The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-25
There was nothing to be said

There was nothing to be said.
But In the confused mass of
sudden thoughts that surged
through my brain. / seemed to see
clearly nothing but Miss Miranda
placid face, and | cried out. in
voluntarily:
Don't let his sister know"
at is terrible, | know" said
Fleming Stone, land l quite ap-
preciate the shock Ii must be to
you. But justice demands that We
proceed.
Il think / can best prove to you
this conclusion is the true one by
asking you to go with me while I
lay the facts before Mr.. Maxwell.
Indeed, from what | know of the
man, | am disposed to think he
will make full confession of HIS
guilt"
ut will kill him." | murmured.
"He has heart disease"
Il know It," said Fleming
Stone, land |. too. fear the effect
upon him. For that reason I have
asked DR.. Sheldon to be present. +"
When DR.. Sheldon arrived, he
came directly to the library, and
Fleming Stone told him of the or
deal we had to undergo.
The four of US then went down
to Mr.. Maxwell's study. We found
him there alone. We all went in,
and Fleming Stone closed the
door.
Mr.. Maxwell" he said-and
his voice, though quiet, was most
impressive-'we have come to tell
you that We have discovered that
Philip Maxwell died by your
hand"
IL ever l saw a face on which
confession was stamped, it was
Alexander Maxwell's face at that
moment. lnstinctively, | turned
away, but almost Immediately
heard Mr.. Maxwell gasp. and
knew that Fleming Stones expec-
tations had been verified, and
bhaI WI "dA WOll near ndu UOl
been able to stand the shock.
DR.. Sheldon sprang to his side,
and with the assistance of the
Others laid the unconscious man
on the couch.
He is not dead" said DR.. Shell
don. And he will soon rally
from this; but | feel sure it is a
fatal attack"
AS the doctor had surmised
Mr.. Maxwell soon rallied and
spoke:
Don't let Miranda know" he
said. Don't ever let Miranda
know"
Fleming Stone stepped forward.
Mr.. Maxwell" he said, IF you
Will make a full confession in the
presence of these gentlemen, |
will promise you on my honor that
| will use every endeavor to keep
the knowledge of your guilt from
your sister,"
II am ready" said Alexander
Maxwell, and, to make clear to
you the motive for my deed, /
must begin my story many years
back.
twenty-five years ago I lived
in California and so did my broth
err, John. Though not partners
our business interests were close
ly united in many ways. My broth
er married, and, about a year after
Philips birth, his wife died.
Five years later, John Max
we'll died, and left the whole OF
his large fortune with me in trust
for Philip. Although it was sup
posed at that time that my own
fortune was as large or larger
than Johns, the reverse was true
| had lost much money in unfor.
tunate speculation.
Il used this money to make
good my losses. trusting to re.
place it with further gains of my
own before Philip should come OF
age.
Il came East to live, and after
some years the lawyer who was
,the only one beside myself who
knew the circumstances, dieu
Having by this time become wei
known and respected citizen Of
Hamilton. my pride and ambition
rebelled at giving up my entire
fortune to Philip, for it would
have taken all my available assets
to make up the sum entrusted Il
me by the boys father.
On his 21st birthday, instead
of telling him the truth, | Offered
him a permanent home at Max
well Chimneys and agreed to sup
port him indulgently and even ex
travagantly."
| Here, at the very climax of the
recital, Mr.. Maxwell sank back
upon the couch, breathless and ex,
hausted. But after a moments
rest he continued: