New Britain herald., 1924-10-16

brothers was half reclining in a long chair, while Miss Hattie sat bolt upright, eagerly watching every thing that transpired.
 Malcolm Finley sat with folded arms and, a calm, inscrutatble face, his gray eyes moving slowly from the dead victim of the tragedy to the living wife and back again.
 From his scrutiny of the livid face and contorted muscles of Ray nor Doctor ,Saxton at last lifted a puzzled countenance to the group of anxious spectators.
 There are strange conditions here" he said, most peculiar, in- applicable conditions. Had Douglas Raynor any enemies?"--
 He glanced around the room, and as no one else spoke, Ezra Goddard said:
 Tn view of the. fact that someone shot and killed him, I think we may logically assume that he had"
 The tinge of irony was slight, but quite enough to annoy the doctor.
 Not at all, sir. It Is perfectly possible that the shooting might have been an accident. ora sui- eide"
 "Oh, was it?" Do you think that ?" Nan spoke rapidly, in jerky accents, as if surprised but not displeased at this suggestion.
 'I can't say yet, Mrs. Raynor. On the face of it, it looks as if he had been shot down by the hand of an other, but until after more de- tailed examination, l prefer not to give definite opinion. And for that, l want to await the arrival of the medical examiner. When he comes, I must ask that we be left by ourselves. except that I wish Miss Turner 10 remain with us in her professional capacity" ..
 'I'd like to say a word" began Malcolm Fipley, but Goddard stopped him peremptorlly.
 Not word Nal. Surely you know better. This is not the time or place for any revelation. theory or suspicion. Tn fact, I ask all of you to say nothing definite or vital until the examiner and the detec- tipes get here" ..
 T shall say what I choose.' an- nonnced Nan, " and I say"
 My dear Mrs. Raynor." Goddard spoke quietly. but looked at her with q steady gaze, just reflect mo- ment on the fact. that quite aside from yourself. what you would say might affect others in a way for which you would be sorry"
 What do you mean?" she said.
 Tt doesn't matter what l mean, but it might matter great deal what you say, so I ask you, beg of you. to say nothing"
 His insistence won the day. and Nan said no more, except now and then in whisper to Orry.
 And so, when Doctor Fraser. the examiner. came. everybody was turned out of the room except Nurse Turner.
 The others filed into the large liV- ing room. and seated themselves. Malcolm Finley almost gave way to his strong desire to sit by the side of Nancy, but crossed the room to sit beside Miss Matte.
 She, however, was so pointedly cold and distant of manner. that Finley turned aside and began talk ing to Goddard.
 "1 hope a fairly decent detective will be sent" he said; for this Is not a case to be bungIed."
 Tt Is not, indeed" Goddard as- sented; T only hope the doctors can prove 1t a suicide"
 Why" cried Nae. Suicide is the deed of a coward-andj Douglas was never that"
 No. he was not," Goddard said yet l wish it might have been--for a murder mystery is long, hard road to travel"
 It's murder-but it's no mys- tery."
 These words were spoken by Miss Matte. She looked straight at Nan, and though she said no more definite word, it was easily seen that already she accused Nancy Raynor of the death of her husband.
 But Nancy didn't shoot him." the spinster added, and Nan looked up quickly. to see the stern old face as accusing as ever, and the sharp old eyes glaring at her.
 "1 don't know what you mean" she said. wearily, and leaning back in her chair she closed her eyes, and her brother watched her affection ately.
 "1 wish Nan would go to her room," Oryille Kent said: "she can be of no use tonight, and when the polieemen come 1t will drive her frantic"
 She ought to be driven frantic" Miss Mattie's cold voice declared. "ot course she can't go to her room, Orville; she must be questioned with the rest of us."
 Notwithstanding the awfulness of the occasion, it was quite clear that Miss Matte looked forward to the questioning not without relish.
 At last. to her satisfaction, the police arrived. The others, too, felt a certain sense of relief.
 (Continued in Our Next Issue.)