Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 2 — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

302 In the few moments I left them alene to- gether the bridegroom was murdered and Flora disappeared. I came here to find out what she could tell me, but since entering the house, I have seen actions so suspicious that I have decided to give you this choice: either you and Flora will come back with me to the parsonage at ance, or I will stay here and keep my eye on you until the constable can be summoned. Then you will both be questioned as to what you may know of the murder of Nathan Swam.” A sound behind him made him turn. Flora was crouching half-way down the stairs. Her hands clutched the bannister, her face was blurred with crying and her breath came sobbingly, but her glance was fixed on the group of people down the street —the same sight which held her mother rigid. Neither of them spoke nor moved. “IT came here as an old friend and neigh- bor,’ the minister urged, ‘I wanted to help you # I could. You ought not to keep anything from me.” The flowers on Mrs. Winslow’s bonnet trembled slightly and she opened her lips. “Flora wasn’t down to the parsonage.” But even while she was speaking Flora crept down the last few steps and moved toward the open door. She seemed uncon- scious that they were watching her, as she started to cross the threshold. “ Wait!” called her mother. Hurrying after her she tried with trem- bling fingers to pin the collar of the girl’s gingham dress, which had not been fastened and to tuck into place a strand or two of hair. But she made no further attempt to stop her. Side by side they moved on down the path with the minister, following a few steps in the rear. The parsonage yard seemed full of peo- ple. The foremost were crowding about the door-step or peering in at the open win- dows, and the excited murmur of their voices could be heard from a distance. ‘Crass the yard, please, and go around to the back door,” Mr. Grant directed. Mother and daughter turned aside as if glad to escape the scrutiny of their neigh- bors. At the rear of the house there was no one to be seen except Joel Benton, who, with ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. lowered head, was walking to and fro searching for something in the grass. Mrs. Winslow, leaving Flora’s side, stepped up to him quickly and said some- thing in so low a tone that the minister could not hear. But he saw Joel stare after her as she turned back toward the house. CHAPTER IIL. “WER WAY.” HEY found the kitchen empty when they entered it. In the sitting-room beyond, four or five women were standing with their scared, pale faces turned toward the door. Mrs. Grant stepped for- ward when she caught sight of her husband. “Mrs. Winslow and Flora came back with me,” he exclaimed. ‘“ They came, be- cause I—advised it. them and keep others away?”’ Won’t you stay near Mother and daughter sat down side by side in chairs close against the sitting-room wall. Flora hid her face upon her mother’s shoulder, but Mrs. Winslow sat erect star- ing straight before her. She had not even returned Mrs. Grant’s greeting. “What has been done here since I’ve been gone?” the minister asked his wife. “ Has the constable been sent for?” “The doctor says they expect him at any minute.” ‘ ‘When he comes then we must be ready to answer questions.” As he spoke he glanced at Mrs. Winslow’s stern profile. _“ Joel Benton is somewhere around,” his wife murmured, “ and Hetty’s up-stairs get- ting her sewing things together. She’s plan- ning to slip out the back way and go home to be with hey sister. She’s afraid Lucy will see all the people in the yard and feel frightened. She knows Hetty 1s sewing here.” They were interrupted by a slight move- ment of one of the seated figures. Flora had sunk with her whole weight against her mother’s shoulder. ‘ Bring me a glass of water! ” Mrs. Grant ° whispered. The minister filled a tumbler at the pail of well-water in the sink and brought it to her where she knelt beside the girl. COLM G AOOLK jer COlini