Agatha Webb | Page 9

any further measures are taken, how I
came to know that Agatha Webb had money in her house," said Mr.
Sutherland, as they stepped back into the other room. "Two days ago,
as I was sitting with my family at table, old gossip Judy came in. Had
Mrs. Sutherland been living, this old crone would not have presumed to
intrude upon us at mealtime, but as we have no one now to uphold our
dignity, this woman rushed into our presence panting with news, and
told us all in one breath how she had just come from Mrs. Webb; that
Mrs. Webb had money; that she had seen it, she herself; that, going into
the house as usual without knocking, she had heard Agatha stepping
overhead and had gone up; and finding the door of the sitting-room ajar,
had looked in, and seen Agatha crossing the room with her hands full
of bills; that these bills were big bills, for she heard Agatha cry, as she
locked them up in the cupboard behind the book-shelves, 'A thousand
dollars! That is too much money to have in one's house'; that she, Judy,
thought so too, and being frightened at what she had seen, had crept
away as silently as she had entered and run away to tell the neighbours.
Happily, I was the first she found up that morning, but I have no doubt
that, in spite of my express injunctions, she has since related the news
to half the people in town."
"Was the young woman down yonder present when Judy told this
story?" asked the coroner, pointing towards the yard.

Mr. Sutherland pondered. "Possibly; I do not remember. Frederick was
seated at the table with me, and my housekeeper was pouring out the
coffee, but it was early for Miss Page. She has been putting on great
airs of late."
"Can it be possible he is trying to blind himself to the fact that his son
Frederick wishes to marry this girl?" muttered the clergyman into the
constable's ear.
The constable shook his head. Mr. Sutherland was one of those
debonair men, whose very mildness makes them impenetrable.

V
A SPOT ON THE LAWN
The coroner, on leaving the house, was followed by Mr. Sutherland. As
the fine figures of the two men appeared on the doorstep, a faint cheer
was heard from the two or three favoured persons who were allowed to
look through the gate. But to this token of welcome neither gentleman
responded by so much as a look, all their attention being engrossed by
the sight of the solitary figure of Miss Page, who still held her stand
upon the lawn. Motionless as a statue, but with her eyes fixed upon
their faces, she awaited their approach. When they were near her she
thrust one hand from under her cloak, and pointing to the grass at her
feet, said quietly:
"See this?"
They hastened towards her and bent down to examine the spot she
indicated.
"What do you find there?" cried Mr. Sutherland, whose eyesight was
not good.
"Blood," responded the coroner, plucking up a blade of grass and
surveying it closely.

"Blood," echoed Miss Page, with so suggestive a glance that Mr.
Sutherland stared at her in amazement, not understanding his own
emotion.
"How were you able to discern a stain so nearly imperceptible?" asked
the coroner.
"Imperceptible? It is the only thing I see in the whole yard," she
retorted, and with a slight bow, which was not without its element of
mockery, she turned toward the gate.
"A most unaccountable girl," commented the doctor. "But she is right
about these stains. Abel," he called to the man at the gate, "bring a box
or barrel here and cover up this spot. I don't want it disturbed by
trampling feet."
Abel started to obey, just as the young girl laid her hand on the gate to
open it.
"Won't you help me?" she asked. "The crowd is so great they won't let
me through."
"Won't they?" The words came from without. "Just slip out as I slip in,
and you'll find a place made for you."
Not recognising the voice, she hesitated for a moment, but seeing the
gate swaying, she pushed against it just as a young man stepped
through the gap. Necessarily they came face to face.
"Ah, it's you," he muttered, giving her a sharp glance.
"I do not know you," she haughtily declared, and slipped by him with
such dexterity she was out of the gate before he could respond.
But he only snapped his finger and thumb mockingly at her, and smiled
knowingly at Abel, who had lingered to watch the end of this
encounter.
"Supple as a willow twig, eh?" he laughed. "Well, I have made whistles

out of