The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-25


1--WE lived happily enough for
a few years-in fact, until Ane dal
about a fortnight ago. - -.
THAT morning ! was here In
my study and had spread ont be,
fore me the principal ps Aars re-
lating to the trust had held fol
Philip. ms AR
Suddenly was called to the
telephone and, thinking to- return
In minute, left the papers on my
desk. But l was detained at the
telephone much longer than | an
ticipated, and, when l returned,
although there was nobody In
sight, 1t seemed to me the papers
had been disturbed.
''They were tossed about, and /
Ifelt a presentiment that Philip htd
been in there and had re3d then.
1t would have been no breach OF
honor on his part for he had al
ways been allowed free access to
my study and to my business pa
pers.
From that time on Philip was
a changed man. His manner to-
ward me confirmed my suspicion
that he had discovered my guilt.
No mention was made of the sub
ject between us, but for more
than a week Philip continued to
act like a man crushed By sud
den disaster.
Last Monday he wrote a letter
to me In which he told me that
he had discovered the truth, and
that he felt he was entitled to an
explanation. This explanation
knew / could not give, nor was
willing to face my nephew's we'll
deserved condemnation and the
exposure of my treachery to the
public.
"On Monday then, after read
ing Philips letter, | determined
that l would take my own life.
Monday evening | sat in my
study and decided that the time
had come. had placed my pis-
toll in my pocket, and had intend
ed to go up to my own room and
there expiate my guilt toward my
brother and his son.
AT this moment Mr.. King
CHANGED to come into my study
and mentioned that Philip and
Mildred were in the library. This
strengthened my purpose, for
felt sure that Philip was even
then telling Miss Leslie that he
was in reality a rich man.
Mr.. King went on through the
billiard room and across the hal
to the music room. | left the
study at once and saw Mr.. King
enter the music room.
LAS l crossed the back part OF
the hall | felt an impulse to look
once more on Philips face.
knew / could step out on the bal
cony from the hall window and
look in at the library window I'M
observed.
1T has always been my habit
when going out for a moment
into the night air to catchfup any
coat from the hat stand and
throw it around me. / did this
mechanically and it CHANGED tc
be Gilbert Cranes automobile
coat. 49, ~
Il went up the back stairs, put
ting the coat on as | went. In
stinctively putting my hands into
the pockets / felt there the cal
and goggles.
1T was then that the evil inn
pulse seized me. | saw my beau
tiful home with its rich appoint
ments, its lights and it's flowers;
/ heard the gay music and laugh
ter; and like a flash 1t came to
me that Philip should be the one
to give up all that, and not I.
81 realized, as by an inspira-
ton, that the goggles and a turn
ed-up coat collar would be ample
disguise, and | thought the crime
would be attributed to an outside
marauder.
1.-The rest you know. Philip rec
ognired ME: but Miss elsie did
not. That's all"
But Fleming Stone, the inexor-
able, leaned forward and said dis
tinctly to Mr.. MAXWELL: "Wait-
did you refill the inqstand?"
Yes said Mr.. Maxwell, Yves
| returned to the room late tina,
night, picked up the inkstand
washed 1t, refilled it, and re-
placed it. The bronze horse
picked up and replaced before
leaving the room the first time
Zone more thing" said Mr.
Stone. Ibid you scrape your foot
around on the balcony to efface a
possible footprint"
Yes; | knew the dust was
thick there, and | wished to elm.
mate all traces"
Here Mr.. Maxwell's strength
seemed to leave him all at once
On the verge of total collapse, he
said again, Don't let Miranda
know'-and then sank into un.
consciousness.
HE will probably not rally
again." said DR.. Sheldon. 81
think his sister should be notified
at once of his illness. But we
shall all agree that she must moi
know of his crime"
"Shall I call harop voluntoar.