The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-06-11

open half-closed door. and we both
stood appalled, at the sight before US.
woman, young and beautiful, was
lying dead upon the bed. Her calm,
eyes, looked upwards from amid a
great tangle OF golden hair At the
| foot of the bed, half sitting, half kneel-
| ing, his face buried in the clothes. was
young man. whose frame was racked
| by his sobs. So absorbed was he by
| his bitter grief that he never looked
up until Holmes hand was on his
shoulder.
Are you Mr. Godfrey Stanton"
Yes, yes, | am-but you are too
late. She is dead
| The man was so daZed that he could
not be made to understand that We
were anything but doctors who had
been sent to his assistance. Holmes
was endeavoring to utter a few words
of consolation, and to explain the
alarm which had been caused to his
friends by his sudden disappearance,
when there was step upon the
stairs, and there was the heavy, stern,
I
the door.
so. gentlemen" said he, you have
attained your end. and have certainly
chosen a particularly delicate moment
for your intrusion I would not brawl
in the presence of death but can
assure you that # were younger
man your monstrous conduct would
not pass with impunitv.'
! nv ~ I
we are little at c-oss-pu: poses" said
my friend. with dignity. IF you could
step downstairs with US, we may each
be able to give some i;sht 10 the other
upon this miserable affair ;"
A minute later. the grim doctor and
ourselves were in the sit+ingroom be-
low
7 Well, sir?" said he.
Il wish you 10 understand. in the
first place, that | am not employed by
Lord Mount-James and that my SYM
pathies in this matter afe entirely
against that nobleman. When man
is lost it is my duty to ascertain his
fate, but having done so the matter
ends so far as | am concerned, and so
long as there is nothing criminal. |
lam much more anxious TO hush up
private scandals than to give hem
publicity. IT, as I imagine there is no
breach of the law in tbs mater you
can absolutely depend upon my dis
erection and my cooperation in keep
ing the facts out Of the papers"
DR. Armstrong took a quick step
forward and wrung Holmes by the
hand.
You are a good fellow" said he.
81 had misjudged you. thank
Heaven that my compunction at leav
ing poor Stanton all alone in this
plight caused me to turn my carriage
- back, and so to make your acquaint
e ance. Knowing as much as you do
the situation is very easily explained
A year ago Godfrey Stanton LODGED
u in London for time. and became
/ passionately attached to his land
y ladys daughter, whom he married
VI She was as good as she was beautiful
e and as intelligent as she was good
e No man need be ashamed of such
g wife. But Godfrey was the heir t
4 this Grabbed old nobleman, and it va
Re quite certain that the news of hi
n marriage would have been the end o
e his inheritance. ! knew the law vel
ID and loved him for his many excellen
Of qualities. ! did all / could to help hir
e. to keep things straight. We did GU
ID very best to keep the thing fror
k everyone, for, when once such
a. whisper gets about, 1t is not long BIZ
n fore everyone has heard it. Thank
g to this linely cottage and his own di:
erection. Godfrey has up to now SUI
lg ceeded. Their secret was known to Il
IS one save to me and to one exCellen
IS servant, who has at present gone fo
assistance to Trumpington. But a
I'd last there came a terrible blow in TIL
I'd shape of dangerous illness to his wifi.
it 1t was consumption of the most vim
s. lent kind. The poor boy was ha
I'd crazed with grief, and yet he ha
ID to go to London to play this mattel