Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1922-12-15
CHAPTER VI
The Body of a Suicide.


AS the car whlrled West down the
circilng driveway. the only sign of life
visible about the house was the mo
tionless figure OF Sexton on the steps.
II either Miss Natalie. or Percival
Coolidge. took interest enough In the
proceedings to witness his departure,
they chose 10 remain carefully con-
cealed within. There was no pretense
even at speeding the parting guest.
He had simply been dismissed, turned
out. decentiy enough. perhaps, con-
slderlng his status, yet with 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-
iinqulsh his preS lously formed opinion
of her character This latest action
did not ut all coincide with her former
open friendllness. He had not gone
20 her as servant. nor had she In
any way treated him as such. What
could account for SO remarkable a
changer
Perhaps II was the influence Of Per
civaI 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 disllked
him instlnctively. 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.
ger0us. hut whyf There could only
be one answer to this query. His own
dishonesty his secret knowledge OF
some trIckery relative to the funds OF
the estnte. He had convinced the girl
of his honesty. but. more than ever.
West believed the fellow rascal.
These thoughts fitted through his
mind. yet not consecutlvely. as the car
left the grounds, and turned on to the
main road, leading citywards. They
were still sklrting the Coolidge estate,
although the house behind was con-
ceaied by shrubbery. Suddenly just
~ they cleared the bridge. and began
10 mount the opposite grade, there
cnme a sharp report. sounding so close
nc hand the chauffeur clamped on his
brake, and glanced anxiously over the
side of the car.
-'BiOw-Out, wasn't II. sir?'
"No," said West shortly. staring him
self out Into the thlcket OF trees at
.helr left. at was shot fired over
there revolver should say. Wait
second. Sanders. until I see what
has happened"
Il was largely curiosity which led
him to leave tie car. The sound of
either. q rifle or shotgun In that 'orc-
~ SPOT would have been instantly dis
missed as natural enough. but n pistol
vas different. That was no place for
such a weapon. II somehow had q
crimiy sinister sound.
Determined to learn exactly what
md happened, West pressed his pas
sage forward through the vines Of thu
fence. and emerged Into the field be
yond. A half dozen yards and he
found the clover trampled, AS though
man had passed that way. The trail
led into shallow depression, past d
rather large boulder. near which tbs
trampllng OF the grass was even more
plainly revealed. AZ though the strang
err hau remained here for some time
had even seated himself, and then
abruptly ended few yards away
Tyideotiy the fellow had turned back
at thlf point and retraced his steps