Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-11-17
CHAPTER vi
The Body of a Suicide.


AS the car whirled West down the
circling driveway. the only sign of life
visible about the house was the mo-
tiOnless 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 q certain
measure of contempt which ranked
nevertheless
The young man could not altogether
reconcile this style of treatment with
his 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
to her as servant. nor had she in
any way treated him as such. What
could account for so remarkable a
change?
Perhaps it was the influence of Per-
cival Coolidge. This explanation
seemed probable. The man had in
some way reganed her confidence
and then, through trickery, had sue
ceeded In poisoning her mind From
the very first Coolidge had disliked
him instinctively, 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 why? There could only
he 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 mis- honesty, but. more than ever,
West believed the fellow rascal.
These thoughts fitted through his
min,i. 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-
ceaied by shrubbery. Suddenly, just
as they cleared the bridge. and began
to mount the opposite grade, there
came a sharp report, sounding so close
aft hand the chauffeur clamped on his
brake. and glanced anxiously over the
side of the car.
Blowout, wasn't it, sir?"
mo" said West shortly. staring him.
self out into the thicket of trees at
their left. "It was a shot fired over
there: revolver l should say. Wait
n second. Sanders, until I see what
has EErfSned."
IT was largely curiosity which led
him to leave the car. The sound of
either a rifle or shotgun in that lone
~ snot would have been instantly dis
missed as natural enough. but pistol
was different. That was no place for
such a weapon. 1t somehow had
vrimly 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 heid be-
yond. A half dozen yards and ne
found the clover trampled. as though
a man had passed that way. The TRAN
led into shallow depression, past
rather large boulder. near which the
,ramn,ing of the grass was even more
plainly revealed, as though the strang-
er had remained here for some tlme'
had even seated himself. and tnen.
abruptly ended few yards away.
Evidently the fellow had turned PACK
at this point and retraced his steps