The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-07-09
-
Honeymoon
Murder
~
CAROLYN
w ELLIS
Copyright by Carolyn Wells.
Copyright by Carolyn Wells.
wNU Service. =.

ne Id1hCu dIluIldISO1y W C114o
and Malcolm, mostly about things
the ancient dame did not understand,
or couldn't quite make out.
At last, unable to stand it longer,
she said: Everybody seems to be
forgetting my presence"
Il beg your pardon, Stone said,
directly, "did you wish to say some
thing?"
Taken thus, she made no immedi-
ate response, and all waited for her
to speak.
'sWhat is it you wish to say, ma
dame?" and Stone looked his i'm
patience.
''No-nothing in particular" she
stammered.
'"Then don't interrupt. Leave the
matter in the, hands of those who
have something to say"
''Who are you, to dictate to me? I
am not accustomed to being ordered
about"
81 am Fleming Stone, and am in
vestigating the strange death of
your son. If you prefer, you may
leave the room during our confer
ence."
mo, prefer to stay"
''Then you will answer questions
the same as the others do. What is
your reason for daring to hint that
the beloved wife of your son had a
hand in his tragic death?"
Reason enough! She was alone
with him in room, and he dropped
dead at her feet. My son was sound
in wind and limb, and never would
he have died suddenly like that un-
less he had been poisoned or in some
way killed by that woman
''And why would his wife want to
s kill him?"
''To get his fortune, and then mar
ry some one else, which is just what
she is planning to do now"
Perilla looked her horror at this
speech, but said nothing
She began to feel as if net were
closing in about her, dreadful net,
which would envelop her in its
meshes until she was unable to es-
cape.
Not shred of guilt was attribut-
able to Perilla; she had looked at no
man with the slightest degree of per-
sonal interest since the loss of her
beloved husband, but she knew, only
too well, that men had looked at
her with more than mere interest.
Roger Garth, she knew, was in
love with her; Bob Coles had been,
too. Tony Gaskell had said little, but
his looks and actions had told her of
his feelings toward her.
None of these things had impress
ed her deeply until now when this
old woman's words gave her sud-
den shock.
"How absurd" she said, quietly. II
beg of you, Madame Maiden, do not
talk such nonsense. I have quite
enough on my mind as it is, without
listening to your absurdities."
''You won't think it is absurd, my
lady, when you find yourself under
arrest"
"And you won't think it is absurd
when you find yourself in padded
cell"
Fleming Stone said this, taking
leaf out of Malcolm's book. Then,
peremptorily, he rang the bell and
asked that Madame Malden's nurse
be sent to her.
Rather frightened, the old lady al
lowed herself to be led away.
I'm going now" said Stone, ig-
noring the departing dame. 81 think,
Mrs. Maiden, it is time we hurried
things little. That woman means
business, and while she can't really
harm you she can make you deal
of unpleasantness. And that Farman
person is all there is of unholy in
tent. He means to stir up trouble
with all his might.
81 want to tell you that I have a
new line of investigation started, and
if it works out we have great deal
of hope, but if it proves impossible
we are not well off"
ooh, Mr.. Stone, do bring it about!
I am so anxious and worried. That
Farman is ready for war to the
knife. We must circumvent him"
"And we will" Stone spoke more
assuredly than he had any right to
do.
He left then, and went to see his