The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-11-09

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 dIsliked
him instinctiyely, and made no effort
to conceal his feelings; he resented
the intimacy between him and Ma.
talie, 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 why7 There could only
be one answer to this query. His own
dishonesty; his secret knowledge of
some trickery relative to- the funds Of
the estate. He had convinced the girl
OF his honesty. but, more than ever,
West believed the fellow a rascal.
These thoughts fitted through his
mind. yet not consecutively. as the car
left the grounds, and turned on to the
main road, leading citywards. They
were still skirting the Coolidge estate,
although the house behind was con.
cealed by shrubbery. Suddenly. Just
as they cleared the bridge, and began
to mount the opposite grade, there
came a sharp report, sounding s6 close
Mt hand the chauffeur clamped on his
brake, and glanced anxiously over the
side Of the car.
blowout, wasn't 1t, sir2"
mo-" said West shortly, staring him.
self out into the -thicket of trees at
their left. ut was shot fred over
there; revolver should say. Wait
second, Sanders, until see what
has happened"
1t was largely curiosity which led
him to leave the car. The sound OF
either rifle or a shotgun in that lone.
ly spot would have been instantly dis.
missed as natural enough, but a pistol
was different. That was no place for
such weapon. 1T somehow had q
.grtmly 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 be-
yond. A half dozen yards and he
found the clover rampled, as though
man had passed that way. The trail
led into shallow depression, past q
rather large boulder, near which tho
trampling Of the grass was even more
plainly revealed, as though the strang-
er had remained hare for some time,
had even seated himself, and then,
abruptly ended q few yards away.
Evidently the fellow had turned back
at this point and retraced his steps.
West, now thoroughly puzzled and
already convinced that some mystery
hovered over the place, began to circle
through the untrampled clover, but
without any defined purpose. All Mt
once, Mt the lower end Of the gully he
came, Unexpectedly, upon another
trail this one well marked. appar.
emily frequently used. which led
straight across the Held, and terminal
ed Mt a small gate leading through the
wire fence. Evidently here was q
short cut to the road. well known to
the servants on the estate, and possi.
bly, others. The discovery. however.
told nothing further than this, and
contentng himself with another glance
about the unchanged field Of rustling
clover. West proceeded along the
course Of the path. intending to thus
rejoin the automobile. waiting his re-
turn behind the trees.
! Within few steps Of the gate,
which was closed, he came to q sud-
den. Mortified pause. staring ahead at
stranpe something huddlad In tho poth
1t was shapeless thing, bearing no
resemblance to human being, until
ne advanced closer; then he recog-
nized the form Of man, curled up as
a dog sleeps, face down, hidden by his
arm, and limbs drawn up, as II in a
sudden spasni of agony. A hat was In
the path beyond, where 1t had fallen,
and revolver lay glittering In the
sunlight few feet away. There was
nothing familiar about either figure or
clothing, yet unquestionably there lay
the body Of q suicide. The single shot
they had heard, the tell-tale revolver
close to the dead mans hand, we're
clear evidence OF what had occurred.
The unexpectedness Of this discov-
cry, the peculiar position Of the dead
man, the loneliness Of that deserted
field %. which he lay, shocked West
and, for moment left him strangely
hesitant Who was the man7 What
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