Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-12-23
CHAPTER VI
rhe Body Of a SUICIDE.
,


AS the car whirled West down the
drcling driveway, the only sign of life
visible about the house was the mo-
tl0nless figure of Sexton on the steps.
If either Miss Natalie, or Percival
Coolidge, took Interest enough in the
proceedings TO witness his departure,
they chose to remain carefully con-
cealed within. There was no pretense
even at speeding the parting guest.
He had simply been dismissed, turned
out, decently enough, perhaps con-
sidering his status. yet with a certain
measure of contempt which ranked
nevertheless.
The young man could not altogether
reconcile this style of treatment with
mis- precOnceived conception Of Miss
Natalie Coolidge. He had been too
deeply Impressed by her to easily re-
linquish his previously formed opinion
of her character. This latest action
did not at all coincide with her former
open friendliness. He had not gone
60 her as a servant nor had she In
any way treated him as such. What
could account for so remarkable a
change?
Perhaps 1t was the influence of Per
cival Coolidge. This explanation
seemed probable. The man had In
some way regained her confidence,
and then. through trickery had sue
ceeded in poisoning her mind From
the very first Coolidge had dlsl'ked
him instlnctively, and made 10 effort
to conceal his feelings; he resented
the intimacy between him and Ma
taIie. naturally enough, and would use
every means possible to get the young
er man completely out Of the house.
No doubt he looked upon him as dan
gerous. But why? There could only
be one answer to this query. His own
dishonesty: his secret knowledge of
some trickery relative to the funds of
th~ estate He had convinced the girl
OF his honesty, but. more than ever,
West believed the fellow a rascal.
These thoughts fit@ed through his
miad, vet not consecutiVely. as the car
lef' the grounds. and rrrned on TO the
main road, leading cltywards. They
were still skirting the Coolidge estate.
although the house behind was con-
ce6ted by shrubhery. Suddenly, just
as they cleared the bridge. and began
70 laouDt the opposite grade, there
came sharp report, sounding so close
at hand the chauffeur clamped on his
brake, and glanced anxiously over the
side Of the car.
Blowout. wasn't ii, sir?"
@No." said West shortly. staring him
self out into the thicket of trees at
their left. at was shot fred o-er
there; revolver l should say. Wait
a second, Sanders, until see what
has hsEpened.
It was largely curiosity which led
him to leave the car. The sound Of
either a rifle or q shotgun In that lone
ly spot would have been instantly dis
missed IS natural enough, but pisto
was different. That was no place for
such weapon. Ii somehow had
grimly sinister sound
Determined to learn exactly what
had happened. West pressed his pas
sage forward through the vines Of the
fence, and emerged into the field te-
yond. half dozen yards and ne
found tire clover trampled. as though
a man had passed that way. The trail
ssd into shallow depression. pas a
rather large boulder. rear which he
~ampling Of the grass was even more
plainly revealed, as though the string
er had remained here for some tkne.
had ever seated himself. and then,
abruptly ended a few yards away
Evidently the fellow bad turned tact
II This poirt md rs-raceo his siep