buckle.
Good morning" said Yorke. Mr..
Van Rensselaer, wants to know how
VeIsk is-if he's badly hurt
The man rose and touched his fore
lock.
seems pretty bad
Can / have a look at him.
Yes sir. This way. Hi put i'm in the
'arness-room, to keep i'm quiet an doc
tor i'm bit, hif could. Hi don't like
the lock of i'm, sir. 'Es 'ad knock as
'ud do for im hif is cad wasn't uncom-
mon thick, sir.
In a dim corner of the harness-room
stretched Imply on a horse blanket, lay
a huge buff and white dog, which one
glance suffced to identify in Yorke's
mind with the one in the photograph.
His great, soft, black-rimmed eyes
we're wide and staring and CLASSY, and
he lay motionless, taking no notice OF
their presence beyond faint whining
moan when the coachman touched him
pretty sick animal" commented
Yorke. Any chance Of getting vet
Ell 90 for a day or two. sir. Hi ex-
pect we'll hall be goin' back to town.
sir, along O. what's 'appened. an Hi can
take i'm to is own vet, sir.
How did he come by his hurt? Was
Couldn't ha, been a haccident,, sir
'E"s been 1T beaten hover the cad,
something fierce"
Who did it? When did 1t happen?T
Couldn't say. sir. Nobody knows Hi
see i'm coEltn' halong the back trail
late yesterday hafternoon. 'Adn't seen
i'm before durin' the day, an 'adn't
thought of i'm in hall the hexcitement.
When HI see i'm. e was staggerin'
halong hall over TIE road, an sometimes
making circles, but 'eadin' for the
stable-door an me. E give me one
look, sir, en- dropped at my feet like e
vas dead. Then HI see is ears an nose
an mouth was all clotted blood. and is
Leyes streaked with red. an is cad hall
swollen like you see IT now, sir. only
worse.
Hi thought as 'ow HID say nothink
habout it hup at the 'ouse, sir-they We
al trouble henough-but doctor i'm
bit myself till We go to town. Hi think
'e'n 90, sir"
of him, wasn't sheP' Yorkes tone was
carefully Indifferent
The coachman looked at him for a
moment, as If doubtful of the propriety
OF discussing his late mistress with
tSis gentleman who had arrived on the
heels OF the tragedy. Finally he said
quietly:
Yes, sir, Mrs Van Rensselaer, loved
i'm, sir; an has for i'm, e worshiped
'er. Hi never see such devotion, an
Hive known many good dog, sir"
'.Humph! Well. Mr.. Van Rensselaer,
will be glad TO know you think he may
recover"
Hi don't go so far has to say that,
sir. Z may live, but ell never be the
same dog Hive see 'em 'urt that way
afore, an they're neither stoopid an
'ardly knows you, hor their natures
change an gets savage, so you can't do
nothink with EN-.
''Le2StwlSe, wont De any SOOd Sir,
never h'gain. Ell miss 'er sore, too
Mrs. Van Rensselaer,, l mean. sir. Ell
Just pine for 'er. An II hever e comes
hup with the one as did i'm the 'urt,
may God 'elp i'm, sir. Ell never for
get"
On the way back to the house Yorke
smiled congratulatingiy to himself The
long shot had found its mark.
Madge had Joined the others In the
hall as he entered, and sat with anxious
eyes fixed upon the closed library door,
from whence no sound had come save
once a muffied, choking cry.
Minutes heightened into an hour,
during which the coroner went now and
then TO consult with his men and re-
appeared. his impatience obviously in
creasing.
At last the library door opened
slowly. and Robin came out with bent
head. He walked unseeingiy past the
little group, and out into the open air. |
No one spoke to him, or attempted to
drow him back to a consciousness of
their presence, for over his grief-dis- |
torted face had spread look of abid- |
ing peace which was almost holy.
When he had passed Madge went