Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-01-03

Very near the time. | remember
hearing some disturbance in the lobby
behind me, just as / was passing out
at the Broadway entrance"
You did, and did not return?"
Why should | return? | am not a
man Of much curiosity. There was no
reason why should connect a sudden
alarm in the lobby OF the Clermont
with any cause of special interest to
myself"
This was so true and the look which
accompanied the words was so frank
that the coroner hesitated a moment
before he said:
Certainly not, unless-wen, 10 be
direct, unless you had just seen Miss
ChallOnor and knew her state of mind
and what was likely to follow your
abrupt departure"
Il had no interview with Miss Chal-
loner"
But you saw her? Saw her that
evening and just before the ACCIDENT"
Sweetwater's papers ratified; it was
the only sound to be heard in that
moment of silence. Then
What do you mean by those
words?" inquired Mr. Brotherson. with
studied composure. q have said that
| had no interview with Miss Challon-
er Why do you ask me then. If saw
herr"
Because | believe that you did.
From distance possibly, but yet di.
rectly and with no possibility OF mis-
take"
DO you put that as a question:"
Il do. Did you see her figure or
face that night?"
Il did"
Nothius-not even the rafting of
Sweetwater's unprecedented the
silence which followed this admission.
From where?" Doctor Heath asked
at last.
From a point far enough away to
make any communication between US
impossible. | do not think you will
require me to recall the exact spot"
IF it were one which made it pos
sible for her to see you as clearly as
you could see her, think it would be
very advisable for you to say So"
1T was-such-a spot"
Then | think | can locate 1t for
you, or do you prefer to locate it your
self"
Il will locate it myself. | had hoped
not to be called upon to mention
urho I hui
unfortunate coincidence. | met Miss
Challoner's eye for one instant from
the top of the little staircase running
up TO the mcZZanine. | had yielded
thus far to an impulse | had frequent
ly combatted, to seek by another in
terview to retrieve the bad effect
which must have been made upon her
by my angry note. | knew that she
frequently wrote letters in the mez-
canine at this hour, and got as far as
the top of the staircase in my effort
to join her. But | got no further
When | saw her on her feet, with her
face turned my way, l remembered
the scorn with which she had re-
ceived my former heartfelt proposals
and, without taking another step for
ward, turned away from her and fed
down the steps and so out OF the build
ing by the main entrance. She saw
me, for her hand few up with a
startled gesture, but | cannot think
that my presence on the same floor
with her could have caused her to
strike the blow which terminated her
life. Why should I? No woman sac
rifices her life out of mere regret for
the disdain she has shown a man she
has taken no pains to understand
You saw Miss Challoner lift her
hand, you say. Which hand. and what
was in 1t? Anything?"
She lifted her right hand, but 1t
would be impossible for me to tell you
whether there was anything in 1t or
not. | simply saw the movement be-
fore l turned away. 1t looked like one
of alarm to me- | felt that she had
some reason for this. She could not
know that il was in renentaDca I came