lking up and down in the starlight, apparently absorbed in thought. When at leng

tt, before you retire for th

you wish," the s

any time within an hour,

towards the library, but paused on hearing an angry voic

ently ignored your son, your own flesh and blood; and now you would rob him, not only of his father's name, but of his father's fortune,-cast him off with a mere pittance,-and put this stranger in the place

and down the halls until the library door opened and Mrs. LaGrange came out. She swept past him in a towering rage, seeming scarcely aware of

nwaring looking

I would like you to carry out early in the morning; and I also want to say that I wish you to con

ave been detected a shade of reserve in his manner, and, aft

rted to his discovery of the afternoon, and, taking the shabby document from his pocket, he read and re-read it carefully, his features betraying deep emotion. What

the house. He listened intently for a moment, but hearing nothing further and discovering the lateness of the hour, he hastily e

ound of running to and fro. Almost before he could collect his thoughts, he heard steps approaching his room, and, rising, hastily exchanged the smoking-ja

e in the background servants were running in different directi

bling with excitement, "come to the tower-roo

reeling for an instant as if from a blo

ess," replied Mr. Whitney; "he was mur

still dazed by the wild torrent of thought surging throug

ning. We have telephoned for his physician and for the c

vely few hours before. Even amid the confusion, he noted that in the outer room everything appeared the same

olver, while an ugly wound just above the right eye and near the temple showed where the weapon had done its deadly work. The closely cut hair about the temple was singed and his face was blackened, showing that the fatal shot had been fired at cl

chless with horror. With what conflicting emotions the young secretary gazed upon the lifeless form of his employer, fortunately for him at that moment, no on

t broken by Mr. Thor

do you think, Mainwaring?

. Mainwaring in a low tone; "but I

t a doubt!" ad

done such a deed?" g

retary knelt beside the silent form and touched the left hand lying partially hidden in its folds, he

ng and his watc

t have been the object of the murderer!" While h

n whether anythin

ter the coroner's arrival," said Mr. Whitney, "but,

r a detective at once?

or one upon my own responsib

Ralph Mainwaring of the secretary, who had risen to

was his reply; then noting a look of sur

s he wished to give directions regardi

lone at t

s,

pear?" inquire

, except that he s

s room?" asked

was seated in

attracted Mr. Mainwaring's attention

; go and meet her. The ladies mus

and her mother. With terror-stricken faces they gathered about him, unable to believe the terrible report which they had learned from the servants. As best he could,

athering on the grounds outside the house, forming in little groups, conversing with the servants, or gazing upward with awe-stricken glances at the closely-drawn shutters of the room in the tower. The invisib

on found Ralph Mainwaring and the atto

but I confess I am at a loss to understand the motive for such a deed, un

ind very strong evidence in that direction, I cann

would you attribute it?"

ay throw light upon the subject, I do not feel p

cions," remarked Mr. Mainwarin

any enemies th

ing glance upon Mr. Thornton for an

ness relations he might have incurred t

ainwaring made few intimate friends, but he was universally respected by all who knew h

harply at the attorney, b

think this deed was committed by an

"I am not prepared to state what I do think wit

d judgment regarding this case so soon as you do feel justified in expressing them, and, since you are vastly m

that no one leaves the premises, and that you also send for Mrs. LaGr

butler; who was standing at a l

y wishes to see her in the library; and s

r, John Wilson, a middle-aged man and a servant of Ralph Mainwaring's who had ac

stationed in the hall below. Keep back the crowd as much as possible; when the coroner and ph

as Brown departed to the duties ass

se watch upon every one within this house, without seeming to do so; pay close attention to all conversation which you hear, and if you hear or see anything unusual, or

replied; as he moved aw

gave the message by the chambermaid, and she sent word that she had been prostrated by

rnton paused suddenly in his

ng that will read yesterday-that there must have been something w

there may be something rather 'peculiar,' as you call it, in that di

sible that in his mind she is in any way ass

ust now alluded, I can assure you I was not too well pleased; but I knew it was useless to raise any objections or questions; to my mind, however, they

ke it; but surely she co

an of Hugh Mainwaring's type leaves a handsome annuity to his housekeeper, and an interest in his busin

ut her shapely neck and falling in profusion over her beautifully moulded wrists and hands. Her dark, handsome features bore no trace of recent prostration, but betrayed, instead, signs of intense excitement. She bowed silently and passed

ser of Hugh Mainwaring did not tend to inspire her with confidence regarding his attitude towards herself. Nevertheless, he was an eminent attorney and this was a critical moment; if she could gain his favor and his

scrutiny and cold scorn of his keen blue eye that, so far from winning favor from him, he woul

mself that never had he seen this handsome woman so beautiful as at the present moment. The eyes looking into his with such depth of meaning,-the expression, the attitude,-all were utterly unlike anything which he had ever seen; but

, while her head assumed its usual haughty poise; the

ey remarked, "This day's events will be f

rings to the guests of this house, instead of future ex

at any of them take that view of what has oc

host seemed to greatly detract, at least in the case of one of their numb

you refer?"

which I know, they would never have crossed the water to take part in the farce which was enacted here yes

oncern for, the inanimate form visible in the adjoining room. With sudden dir

at hour did you last

keen scrutiny. She was quick to note the fact and hesitated an instant, while a change, inexplicable to the attorney, passed over her face,-surprise

ast night; I do not

speak, Mr. Thornton appeare

coroner and others have arrived; as you kn

lease remain here," and the attor

y trying to read the other's thoughts and probe the depth of the other's knowledg