Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-06-27
CHAPTER vi. '
Manderson's Family Infelicities

don't want to butt in. My wife cal
look after herself. I've found tina
out, along with other things HI
was perfectly quiet-you know HI
was said never to lose control o
of himself-though there was
light in his eyes that would hav'
frightened a man who was in thu
wrong, l dare say. But ! had beer
thoroughly aroused by his last re
mark, and the tone of it, which
cannot reproduce. You see." sale
Mr.. Cupples simply, 81 love m,
niece. She is the only child tina
there has been in our - in m,
house. Moreover, my wife brough
her up as a girl, and any reflection
on Mabel I could not help feeling
in the heat of the moment, as ar
indirect reflection upon one who i!
gone"
you turned upon him." suggested
Trent in a low tone. "You asked
him to explain his words"
THAT is precisely what ! did,
said Mr.. Cupples. For momen
he only stared at me, and I coulo
see a vein on his forehead swelling
an unpleasant sight. Then he sale
quite quietly: This thing has gone
far enough, I guess and turned te
CO."
did he mean your interview
Trent asked thoughtfully.
From the words alone you would
think So" Mr.. Cupples answered
"But the way in which he uttered
them gave me a strange and very
apprehensive feeling. l received
the impression that the man had
formed some sinister resolve. But
I regret to say I had lost the powe,
of dispassionate thought. fell into
IA great rage"-Mr. Cupples' tone
was mildly apologetic-"and said a
number of foolish things. | reminded
him that the law allowed a measure
of freedom to wives who received
.intolerable treatment. | made
some utterly irrelevant references to
his public record, and expressed the
view that such men as he were unfit
to live. l said these things, and
others as ill-considered, under the
eyes, and very possibly within ear
shot, of half dozen persons sitting
on the veranda. l noticed them, in
spite of my agitation, looking at me
as / walked up to the hotel again
after relieving my mind-for it un-
doubtedly did relieve it" sighed Mr..
Cupples, lying back in his chair.
"And Henderson? Did he say
no more"
"Not word. He listened to me
with his eyes on my face, as quiet
as before. When I stopped he
smiled very lightly, and at once
turned away and strolled through
the gate, making for White Gables.
"And this happened-?"
"On the Sunday morning"
Then I suppose you never saw
him alive again."
NO." said Mr.. Cupples. "Or
rather, yes-once. 1t was later in
the day, on the golf course. But
I did not speak to him. And next
morning he was found dead"
The two regarded each other in
silence for few moments. A party
Of guests who had been bathing
came up the steps and seated them
selves, with much chattering, at a
table near them. The waiter ap-
preached. Mr.. Cupples rose, and
taking Trent's arm led him to a
long tennis lawn at the side of the
hotel.
81 have a reason for telling you
all this" began Mr.. Cupples as they
paced slowly up and down.
Trust you for that" rejoined
Trent, carefully filling his pipe
again. He lit it, smoked little and
then said: all try and guess what
your reason is. if you like"
Mr.. Cupples' face of solemnity
relaxed into a slight smile. He said
nothing.
"You thought it possible" said
Trent meditatively, "may I say you
thought it practically certain?-tha,
l should find out for myself that
there had been something deeper
than a mere conjugal tiff between
the Mandersons. You thought that
my unwholesome imagination
would begin at once to play with the
idea of Mrs. Henderson having
something to do with the crime.
Rather than that I should lose my
self in barren speculations about
this, you decided to tell me ex-
actly how matters stood, and Incl
dentally to impress upon me, who
know how excellent your Judgment
is, your opinion of your niece. Is
that about right?"
ut is perfectly right. Listen to me,
my dear fellow" said Mr.. Cuppies
earnestly, laying his hand on
the others arm. u am going to be
very frank. am extremely glad that
Henderson is dead. I believe him
to have done nothing but harm in
the world as an economic factor.
I know that he was making a desert
of the life Of one who was like my
own child to me. But am under
an intolerable dread Of Mabel being
involved in suspicion with regard
to the murder. It is horrible to me
to think of her delicacy and good
ness being in contact, if only for a
time, with the brutalities of the law.
She is not fitted for it. It would