Adventure Magazine Cover, October 1911 — page 100: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

1046 bad terms with his nephew, who was with him shortly before the crime, and that the latter has been arrested. I may add that I know some more of the broader details of: the case, but it would be as well, I think, if you were to give me a short history of the crime. I will ask many questions on points which may be obscure, if you will permit me, during the narration.”’ “To make a long story as short as possi- ble, then,” said the General, ‘‘old Almaric Variole lived at Variole Manor about a mile and a half from my gates. He was of distinguished appearance and exceptionally polished manner, but the most unpopular man in the county. He was not quarrel- some; seldom, if ever, said disagreeable things about his neighbors, and was neither close nor slippery in money-matters. He subscribed to the hunt and, perfunctorily, to several local charities. “The only man with whom he was ad- mittedly at open feud was our parson, one of the finest fellows who ever stood in a pulpit. Variole not only professed, but actually felt, the greatest scorn and loathing for all forms of religion, and all belief in a hereafter. The parson is a peppery little fellow and he positively hated Variole and, what in a moment of exasperation he once described to me as, his “ logic.” Shs “IT WAS not his atheism, though, ea Which made the old man so cordially eaua disliked. There was something in- definably repellent about him. He seemed to be without the softer emotions. Never, to my knowledge, did he do a really kind act, and his attitude to his fellows, while in- variably courteous, had a little too much condescension in it to please people. I and Dr. Marpole of Wroxmouth, a small town a few miles from here, were the only two men with whom he affected the slightest intimacy, if that is not too strong a word. “Geoffrey Variole, his nephew and heir— for the old man never married—was brought up under his uncle’s eye, and from the boy’s childhood there was no love lost between them. About a year ago Geoffrey fell in love with a penniless but very charming girl, the daughter of a retired clergyman, and, in spite of his uncle’s threats and pro- tests, married her. “I believe there was a tremendous scene when the young man broke the news, and Geoffrey, who is a high-spirited fellow, left Adventure the house after making a foolish remark that his uncle should bitterly rue the insults against his wife. Geoffrey, who had in- herited a small fortune from his mother, took a small place about a mile from the Manor, and from the time he left his uncle’s house in a rage until the day previous to the murder, the two men never exchanged a word, although they met occasionally in public. “Apart from the tragedy, Almaric was a doomed man. It appears that he was suffering from a heart-complaint, and two weeks before he was killed he called in Marpole after a spasm of unusual violence. Marpole told him candidly that he had barely a month to live, that he might die at any moment and that science could hold out no hope for him. The old man went up to London and consulted a famous spe- cialist who confrmed Marpole’s diagnosis and death-sentence. I only knew of this yesterday from Marpole himself, as Variole had enjoined the strictest secrecy. How- ever, that has no particular bearing on the case except that it brought uncle and nephew together again. “The morning before the murder Variole walked over to Geoffrey’s house. The poor young wife was away on a visit to London, and Geoffrey himself was not at home. Variole waited for some time, but, as his nephew did not come, left, saying that he would return in the evening. He did so and was closeted with Geoffrey for about an hour. There is no question about what transpired, for Geoffrey admits that his uncle offered the olive branch, promised forgiveness for past offenses, and suggested a meeting next day to clear up all differ- ences. “Geoffrey gladly consented, and at two o’clock the following afternoon met his uncle by appointment on the western tcr- race. The meeting was witnessed by sev- eral persons, and all declare that it was evi- dently a cordial one. The old man, accord- ing to Geoffrey, suggested a stroll, and the two walked up to what is known as “The Grove,’ a plantation about half a mile west of the house. “A footpath from the village runs through the wood, which is a sort of island surrounded by marshy ground. A girl, whose duties took her daily to the manor, saw the two men standing in a large open- ing about the center of the plantation and CO Ebooks ©