THE mr.VITA DAFLT BEE : SUNDAY , PEBRl'-VRY in.
AUTHOR
OF
"The AGATHA WEBB ,
Leavenworth
Case , " By AXXA KATIIAlliyE KREEX.
< sf
1WI. by S S jreCtare CO
jr cn vi'TUii i.
Thr Purple Orchid.
The da ate mac OTT. Prom t ! great
*
bouse cm the bill the gttesU kad atl de
parted and only the raus + clans remained.
As they Sled out through the ample door
way , with their instruments under taeir
arms , the first faint streak of early dawn
became ris4b4e In the east. One of them , a
lank , plain-featured youag man of un
gainly aspect , but penetrating eye , called
the attention of the others to it.
"Look ! " said he : "there I * the daylight !
This has been a gay night for Sutherland-
town. "
"Too gay. " muttered another , starting
aside , as the slight figure of a young man
coming from the house behind them rushed
hastily by. "Why , who's that ? "
As ttey one and all had recognized the
person thus alluded to. no one answered till
he hal dashed out of the gate and disap
peared in the -noods on the other elde of
the road. Then they all spoke at once.
"If § Mr. Frederick ! "
"He teems In a desperate hurry. "
"He trod on my toes. "
"Did you hear the -words he was mut
tering as heRent by ? "
As only the last question -was calculated
to arouse any Interest , It alone received at
tention.
"No : what -were they ? I herd him say
something , out I did aot catch the words. "
"He wasn't talking to you or me , either :
tut I have ears that can hear an eye -wink.
He said : "Thank God , this terrible night
Is over' ' Think of that ! After such a dance
and such a spread , he calls this night ter
rible and thanks God that it is over. I
thought he < was one to enjoy this kind of
thing more than most folks , "
"So did I. "
The five musicians exchanged look : , then
huddled in a group at the gate.
He has quarreled with his sweetheart , "
suggested one.
"I'm not eurprlsed at that , " declared an
other. "I never thought it would be a
match- "
"Shame If : t were1" muttered the ungainly
youth who had spoken first.
As the subject of this comment was the
Eon of the gntlemaa whose house they were
just leaving , they necessarily spoke low ;
but their tones were rife with curiosity , and
It was evident that the topic deeply in
terested them. One of the five who had not
previously spoken now put In a word.
"I saw him when he first led out Miss
Page to dance , and I saw him again when
he stood up opposite her fa the last
quadrille , and I tell you , boys , there was a
mighty deal of difference In the way he
looked at her the last time from what he
did the first. You wouldn't have thought
him the same man. Reckless young fellows
like him are not to be caught by dimples
only. They want cash. "
"Or family , at least , and she hasn't either.
But what a pretty girl she is ! Some fellow
as rich as he and as well connected would
be satisfied with her good looks alone. "
"Good looks ! " High scorn was observa
ble in this exclamation , which w-as made by
tee joung man who I have before charac
terized as ungainly. "I refuse to acknow
ledge that she has any good looks. On the
contrary. I consider ber plain. " '
"O ! O ! " burst in protest from more than
one mouth. "And why does she have every
fellow In the room dangling after her , then ? "
osk'ed the player on the yellow flageolet.
"But she hasn't a regular feature. "
"What difference does that make when. It
Isn't her features you notice , but berseK. "
"I don't like her. "
A laugh followed this !
"That won't bother her. Sweet water.
Sutherland does , if you don't , and that's
much more to the point. And he'll marry
her yet : he can't help It. "Why , she'd witch
the devil into leading her to the altar if she
took a notion to have him for her bride
groom. "
"There would be consistency in that , "
muttered the fellow Just addressed. "But ,
Mr. Frederick "
"Hush ! There's some one on the door
step. Why , It's she ! "
They all glanced "back. The graceful
figure of a young girl dressed in white waste
to be seen leaning toward them from the
open doorway. Behind her shone a blaze
of light the candles not having been yet
extinguished in the hall and against this
brilliant background her slight form , with
all Its bewitching outlines , stood out in
plain relief. There was an anxious bend to
it , however , which none of them had ever
observed ia it before.
"Who was that ? " she began in a high ,
almost strident voice , totally out of keeping
with the sensuous curves of her strange.
s eet face. But the question remained in
complete as well as unanswered , for at that
moment her attention , as well as that of the
men lingering at the gate , w-as attracted
by the sound of hurrying feet and con
fused cries coming up the hill.
"Murder' murder ! " was the word panted
out by more than one harsh volte ; and In
another instant a dozen men and boys came
rushing Into eight In a state of euch ex
citement that the five musicians recoiled 1
( ram the gate , and one of them went so
far as to start back toward the house. As
be did so he noticed a curious thing. The
young tronian whom they had all perceived j
standing In the door a moment before had
vanished , yet she was known to profess the
keenest curiosity of any one in town.
"Murder ! murder1" A terrible and un
precedented cry in this old. God-fearing
town. They came in hoarse explanation
from the jostling group as they stopped at
the pate : "Mrs. Webb has been killed !
Stabbed with a knife ! Tfll Mr. Suther
land ! "
Mrs. Webb !
As the musicians heard this name , so
honored and so universally beloved , they
to a man tittered a cry. Mrs. Webb ! Why ,
it was Impossible. Shouting in their turn
for Mr. Sutherland , they all crowded for
ward.
"Xot Mrs. Webb ! " they protested. "Who
could have the daring or tbe heart to kill 1
her ? " "God knows. " answered a voice from
the highway. "But she's dead we've Just
seen her'1
"Then it's the old man's work , " quavered
a piping voice well known as that of tbe
Tillage shoemaker's. "I've always said he
turs cm bis % e t frleaOe some day.
ties teet ptae for fftttu u bs lost
wlu. I "
But b re a band was pet over bis awuth ,
and tin rest of tb worts became an in
articulate gurgle. Mr. Sutherland had just
appeared on th * porch , and there were not
mea to let their voices be heard In his
presence.
He was a superb looking aaan. with an
expression of mingled kindness and dignity
that Invariably awakened both awe and
admiration in the ffp ctator. No man In
the country I was going to say no woman
na * more beloved , nor wae any one held In
higher esteem. Yet he could not control
bis only son , as every one within ten miles
of the hlH well knew.
At this moment his face showed both pain
and shock.
I "What name are you shouting out there ? "
I he brokenly demanded.
"Agatha Webb. "
"Is Apatha Webb hurt ? "
"Yes , sir , killed , " repeated a half dozen
voices at once. "We've just come from
the boue. All the town Is up. Some eay
her husband did it"
"No , no' " was Mr. Sutherland's de
cisive , though half inaudible response.
"Philemon Webb might end his own life ,
but not Agatha's. Itwas the money "
Here he caught hlnii-eif up , and. raising
his voice , addressed the crowd of villagers
more directly.
"Walt , " said he , "and 1 will go back
with you. Where is Frederick ? " he de
manded of such members of his own house
hold as stood about him.
No one knew.
" 'I wish some one would flnfl my son.
I want him to go into town with me. "
"He s over in the woods there , " volun
teered a voice from without.
"In the > woods : " repeated the father. In
a surprised tone.
"Yes , sir ; we all saw him go. Shall we
sing out to him ? "
"No , no , I will manage very well with
out him" And taking up his hat Mr.
Sutherland stepped out again upon the
porch.
Suddenly he stopped. A' hand had
been laid on his arm and an Insinuating
voice was murmuring in his ear :
"Do you mind if I go with you ? I will
not make any trouble. "
It was the t > ame young lady we have seen
before.
The old gentleman frowned he whenever
never frowned and remarked siortly :
"A scene of murder is no piece for
women. "
The face upturned to his remained un
moved.
"I think I will go , " she quickly persisted.
"I can easily mingle with the crowd. "
He said cot another word against it. Miss
Pa e was under pay in his house , but for
th last few weeks no one had undertaken
to contradict her. In the Interval since her
first appearance on the porch she had ex
changed the light dress in which she had
danced at the hall for a darker and much
more serviceable one. and perhaps this token
of her determination may have had its
influence in silencing him. He joined the
crowd , and together they mored down hill.
This was too much for the servants of the
house. One by one they too left the house
till It stood absolutely empty. Jerry snuffed
out the candles and shut the front door ,
but the side entrance stood wide open , and
into this entrance , as the last footstep died
out on the hillside , passed a light and reso
lute figure. It was that of the musician
who had questioned Miss Page's attractions.
CHAPTER II.
Sutherlandtown was a seaport. The vil
lage , which was a smell one. consisted of one
long street running parallel with the coast
and numerous crots streets running down
from the hillside and ending on the wharves.
On one of the corners thus made stood the
Webb house , with its front door on the main
street and its side door on one of the hill
side lanes. As the group of men and boys
who had been in search of Mr. Sutherland
entered this last mentioned lane taey could
pick out this house from all the others , as
it was the only one in which a light was
still burning. Mr. Sutherland lost no time
in entering upon the scene of tragedy As
his imposing figure emerged from the dark-
ntss and paused on the outskirts of the
crowd , blocking up every entrance to the
house , a murmur of welcome went up , after
which a way was made for him to the front
door.
But before he could enter some one
plucked him by the sleeve.
"Look up ! " whispered a voice into his
ear.
ear.He
He did so , and saw a woman's body hang
ing half out of an upper window. It hung
rimp , and the sight made him sick , notwith
standing his three score years of experience
"Who's that ? " he cried. "That's not
AgatLa Webb's head and shoulders. "
j "No. It's Betsy , the cook. She's dead , too
We left her where w found her for the
coroner to see. "
"But this is horrible , " murmured Mr
Sutherland. "Has there been a butcher
her ? "
As he uttered these words he felt another
quick pressure on his arm. Looking down
. he saw leaning agalns : him the form of a
'young ' woman , but before be could address
J her she had started upright again and was
moving on wkh the throng. It was Miss
Page.
"It w-as the sight of this woman hanging
from the window which first drew attention
to the house. " volunteered a man who was
standing at a sort of guardian at the main
gateway. "Some of the sailors' wives who
'had been to the wharves to seeheir
husbands off on the ship that sailed at day
break saw it as they came up the line on
i their way home , and gave the alarm. With
. out that we might not yet have known wba
had happened. "
"But Mrs. Webb ? "
"Come In and see "
There was a board fence about the simple
yard within which stood the bumble house
forever after to be pointed out as the scene
of Sutherland town's inoM heartrending
tragedy. In this fence wss a gate , and
through this gate now passed Mr Sutherland
I and Bit would-be companion Mks Page A
path bordered by Hhvc bukhes led the way
to the house , the door of which Hood wide
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optit. As ffxm a Mr SJthe-l ad entered I
this pa < h a man appeared from tle
aiMl rame directly toward him. Itra
Amos FMiton , we. c&QptaMe
B M , a very e d baslats-i' But what 1HU
girl bare ytn tiere" "
'Thlt is MM ) Page , aiy bvtttekeeptr's
steer. & ) ie would come. iB ntsitlveaeec ,
the cause. 1 do not approve of it"
"Mips Page most remain en tbe doorstep
We allow no one inside except ytmrtetf. " <
be aald. respeetfoHy , la recognition of tbe
fact list notalag of ianperta&ee wat ever
aa4 rtaken in 6 tberlaadtown wltbcrat tb
preseare of Mr Sntberland.
Mlis Page cnrti f l. looking > o bewitch- I
iag in tbe freib , morning light tSat tbe
oncb old constable scratched fats chin la
prudgtog admiration. But be did aot re
consider bfe detenatnatton. Seeing tile.
( .be accepted her defeat gracefullr. and
nored aside to where the bathes oCerrd
ler more or less protection from the curl- I
orttj of tboe about her. Meanwhile Mr
Sutherland bad utepped late the hcm&e.
he found himself In a small ball with a 1
staircase in front and open door at the left.
On the threshold of this open door a man
stood , who at the sight of bin doffed his
tat. Passing bj- this jnan. Mr. Suther-
and entered the room beyond. A table
ftproad with eatables net his -clew , beside
which , in an attitude which struck bisi at
the aiaaent aa peculiar , sat Philemon
Webb , the well known master of the house.
Astonished at seeing bis old friend in
this room and in tncb a poeltlon , be was
about to addre&s him , -when Mr. Fenton
stopped hlsi.
"Walt" ' said he. Take a look at poor
Philemon before you disturb him. He was
Bitting Just as you eee him "when we broke
into the house a half hour ago , and we
hare let him bo for reasons you can easily
appreciate. Examine him closely. Mr.
Sutherland : he won't notice It. "
"But whnt alls him' Why does he sit
crouched azainst the table ? Is he hurt ,
too ? "
"No ; look at his eyes. "
Mr. Sutherland stooped and pushed aside
the long gray locks that half concealed the
countenance of his aged friend.
"Why , he cried , startled , "they are
closed ! He Isn't dead ? "
"No , he is asleep. "
"Asleep ? "
"Yea. He was asleep when we cane in
and he is asleep yet. Some of the neighbors
anted to wake him , but I would not let
them. His wits are not strong enough to
jcar a sudden shock. "
"No. no , poor Philemon ! But that be
should sit sleeping here while she but
what do these bottles mean and this parade
of supper In the room they were not ac
customed to eat In ? "
We don't know. It has aot been eaten ,
you see. He has swallowed a glass of port ,
that is air The other glasses have had
no wine in them , nor have the victuals been
touched. "
"Seats set for three and only one occu
pied. " murmured Mr. Sutherland. Strange !
Tould he have expected guests ? "
"It looks like it. I didn't know that his
wife allowed him such privileges : but she
was always too good to him , and I fear has
paid for it with her life. "
'Nonsense ! he never killed her. Had
bis love been anything short of the worship
It was , he stood In too much awe of her
to rift his hand against her , even in his
most demented moments. "
I don't trust men -uncertain wits , " re
turned the other. "You have not noticed
everything that is to be seen in this room. "
Mr. Sutherland , recalled to his duty by
these words , looked quickly about him.
With the exception of the table and what
was on and by it there was nothing else in
the room. Naturally his glance returned
to Philemon Webb.
I don't see anything but this poor sleep
ing man , " he began.
"Look at his sleeve. "
Mr. Sutherland , with a start , again bent
down. The arm of his old friend lay crooked
upon the table , and on its blue cotton sreeve
there w-as a Bmeir which might have been
wine , but which was blood.
As Mr. Sutherland became assured of this
he turned slightly pale and looked inquir
ingly at the two men who were Jntently
wathlng him.
"This is bad , " said he. "Any other marks
of blood below stairs ? "
"No ; that one smear is all. "
" 0 , Philemon ! " bust from Mr. Sutherland ,
in deep emotion. Then as he * looked long
and shudderingly at his friend , he added
slowly :
"He has bea in the room where she was
killed ; so much is evident. But that he
understood what was done there I cannot
believe , or he would not be sleeping here
like a log. Come , ret us go upstairs "
Fenton , with an admonitory gesture to
ward his subordinate , turned directly toward
the staircase. Mr Sutherland followed him.
and they at once proceeded to the upper hall
and into the large front room , which had
been the scene of the tra edy _ .
It was the parlor or sitting room of this
email and unpretentious house. A rag car
pet covered the floor and the furniture was
of the plainest kind , but the woman who lay
outstretched on the stiff old-fashioned
lounge opposite tie door was far from be
ing In accord vith the homely type of her
surroundings. Though the victim of a violent
lent death , her face and form , both of a
beauty seldom to be found among women of
any station , were so majestic in their calm
repore , that Mr Sutherland , accustomed as
he w-as to her noble appearance , experiences
& shock of surprise that found vent in these
words.
"Murdered1 Fhe' You have made some
mistake , my friends. Look at her face ! "
But ev-en in the act of raying this his
eyes fell on the blood which had dyed her
cotton dress and he cried
"Where w-as she struck and where is the
weapon which made this ghastly wound ? "
"She was struck wille standing or sit
ting at this table. " returned the constable ,
pointing to two or three drops of blood on its
emooth surface "The weapon - e have no :
fount ! , but the wound shows that It was
inflicted by a three-Bidsd dagger. "
"A three-sided dagger ? "
"Yes. "
"I didn't know there was euch a thing
in town. Philemon could have had no dag
ger. "
"It does not seem to , tout one can never
tril. Simple cottages like these often con
tain the most unlooked-for articles. "
Mr. Sutherland thought of what this cot
tage did contain , and scrutinized the con
stable closely. But the latter showed no
discomposure.
"I csnsot imagine a dagger being among
its effe < JtE , " he pursued. "Where was tie
body of Mrs. W bb lying when you came
in ? "
"Where you see it now. Nothing has been
moved or chang d. "
"She w-as found here , on this lounge. In
the same position in which we see her now ? "
"Yw. sir. "
"But that is incredible. Look at the way
she lies' Hands crossed , eyes closed , as
though made ready for her burial. Only
loving hands oould have done this. What
does it mean ? "
"It means Philemon ; that is what it
means. Philemon.
Mr Sutherland shuddered , but said noth
ing He was dumfounded by these evi
dences ef a crazy man's work. Philemon
Webb alwa > B seemed BO harmless , though
he bad been tatting in mini tor the last
ten years
"But. " cried Mr. Sutherland , suddenly
rousing , "there is another victim. 1 caw
oW woman Betsy hanging frara a window-
ledge , dead. "
"Y w. she is ia tbis other ream ; tut there
ts no wound OB Batsy "
"How was she kJHei , tbaaT"
"That the doctors awt tell u.H
Mr. Sutherland , guided by Mr. Fentcn'a
gesture , entered a saail room opening in'o
tb one ia wbtefe tsy Mood. Hie attest ion ) '
'
was at OBCe attracted toy the tody of the !
woman be had e B from below , lyta * hall I I
In and ba.lt out of the window That she I
was toad wa * evident. but. M Mr. Featoa 1
bad wild , no wovad was to be * * em upon | >
ber. aw were there any marks of Mood
oa or a boot the place wkere cbe lay. ,
"This IB a dreadful tala se. " groaned I
Mr. Sutherland , "th * w rst I have ever bad
anything to do with. Help a e to lift the 1
'
WOOJBB In ; she. kac be a loag enwgh a
show for tie people wrtslde , "
There wag a ted In the room ( Indeed , It
was Mrs. Web * s bedroom ) , and apon this
poor Betey was laid. As the face came
opperaicttt both Rentlesjen started and
looked at each other In amazement. Th
expression of terror aad alarm w fetch it
showed w-as la striking contrast to tbe look
of exaltation to be seen on tbe tare ot ber
dead mistress.
CHAITBIt III.
A they re-entered the larger room they
were astonished to conic upon Miss Page
standing ia tbe doorway. She wag gazing at
the rectunfcent figure of the d sd woman ,
and tor a moment seemed unconscious ot
their presence.
"How did you get in ? Wal h of my men
w-as weak enough to let you pass , against
my express instructions ? " asked the con
stable , who was of an irritable and sus
picious nature.
She let the hood drop from her head , and ,
turning , surveyed him with a slow smile.
There was witchery in that smile sufficient
o affect a much more cultivated and callous
nature than bis , and though he had been
iroof against it once he could aot quite i
resist the effect of its repetition. j
"I insisted upon eaterlac , ' said she. "Do I
not blame the men ; they did sot want to use j
orce against a woman. " She had not a good
voice and she knew It ; but.f . he covered up
his defect by a choice of intonations that j
carried ber lightest speech to the heart ,
iard-visaged Amos Fenton gave a grunt ,
which was as near an expression of approval
as he ever gave to any one.
Well ! well ! " he growled , but not ill-
naturedly , "it's a. morbid curiosity that
> rlncs you here. Better drop it , girl ; It
won't do you any good in the eyes of seasi
de ptople. "
"Thank you , " was her demure reply , her
Ips dimpling at the corners in a way to
shock the sensitive Mr. Sutherland.
Glancing from her to the still outlines of
tie noble figure on the couch , he re
marked with an air of mild reproof :
1 do not understand you , Miss Pace. If
this solemn sight has no power to stop your
coquetries , nothing csn. As for your
curiosity , it is both ill-timed and un
womanly. Let me see you leave this house
at once. Miss Page ; aad if in the few hours
which must elapse before breakfast you
can find time to pack your trunks , you win
still further oblige me. "
"Oh , don't send me away , I entreat you. "
It was a cry from her inner bean , which
she probably regretted , for she instantly
sought to co\er up the anxiety it showed by
a submissive bend of the head and a step
backward. Neither Mr. Featon nor Mr.
Sutherland seemed to hear the one or see
the other , their attention having returned
to the more serious matter in haad.
The dress which our poor friead wears
shows her to have 'been struck before re
tiring , " commented Mr. Sutherland , after
another short survey of Mrs. Webb's figure.
If Philemon "
"Excuse me , sir. " Interrupted a voice ,
"but the young woman Is listening to wbat
you say. She is still In the hall. " It was
the younc man speaking , who had been left
in the hall.
'She is , is she' " exclaimed Fenton.
sharply , his admiration for the fascinating
stranger having oozed out at his compan-
ion's rebuff. "I will soon show her " But
the words melted into thin air as he reached
the door. The young girl had disappeared ,
and only a faint perfume remained in the
place where fhe had stood.
"A most extraordinary person , " grumbled
the constable , turning back , but stopping
again as a faint murmur came up from
below.
"The geatleman is waklag , " called up a
voice whose lack of music was quite per
ceptible at a distance.
With a bound Mr. Fenton descended the
stairs , followed oy Mr. Sutherland.
Miss Page stood before the door of the
room in which sat Philemon Webb. As they
reached her side she made a little bow that
w-as half mocking , half deprecatory , and
slipped from the house. An almost unbearable -
bearable sensation of incongruity vanished
with her , and Mr. Sutherland , for one ,
breathed like a man relieved.
"I wish the doctor would come , " Featon
said , as they watched the slow lifting of
Philemon Webb's head. "Our fastest rider
has gone for him , hut he's out Portchester
way , and ; it may tie an hour yet before he
caa get here. "
"Philemon ? "
Mr. Sutherland had advanced and was
standing by his old friend's side.
"Philemon , what fr" become of your
guests ? You've waited for them here till
morning "
The old man with a dazed look surveyed
the two plates set oa either side of him aad 1
shook his head.
"James aad John are getting proud , " said 1
he. "or they forget , they forget- "
James and John. He must mean the
Zabels , yet there were many others answer '
ing to these names in town. Mr Sutherland 1
made another effort.
"Philemon , where Is your wife * I do not
see any place set here for her ? "
"Agatha's sick. Agatha's cross ; the don't
care for poor old man like me. "
"Agatha's dead .and you know It , " thun
dered back the constable with ill-judged
severity. "Who killed her ? Tell me that.
Who killed her ? "
A sudden quenching of the last spark of
intelligence in the old man's eye wa : tbe 1
dreadful effect of these words. Laughing
with that etrange gurgle which proclaims aa i
utterly irrespoasible mind , he cried : J
'
"The pussy cat ! It was the pussy cat j
Whot's killed ? I'm not killed. Let's go to i i
Jericho. "
Mr. Sutherland took him by the arm and 2 i
led him upstairs. Perhaps the eight of his i
dead wife would restore him. But he looked
at her with the same indifference he showed i
to everything else i
"I don't like her calico dresses. " said he. t
"She might have worn silk , but she wouldn't. ;
Agatha , w ill you wear silk to my funeral ? " )
Tbe experiment was too painful and they i
drew him away. But the constable's curi
osity had been roused and after they bad
found borne one to take care of him he drew ; ! ,
Mr. Sutherland aside aad said : j '
"What did the old man mean by saying
she might have worn silk ? Are they better
off than they seem ? "
Mr Sutherland closed the door before re
plying , j
"They are rich , " be declared , to the utter I
amazement of the other. "That is. they
were , but they may have been robbed. If so J
Philemon waa not the wretch who kDed
ter. I have been told that she kept her
money in an old-faihioaed cupboard Do
you suppose they alluded to that one * " j
He pointed to a door set in the wail over
tbe fire place , and Mr. Fenton , perceiving a j
key sticking in the lock , stepped quickly
across the floor and opened it. A row of
booke met his eyei , but on taking them down ' I
a couple of drawers were seen at their i
back. 1
"Are they locked ? " asked Mr. Sutherland.
"One is and one Is not. "
"Open the one that Is unlocked. "
Mr. Fanuin did so.
"U la empty , " tald he
Mr. StttiutriaBd east a look toward tbe
dead wewaa. and again the perfect ce-
Tbdty of her oouniwiaace struck him.
"I do not Lnovr whether to regard her
? 'as ' th Tir-isi of her lurtmnl g
or cf * om rile robber g ewtttdfty. Can TOD
an ! the key t tk other 4ra < rer "
"I wUI try. "
| "S ppc * you bFln. ttom. try tortlnc oa
b r rrs ii. It * o M fee ta ber pMfeet. it
no anaraad r ha * ben ber * . "
"It t aot In her pocket. "
"HanglBg t her neck. tbn. % y a striae1
"No ; tb re is a locket heY * . bat ky.
A very handsome locfc t , Mr. SVttoH&Bd ,
wtt- "
wtt"Nerer
"Nerer alad. w * wIM see that laser. It li
th * key we wmat | tt s w. "
"Good bearcas ! "
"What is If"
' It Is Ia h r hand ; the one thftt Ites Tin-
d rnpUi. "
"Ah ! A ipdsi , Fwrtwi. ' *
"A grsat point. "
"Stand by her Fe&toe. Don't tot aay one
rob : her of that k y till th * oroa r COIMM.
and i we are at liberty to tabe It , "
"I will aot leave h r for an fewtaat. "
"Meanwhll * . 1 will j t * mck lh books. "
He hM scarcely 4oa * * o when a treh ar
rival occurred. H wa oo of th village
elergyaen.
ClI.VrTUll IV.
This gentleman had some Information to
give. As he was returning home irom the
bedside of a sick parishioner , some little
time before , he bad been run asainit on
thlg very comer by a man rueblag out of
the gateway in a. state of great agitation
This man held something in his band that
glittered , aad though the encounter nearly
upset them both , he had aot stopped to
utter an apology , but stumbled away Into
the darkness in a dazed and feeble way.
showing : that he was neither youa ? nor ae-
tixe. 1 The minister had not been able to
see , his lace , but noticed the ends of a long
beard ; blowing over his shoulder as he hur
ried away.
Philemon was a clean-shaven man. Asked
if ; he could give the time of this encounter ,
he replied that It was after 11 and before
12. fcr he was In his own house by 1 ! .
"Did you look u ? at these windows be
fore leavinc * " asked Mr. Fectoa , for this
interview had taken place in the presence
of the dead.
"I must have , for now I remember they
were both lighted. "
"Were the shades up ? "
"I think not. or I should have noticed the
celling of the room. I remember seeing
nothing "
"How were th > Vaaaes when you broke
iato the house this morning ? " Inquired Mr.
Sutherland of the constable ,
"Just as they are now ; we have moved
nothing. The shades were both down one
of them over an opea window. "
"Well , we may find this eacouater of Mr
Crane's of decided irnportaace. "
"I wish I had seea the man's face , " re
marked the latter.
"What did the object look like , you saw
glitteriag ia his hand ? "
"I should not like to feature an opialon
I saw it but an instant. "
"Could it have beea a knife or an old fash
ioned dagger ? "
"It might have been. "
"Alas , poor Agatha ! That money , some
thing she so despised , should cause the deatii
of a creature so grand and simple' Un
happy life , unhappy death ! Fenton. , I shall
always mourn for Acatha Webb. "
j ! "Yet she seems to have found peace at
] last , " said the minister. "I have never seen
{ her look so contented. " Then leading Mr
I
Sutherland aside he whispered. "What is it
you say about money ? Had she any oon-
I siderable amount of if I ask because ia
I j spite of their humble means of liviac sh
always put a generous donation on Cie plate ,
j i and I have received more than once du-ing
;
' my pastorate an unexpectedly lane but
i anonymous contribution for certain charities
,
As it w-as always for sick or suffering chil
dren. I "
"Yes , yes : I have no doubt it came from
her. She was by no means poor , though I
myself never knew the exteat of her means
till lately. Philemon was a good business
maa oace ; but they evidently preferred to
live simply , having no childrea living "
"They have lost six , I have beea told. "
"So the Portchester folks say. They
probably had ao heart for display or for
even the simplest luxuries. At all events
they did ntrt. indulge in them. "
"Philemon has long been past indulging in
anything. " '
" 0 , he likes his comfort , and he has tad it ,
too. Agatha never stinted him. "
j "But why do you think her death was due
j ' to her having money ' "
1 "Sho had a large sum < a the Souse , and
there are some who knew this. "
"And it l gone ? "
"Tha : we shall know later. "
As the coroner arrived at this moment , the
minister's curiosity had to wait. Fortu
nately for his equanimity no one had the
presumption to ask him to leave the room.
The coroner -was a man of but few w ords ,
and but little given to emotion. Yet they
were surprised at his first question.
"Who is the young woman who is standing
outside there , the only one Ja the yard ? "
Mr. Sutherland , moving rapidly to the
window , drew aside the shade.
"It Is Miss Page , iny housekeeper's niece , "
j ' he explained. "I do aot underetand her In-
terejt in this affeir , she followed me here
from the house and could hardly be goc to
leave this room 4nto w hich she intruded her-
j self against my express command. "
"But look at her atltude ! " It was Mr.
Featon who spoke. "She's crazier than
Philemon , it seenis to me. "
j There was some reason for this remark
Guarded by the high fence from the gaze
of the pushiag crowd without , she stood up
right and immovable ia the middle of the
j yard , like oae oa watch. The hood , which
; she had dropped from her head when she
j I thought her eyes and smile might be of use
| I to her ia the furtberaace of her plans , had
' "been drawn o\er It again , so that she looked
more like a statue In gray than a living ,
breathlag woman. Yet there was menace
in her attitude and a purpose in tbe solitary
Eland she took in that circle of board-
girded grass , which caused a thrill in the
f f breasts of those w ho looked at ber from
tbe chamber of death.
"A mysterious young woman , " muttered
tbe minister.
"And oae that I neither countenance nor
understand , " interpolated Mr. Sutherland
"I have just shown her tbe displeasure I
feel at her actions by dismissing her from
my house "
The coroner gave him a quick look , seemed
about to speak , but chanced bis mind and
turned toward the dead woman.
( To be Continued. )
, For the celebration next April of the 70th
birthday of General Booth I'D * Salvation
Army proposes to raite by voluntary sub-
Ecrlpcion and present to him (3 0,000 u > bt
used in army w crk.
1
Dyspepsia Cure.
Digests what you eat.
Itartiflciallydigeststhefoodandaids
Nature in strengthening and recon
structing the exhausted digestive or
gans. It is thelatest discovered dipest-
antsnd tonic. No other preparation
can approach it in efficiency. It in
stantly relieves and permanently cures
Dyspepsia , Indigestion , Heartburn ,
Flatulence , Sour Stomach , Nausea.
SickHeadacbe.Gastralffia.Cramps.and
all other results of imperfect dicmion.
Prepared by E. C. DeWIU & Co. . " '
The Severity of this Dis
ease Increases Each
Winter.
Though the disagreeable effects of C&-
tarrh are felt all the rear round , cold
and anpleasant weather aggravates
the diseM and it is during the winter ,
season that its severest form is felt i
Each succeeding year * eems to inj j
teusifv thedi eaie. to that it gradually i
fastens it ? hold upon the sufferer xrith ,
a grasp that becomes firmer each sea
son Catarrh often appears as only s cold
at first , and is hardly noticed. But1
gradually the cold returns , and it is
more difficult to cure , and stays longer i
than formerly These symptoms cannot - '
not be mistaken ; they murk the first j
appearance of a disease that will de
velop in severity and stubbornness and
which it is impossible to cure with the
local treatment of kprnv . washes , and
similar applications Being a disease
of the blood , only a blood remedy on
hare the slightest effect upon it. S.S S t
( Swift's Specific ) is the only cure for )
Catarrh , because it is the only blood
remedy -which goes to the ent of all ob-
etmate cases , and forces out the disease
Mr T A Williams , a leading mer
chant of Spartanburg , S. C , writes :
"For four years 1 hod nasal catarrh ,
and though the case was a mild one at
first , it was not long until I noticed that
it was gradually growing nors-e Of
course 1 was under treatment of first-
class phyticians. but their remedies
v ere applied locally nnd the Catarrh
*
*
In nine cases out of tea the disease Eterts frith a cold *
and pain in chest. Tbea comes Grippe , Pneumonia fd *
lows. The first thins ; Physicians prescribe when symp
toms of Pneumonia are discovered is to place a kettle of
hot water ( near tbe patients bed I so the patient may
breathe said < r > ialp the steam coming therefrom. Here
Mows its strength * *
It steams the pain nwav. relieving almost tn- *
Fiantly. Rub it oa chest when retirinir , and feel like
new in the moraine. Have you not confidence to
Invest in a 20c. trial bottle ?
' Hot-Oil is the most wonderful discovery of the Age. A 2Cc. bottle has cured
Weak Lungs and severest Bronchial troubles , thereby
Preventing the Dangerous Consumption.
If rou have u < d "Hot-Oil" for Rheumatism or 2s euralria sad are convinced
of its great powers , then buy a laree bowle for 50c. and keep it in the house ,
where it will be ready for action. If you have never used it , then.
BUY A 20C. TRIAL BOTTLE and be convinced. Delay not' '
Don't hare the Croup ! Don't have Asthma ! *
*
Don't hare Weak Lung3 ! Don't Iiavo Rheumatism ! 5-
One 2Oc. bottle relieves. A 6Oc. bottle cures. *
' Kot-Oa is no-- for sale at your Drut'JrJrt'R. ortrTI be Sent , prepaid , direct on receipt
of price , by HZRCLUU * HOT-OIL Co. . Elo.ra. N. 1
roil < j tJ-E Ul MIEIIMVN JL Mc-tOVNULL , DItin CO.
Of L'nopproached ' Value for the liome. Class-room , Office , or Study.
Jourmrf < i/-Edi/r < jf 'mi , Boston "This Is a treasure. Soonecancoacaive tb we
of lafoncation. the convenience for reference , Uie elircini-tlGD of nantiectu lf wWch
make Uua book worth much mor than the price to juij student , trachrr , or wnt r
iotienary
Abridged from the Funk Wagnails Standard Dictionary by
a large corps of experienced lexicographers under direction
of JAJIES C. FERXALD and F. A. MARCH. LL.D . . .
from cover to cover with numerous exclasivp features besides beinc the most ample ,
comprehensive , accurate , and authoritative academic dictionary 111 < justence. It is the
tvork throughout of specialists , the aim hann ; : been to produce a moJirn and convenient
handbook of dictionary information covencc all department-- human knowledge. Its
vocabulary tnd sppennix features ha\e never been approached by any similar work.
Type , paper , and binding are of the highest quality.
REASOMS WHY FT IS THL MOST PERFECT OF ACADEMIC DICTIONARIES.
EXCLUSIVE KEKI7S Or THIS BOOK. A FEW Or ITS SUPERIOR MERITS.
Found In no other Academic Dictionary. Superior to every fther Academic Dictionary ,
EXCLUSIVELY capitalize only Pach words as SUPERIOR Vocabulary ( C2-2S4 t mF ) of lines-
require capitals A fecuc GUIDE TO Cii'iTAL- celled K-orc , uicocbE , and COXVOIDTT AB-
IZAT1OK F.iNGEKEXT
EXCLUS5VELV supplies Prepositions ( over SUPERIOR Definitions ; prrparrd by
1,000. ) aad illustrates their corrrct u r. krcoiiiJkTs AjfD rru _ EXACT. AM > n.rR
EXCLUSIVELY tfres Antocyms < S 003) ) or op SUPERIOR Pronuaciauoc frynteoi
posite wordy ; as iSrilspt-NSiBLi : AS EV > o.vruK- pronunciations WITH ULSE AM ) smpuciTt
SUPERIOR Etj mnloeie. trd burl , ID direct
EXCLUSIVELY indicates the diffprrnce b- -
line : no cuekkOR IACTKSIOXS I.VTO COGNATE
tweon txntpomoWCEDB aad CRUEE TTOPJJR.
EXCLUSIVELY contains thousands ot Kirtr SUPERIORflllnstrations fever 1 855 beJmrpLrx.
woEOi and APPEXDIX rEATrnns of grest value. urn , rASTtm , ASD or HIGH ncnjimv
UAI MARI P . APPPF-'niY ' Tb Appendix embraces- Proper Kames la
Bloirrphv nct.ua. Hmtorr. GrosrrRphy. etc ;
Foreipn VVonJn and I'liraw * in Enjhsii Ijtfrtrmv Faulty Diction. Dispatt-d rronuaci-
atlon , Oi-mlcol-Eleajesn. T.tles and r > rfrf : \Velc3t6 and Measures , Hlstoricil Datt ;
Arbitrary SlRas tad Symbols , Common and Metric ij stems , etc. , etc.
PERFECT FROM EVERY STANDPOINT.
. . . . . . , < -SrInm1 Timrt , Pluladelphia' "TiiUcc it all tor 'J fr , the Studentt * Edition ot the.
Standard Dictionary , becnufc- the p * < mlitr car * cirpn to its -it-ctioaj. . aad brcaus of its c m-
pr"hpnKlT n-a , it conciF"nesK. lu bactiac of Kbolarly consensuB. s readabilliy and portability ,
and rs moderate pnce. trive * iiromiw" of a large field of ust-fulneim. not only among students , but
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KIcliard ? I. .Tonen , .tDn Hritd 3Ia t < r rrmiUrut D. ir. Cochran , Polytechnle
William IVnn Charter ! > < heel , Foundrd lotitutr , I2roc > llc S Y It i the mot-t
KtJ rtilladelphia , I'M- ' I am convinced tfact reiwblf. ocmprehrntlvf. and convenient Us-
there is no academic d'etlonary published ia this llonexy fortbe teacher's dctt yet orferwl ta
it. " . "
country that approachea us.
Iht'ton Hrmhl : "It Is to b preferred to all other dictionaries meant for offlofl or desk uw
ad for scholars In high ichoolsand acudiuieh. . Juile sufflcient for tbe nedb of nine readers In tea. "
Lurxe Rvo , 013 pp. , cloth , leather bark , K2JO net. Itonnd In foil leather ,
Kl.GO net. Carrlaee prt-jmid. 1'nK-iit Thuiub Index , SO cent ! extra. .
Sold by Booksellers , or sent postpaid on receipt of price by
t.JSnaiK. Unnln JiutWna ,
U.VIOJf MJCAKE , New Tork City.
use Use
Woodbury's Woodbury's
Facial Soap Facial Cream
'iiiplesion s , ' y i' p.m. . . ! ) ' ! ! ! ! )
< ! ein i > f t > cit. v t . r i- s m n ij-i
frc k's a'd tJ > n rf - ) - ' rmju-n
c-J wh ts liJf'HN U TVut/I ' ' iY t
PU' S' . u _ c u1 1 " > i ' " - 1 > ,
S' L Ec-4 > - - - '
s : c- f j k
-1 re ' ve e.nir e c3 t > f . .p ar jr am
fr- '
T-U' ics , J ar : _ - ! , arJ „ _ r , M
- j'ulr p-e rr * 4 by t * e 1 . * .t t ' - e i
> X w . P e $ j - . > - < . l _ .
l > n , or I t 't- J J < f r * T '
HABIT. A new : n rateed
jmir'TH ' aed * le come curr
\Vttolly Ulfftrrto ; frcu all
< > lct rfimv. . tr'tfe work
OrPurd ) > O. iiiiu IUU . . llbiutwu. Iciti
seeiaed to be ( retting a firmer heM oo
me nil the while
' Alter spending so much money tor
treatment which provf d to b a.1 .n .
vain , I was ureed to try ri S S I'u s
remedy proved to be the npht one fcr
it cot it thf diM > a e. aixl a ft-w bottiCA
cured me perfectly The cur w.v a
permanent ono arid 1 have not had a
touch of ti e diM-as * for many yew
Sw ift s Speeifle is tl. " only remedy tht
nil ) have the slightest effect upon
Catarrh "
SuHorer * Irora
Catarrh should pet
a start On the dis
ease b fore the co'.i
weather acgravates
it Those who have
been relying upon
.local treatraont will
, jg all that is n ? dcd
to fchow that tbo
dtfen a is frtill wftj
them A course cf
S S ? ( Swift s Specific ) will prove all
assertions m do that it J * the only cure
for Catarrh it ROCS to the cause of the
trouble the blood and forces out all
traces of the disease
Swift' * Specific is the only remedy
wh'ch reaches real obstinate blood di -
eivse * , it cures GftUrrh , Rheumatism ,
Cunoer , Contacious Blood Poison , Bc-
zerna. Scrofula , aad every oh r
disease of the blood It is guaranteed
Purely Vegetable
and i ? tiie only blood remedy containing
no potash , mercury or other mineral
Books maile-d frw to any address by
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