That Mainwaring Affair

h Mainwaring," announced the coroner,

he striking beauty of his dark face, with its olive tint, clear-cut features, indicative of firmness and strength, and large, piercing eyes, within whose depths, on the

ered one reporter to his neighbor. "He isn

an the English chap, anyhow; and, in my opinion, the old fell

turned slowly, facing Mrs. LaGrange, who was watching him with an intensi

from the dark eyes, as, with a gesture of proud disdain, he folded his arms and again faced his interlocutor, while, with eyes gleaming with revenge from under their hea

was as yet in ignorance of the weapons she would use against him, but the honeyed words of the little note cr

ral questions, t

the first intimation received by

n different directions. A few moments later Mr. Whitney came to my room and informed me

ing yesterday during the greater part

I did not see him after d

unusual in his appearan

r about an hour after luncheon,

ny cause for su

to the conversation at luncheon, t

one Richa

s,

elations existed between Mr.

eek paled, and her breath came and went quickly, but these were t

en them of late. I only know that Mr. Mainwaring had, y

the nature of

indignation depicted on some of the faces about him, "this man was employed as an attorney by Mr. Mainwaring before the latter cam

and, though his own eyes were fixed on the coroner's face, he saw reflected even there the general expression of mingled as

serious assertion to make regarding a man so widely known as Mr. Mainwaring,

e truth of my assertion. I made this statement simply because the time and place demanded it. You were endeavoring to ascertain t

son extorted money from Mr. Ma

ng that, as this money would set him on his feet for a time, he would not write again immediately, but assuring Mr. Mainwaring that he would nev

ribe this man

having neve

nger who is reported to hav

moustache. He was dressed in a tweed suit,

state hi

med rather insistent, but, on learning that Mr. Mainwaring was out and that he would receive

ve his name

arruthers, of London. He gave his pre

hing unusual in

rruthers seemed well informed regarding events expected to take p

roner to Mr. Whitney, who immediately summoned Geor

re you in Mr. Mainwaring's private li

t the entire eveni

again see Mr

ibrary before retiring, as he wished to give some final directions for the next day. About half an hour later I went to the library door, but hearing loud and angry talk within,

ize the voices or hear a

feeling that I was hearing what was not intended for me, I walked ba

er leave t

passed her in

you, of

ence until we had passed; she then turned

e of the conversati

nge said. She evidently was v

her words as y

ignored and robbed his own son to put a stranger in his place. The last words I heard were, 'You are in my power

with an indifference and impassiveness that seemed unnatural, while the smouldering fire in

. Ralph Mainwaring's face was dark with suppressed wrath; Mr. Thornton seemed hardly able to restrain himself; while the attorney grew pale with excitement and anger. Mrs. LaGra

make no reply?" in

it was inau

e library as soon

d

hour wa

nutes pas

time you saw Mr.

wa

r any one was in his

can

inwaring's library within an hour preceding his death; conseque

y, and, after giving directions regarding any personal mail or telegrams which might be received, stated that he wished me to consider

h room w

behind him, as was usually his habit when thinking deeply, but he immediately seated himself and gave me my in

nusual sound after

by what I thought was a stealthy step in the grounds in the rear

y be recalled later," said the coroner, watching the secre

tness is Mrs

uick intuition, instantly grasped the situation and watched the proceedings with new interest and closer attention. As Mrs. LaGrange took her place and began answering the questions addressed to her, the eager listeners pressed still more closely in their efforts to

oughton Ma

painful silence ensued,

your relation

unacknowledged, wife of Hugh M

marriage took place," said the cor

don, about three months before Mr

g ago wa

e than twenty

, and that in all these years Mr. Mainwa

raced him to America, and five years after he deserted me I had the pleasure of confronting him with the facts which I had obtained. With passionate protestations of renewed love and fair promises of an honorable married life, he sought to purchase my silence, and, fool that I was! I yielded. He claimed that he could not at once acknowledge me as his wife, because he was already known as an unmarried man, but in the near future we would repeat the marriage ceremony and I should be the honored mistress of his heart and home. I believed him and waited. Meantime, our

?" inquired the coroner, regarding the witness wi

s my husband kept that in his possession, and frequently threatened to destroy it. If it is in existence, it will be f

name of thi

Hobson, o

?" the coroner inquired, at the same time

as at one time my h

air Oaks yester

di

ether he called

, in the evening, acco

time to secure an interv

see me on priv

ion of meeting Mr.

g regarding hi

you were in Mr. Mainwaring's library between the ho

orm of address. "I was in my husband'

g were y

she answered, indifferentl

t correctly your wor

d. His memory on the subjec

. Mainwaring, that you would make him and

could set aside the will, and could ruin

ply did

give him a little time to reflect upon a proposition I had made, and I left the library, intending

aning," said the

uncing some one as a liar and an impostor. The reply was low, in a voice trembling with rage, but I caught the words, 'You are a liar and a thief! If you had your deserts, you would be in a felon's cell to-night, or trans

r to you?" inquired Dr. Westlake, in the bre

the lips of the witness, as she answered, with pecul

it was distinctly recognizable as tha

, he had, in imagination, confronted his employer with the proof of his guilt which that afternoon's search had brought to light. His fancy had vividly portrayed the scene in which he would arraign Hugh Mainwaring as a thief, and would himself, in turn, be denounced as an i

crowd quickly recalled him, however, to the present situation, and awakened

you of the opinion that it was Mr. Scott wh

e it was he, and I have now additi

ded on your own personal knowledge

ived from various memb

r. Scott leave

id n

what time you heard

m, and there found that it la

any unusual so

were so remote from the general sleeping-rooms that no sound from there

f importance, and the witness was temporarily dism

if Mr. Hardy has returned we will

asked, "Were you able to learn anything conc

egistered there; but they said a man answering that description, tall and wearing dark glasses, came into the hotel last evening and took dinner and sat

Hobson at t

man with him in his room most of the afternoon, but he took no meals there. After dinner Hobson went out, and nobody knew when he came back; but he was there to breakfast, and took the first train to the city. I made some

ected to remain on the premises that night; and, dinner over, the gentlemen, including Mr. Whitney, locked themselves within the large library to di

and heard the eager, excited tones within, remembering the dimly-lighted room above with its silent occupant, unloved, unmourned, unthought of, in marked contrast to the prec

with an eminent lawyer whom he knew by reputation, and in whom both Hugh Mainwaring and Mr. Whitney, in numerous legal contests, had found a powerful and bitter opponent. To him Scott had intrusted his own case, giving him the fullest details, and leaving in his posse