Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-05-09

There was a small sable stole about
her neck The skirt was short, and
she wore high black shoes of the
thick walking type. Judging from
Burton's description she must have
been about your size and figure. Mrs
Wrandall- Isn't that SO. Mrs. Bur-
toni"
The innkeeper's wife spoke. Yes,
Mr.. Harden. I'd say so myself. About
| five feet six. I'd Judge; rather slim
and graceful like, In spite of the big
! coat"
Mrs. wrandall was watching the
woman's face 'T am Eve feet six"
she said. as If answering question.
The sheriff cleared his throat some
what needlessly.
Burton says she acted as IL she
were a lady," he went on. mot the
kind that usually comes out here on
such expeditions, he admits She did
not speak to anyone, except once In
very low tones to the man she was
with, and then she was standing by
the fireplace out in the main office,
quite a distance from the desk She
went upstairs alone, and he gave some
orders to Burton before following her.
That was the last time Burton saw
her. The waitress went up with a spe-
cially prepared supper about half an
hour later"
1T seems quite clear, Mrs. Wran-
dali. that she robbed the man after
stabbing him. said the coroner.
Mrs. Wrandall started. Then she
was not a lady, after ALL" she said
quickly. There was a note of relief
in her voice. 1t was as If she had
put aside half-formed conclusion.
N@f a
penny had been left. Watch, cuff
and bill folder-all gone. Burton had
seen most of these articles in the
Office"
isn't ft-but mo- Why should I
be the one to offer a suggestion that
might be construed as a defense for
this woman?"
You were about to suggest madam.
that some one else might have taken
the valuables-is that it?" cried the
sheriff.
Had you thought of it, Mr. Sheriff? ?"
81 had not. 1t isn't reasonable. No
one about this place is suspected. We
| have thought of this, however: the
murderess may have taken all of
| these things away with her in order
to prevent Immediate identification of
her victim. She may have been clever
enough for that. 1t would give her
start
Not an unreasonable conclusion,
when you stop to consider, Mr.. Sher-
if, that the man took the initiative in
that very particular" said Mrs. Wran-
dali in such a self-contained way that
the three men looked at her in won
der. Then she came abruptly to her
600 &C. 11%< T
am ready to go upstairs, Mr.. Sheriff"
Il must warn you, madam. that Mr..
Drake is reasonably certain that it is
your husband" said the coroner un-
comfortably. You may not be pre-
pared for >the shock that"
81 shall not faint, DR.. Sheet. If it
is my husband l shall ask you to leave
me alone in the room with him for
little while.' The final word trailed
out into long, tremulous wall, show
ing how near she was to the breaking
point in her wonderful effort at self
control The men looked away hast
lily. They heard her draw two or
three deep, quavering breaths; they
could almost feel the tension that she
was exercising over herself.
The doctor turned after a moment
and spoke very gently, but with pro-
fessional firmness- you must not
| think of venturing out in this wretched
night, madam. 1t would be the worst
kind of folly. Surely you will be
guided by me-by your own common
sense. Mrs. Burton will be. with
you
Thank you, DR.. Sheet" she inter
posed calmly. IF what we all fear
should turn out to be the truth,
| could not stay here. 1 could not
| breathe. l could not live. If, on the
other hand, Mr.. Drake is mistaken,
| shall stay. But if it is my husband,
cannot remain under the same roof
with him, even though he be dead
do not expect you to understand my
feelings. 1t would be asking too
much of men-too much"
Il think / understand" murmured
Drake
Come" said the sheriff, arousing
| himself with an effort.
She moved swiftly after him. Drake
and the coroner. following close be-
hind with Mrs. Burton, could not take
their eyes from the slender, graceful
| figure. She was a revelation to them
Feeling as they did that she was about
/ to be confronted by the most appalling
crisis imaginable, they could not but
mind dwelt on the stories of the guil1o-
tine and the heroines who went up to
it in those bloody days without so