Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-26
Price 80 Cents

| years. and mebbe you kin if you git
it off your mind. I'm speakin' o
| the death O. young Mr.. Shirley"
! Henry gasped and thrust a
| tremulous. appealing hand out as II
| to ward off a blow.
| please don't ask me! 1t was a
| dreadful affair and even Mr.. Benk-
ard himself didn't get over it for q
| long time. Poor. unfortunate young
| gentleman, ] felt for him, Godfrey.
in spite of his being misguided"
! "'Misguided' is right" Geoff COM
mented. How long had you worked
for Mr.. Bernhard them"
About two years. Henry eased
| himself back. but his clawlike
hands were clutcbing the coverlet
And how long before Mr.. Shir-
| ley's death did he begin coming TO
see Mr.. Benkard?"
II don't recall, exactly So
many gentlemen from Wall Street
| took to dropping in that ! couldn't
! tell to save, me when the first time
was that | saw any one of them. |
| think it was about a year though
| before he-he killed himself. or may
| he tri1e over. that the young
| gentleman came home one afternoon
| with Mr.. Bernhard.
81 remember, because there was
quite a party of them and it had
| been showing outside all day and l
made hot toddies. They We're
| younger than the gentlemen Mr.
! Bernhard usually entertained. and
! very jolly. 1t was the first time any
| of them had been there. and only
| two or three called again with Mr.
Shirley before they dropped off, too,
| and he was the only one of that
crowd who kept on coming, but not
| steady, as you might say. Some
l. times he'd drop in twice in a week,
| and then again we'd not see him for
| u fortnight or So"
He came more often durin' the
! summer and fall. though. didn't he ?"
THE early autumn, Godfrey. 1t
seems to me, looking back, that he
only came once or perhaps it was
| twice in October. and then We didn't
see him again till--till-."
It'll New Years afternoon 81"
! Geoff finished for him, and the old
man nodded.
! That's what I was going to say"
= An right, then. He came bout
halfpast 6 and YOU thought he'd
been drinking, didn't you?"
Henry's hands moved restlessly.
whoever told you that Godfrey?
AS | recall it. he seemed bit ex-
cited like. and L fancied he might
have "a trifle more aboard than he
was accustomed to, owing to the
day, but he wasn't at all downcast
Cr-or worried He shook hands
with me and wished me happy
New Year."
; Again the trembling voice faltered,
and Geoff prompted him.
You told the Coroner at the in
/ quest that Mr.. Bernhard had come
home himself just a little while
afore and was dressin' to go out to
i dinner party. Henry. Is that So"
Yes. l showed Mr.. Shirley into
the living room and then went"
Wait minute. Did you take Mr..
Shirley's coat and hat?'
DIR. Hood was staring at his
deputy in frank amaZement. and
, Newbury in the doorway stroked his
/ tiny, pointed gray beard reflectively.
of course. Godfrey" The old
butler glanced up in mild surprise.
What was he wearing under
recollect now, Henry!" He added
impatiently: You can see him
afore you right as he was then and
you know it,"
A shudder shook the gaunt frame
upon the bed.
He-he was wearing a dark sack
suit and tie with a ripple of blue
through it. and very handsome he
looked, Godfrey, though trife
thinner than when we'd seen him
at the house last. His eyes had
deep circles around them. but they
were very bright, and his cheeks
were flushed; it was that and a sort
OF thick sound in his voice that had
made me think he might be a bit
above himself. I left him strolling
about in the living room-he didn't
sit down-and went to announce him
to Mr.. Bernhard, who had just finish
ed shaving. He put on a lounging
robe"
What kind O. a loungin' robe,
Henry?" Geoff interrupted again,
quilted brocade it was, OF
dark purple and very rich with deep
pockets and a broad collar. I'd
picked 1t out for him myself, he
leaving it to me to choose a great
many of his things in those days,
ana II l do say 1T, no Bond Street
shop ever sold a better"
Did YOU stay behind in his room
to tidy 1t. mebbe. after he'd gone in
to Mr.. Shirley?'
mo. He sent me ahead to fetch
some Scotch and soda in the living
room, and when l reached it they
were talking together as though
neither of them had a care in the
world, and Mr.. Shirley was laugh
ing. l remember. l served them and
then went back to my little pantry.
waiting till Mr.. Bernhard should
ring for me to show Mr.. Shirley
out, knowing he had the dinner en-
Sagement. Henry's voice had
grown hoarse and he was plucking
nervously at the coverlet. but he J
hurried off, as though anxious to |
have done. "All at once-it might !,
have been fifteen minutes later or
maybe twenty heard the sound of |
a shot and then Mr.. Bernhard calling
me-"
'"Are you sure o. that, Henry ?"
Geoff's nasal drawl had grown sud-
denly stern. Are YOU certain YOU
heard Mr.. Bernhard call? know |
you said at the inquest that you did |
but think! Didn't you drop what
ever you was doin' in the pantry
and rush right out to the Twin room |
when You heard that shot fired?"
EFT was so long-so long ago."
Henry gasped. Il thought I heard
him call. but maybe / was mistaken.
l know / hurried to the living room,
and there I saw Mr.. Bernhard stand |
ing crouched over the table and |
staring over at poor Mr.. Shirley, |
who was lying stretched out on the |
floor with the revolver in his hand
-
y In whose hand, Henry" Geoffs