Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-11-23
The Red Ink Mystery.

Englsn WORK In the farls dlgn ScnOoi.
A few years ago I was spending the
winter In California visiting q maiden
aunt of mine. had never been farther
than New York before, and having just
had my twentieth birthday was enjoy
ing my self immensely with all the young
people had met. There were certain
few of whom became very fond as the
weeks went by. One, Dorothea Cum
ningbam and myself had become almost
inseparable, though we were not ut ell
alike, she was real coquette, while /
was trihe old msidish In my ways, but
before came east we were real chums
and loved each other as though we we're
sisters.
Well, to proceed with my story. This
cOqusttish young friend of mine was
very friendly with Earl Wells, though
she had told me many times that she did
not love him and would never mar.
ry him, but about two weeks before !
came home he proposed to her and she
answered yes in her usual joking man.
ner, and Earle being Q serious fellow
believed her. However she soon forget
the little incident which was common
occurrence In her gay life and an even.
ing or two sfterwsrd Earle gave dance
at his uncls's home for whom he was
named.
Old Mr.. Wells was very wealthy but q
rather peculiar old man, some thought
he had partly lost his mind, but / con.
sidered him perfectly sane. he disliked
Dorothea very much as there was some
sort of an old feud between the two
families and was therefore greatly op-
posed to her and having her share his
large estate which he promised to leave
to bis nephew on the date OF bis mar
risge.
II Dorothea did not love Earle there
was surely some one whom she did love
and 1t was Ethelbert Greene. She had
never told me but could see It and l
was almost as sure that Ethelbert. loved
her. fknow also that Earle was madly
jealous Of her and Bert and Earle were
never on good terms when she was
around. Sometimes 1t appeared that
Bert was even more jealous than Earle,
but II 20 why didn't be just propose
himselfp We girls and fellows simply
couldn't understand but We thought
| we'd look and listen and see what would
happen between the two rivals. But
we never expected what did happen.
| During the evening of the dance when
we were oil enjoying ourselves as much
as we possibly could and our bunch had
just gathered together for something
refreshing 10 the corner Of the room we
heard two loud reports as II pistol had
been fred, but we were 90 stunned for q
minute that we couldn't move. II
seemed ages before any ne-stirred but
at dast few at the farther end OF the
room began ascending the wide stair.
case from which the sound had come.
We all followed and switching on light
In the parlors where 0ur cloaks bad
been laid We entered, expecting to see
almost anything confronting us. Lying
i on divsn was Earle shot through the
breast and dead % the fellows told us
after q brief examination. Our nerves
were all tIngle and We were cold with
fright. The girls gripped each others
hands and ono Of them tainted away
As soon az had acquired enough cour
age went into the room and lying or
the floor Was Dorothea the blood stream
lux IEOm HoE iokb btms AUS SSooHsAl
was just audible and fervently thanked
God that she was alive. Upon further
examination. / noted that her right arm
and part of her forearm Was underneath
her. gently removed 1t from III
cramped position and was Mortified I!
see her grippIngA SO oaliber revolver
However I did not stop to ponder ove
the mystery but Immediately tslephonet
for doctor, who came In lees than ff
teen minutes. BE confirmed our belie
that Earle Was dead and then took oar
OF Dorothea while We started at once 4
solve the mystery.
q saw that the window was open ant
the curtains we're blowing IN with th'
slight breezes. Il was dark night ont
side and there was steady drisxI
which had lasted oil day. Az ! lsane'
, lover the siIl msditatlng upon thl
!: strange subject one OF the fellows nj
tered = cry Of exclamation. / turne'
: from .thes window TO whefe they wer
gathered around . writing desk lookin
. At 4 bras ink we'll In the shape Of