Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-11-24
CHAPTER VI
The Body of a Suicide.

Az the car whirled West down the
circling driveway. the only sign or HE
visible about the house was the mo-
tionless figure Of Sexton on the steps.
II either Miss Natalie, or PerciVa'
Coolidge, took interest enough IN the
proceedings to witness his departure
they chose to remain carerully coh-
cealed within. There was no pretense
even at speeding the parting guest,
He had simply been dismissed, turned
out, decently enough, perhaps, con-
s,dering his status, yet with a certain
measure of contempt which ranked
nevertheless.
The Young man could not altogether
reconcile this style Of treatment with
his p]reconceived conception OF MISS
Natalie Coolidge. He had been 100
deeply impressed by her to easily re-
unouish his previously formed opinion
Of her character. This latest action
did not at all coincide with her former
omen friendliness. He had not gone
r. hor as a servant, nor had she IN
any way treated him as such. What
could account for so remarkable d
change?
Perhaps 1t was the influence OF yer
cival Coolidge. This explanation
seemed probable. The man had III
some way regained her confidence
and then, through trickery, had sue
ceeded in poisoning her mind. From
!, he very first Coolidge had disllke'
y him instinctively, and made no eHor
a TO conceal his feelings; he resehte'
the intimacy between him and Ma
talie naturally enough, ana would US
eyerv means possible to get the young
10 or man completely out of the house
70 No doubt he looked upon him as oar
" yerous. But why? There could on
= ba one answer to this query. His ow
~ dishonesty; his secret knowledge {
some trickery relative to the funds
tho estate. He had convinced the q
u. If his honesty, but, more than eve
% West believed the fellow a rascal.
These thoughts fitted through h
mind vet not co%nsecutively, as the CT
left the grounds, and turned on to u
main road. leading citywards. TIT
'or wore still skirting the Coolidge esta'
ne although the house behind was &C
cealed by s%hrubbery. Suddenly, u
az the cleared the bridge, and beg
"a m mount the opposite grade, the
came a sharp report, sounding so clc
NJ hand the chauffeur clamped on
!, brake. and glanced anxiously over I
side of the car.
IA "Rlow-out, wasn't it, sirT'
= "No." said West shortly, staring NJ
s. self out into the thicket OF trees
their left. at was a shot hred o
there. a revolver ! should say. W
q second. Sanders, until | see W
has happened.
It was largely curiosity when
N,o +o lenye the car. The SOUND
either a rifle or a sl"tsuh III VI" :
" SPOT would have been instantly
missed as natural enough, but 4 pi'
was different. That was no place
such a weapon. II somehow ha'
- rrimly sinister sound
- Determined TO Learn exactly "
N had happened, West pressed MS
~ cage forward through the vines OF
f,nce. and emerged into the neiu
,ond. A half dozen yards ana
. found the clover trampled, as tut
n mar had passed that way. the
led into a shallow depression pa
>, ratier large toulder, near wiich
- trampling of the grass was even !
mainly ~revenled, as though the 81
Or had remained here for some
- had even seated himself. n
= abruptly ended a few ynrn' a
Evidently the fellow had turned
At this point and retraced his