Miser Farebrother (vol 3 of 3)

rt, as has been stated, fainted within her when Mr. Beeminster, introducing himself, said that he had called upon an i

hat I am aware of. The inquiry upon which I am engaged

Leth's bosom, and Mr. Beemin

g?" he asked. "Do you k

erstand you,"

has resided with

since she left her father's house and

answer. It may be that you

conceal," said Au

ing got herself into trouble,

n a certain sense helpless in the hands of this man. "She is not capable of do

cted of a guilty knowledge. Miss Farebrother lef

coming and stopping with us, from t

r so long a t

ve a deep love for h

to be grate

e i

est serve her by be

ne?" asked Aunt Leth, in an imp

patience. On this last occasion of her coming t

cret," replied Aun

you refuse to answer. I am

just

to say whether she left her home in

er was not kind to her; he

is the construction which every person would place upon it. H

into a hateful marriage;

er father upon

were

her, then, ag

always regarded her as a child of

ing permanently with you has Miss

ut not in answer to

ation that if she would obey hi

e extent of Mr. Beeminster's knowle

brother reply

he did

t met with your approval?

her aright. Her father

r marriage there has been no love los

not de

o. They will, no doubt, be investigated elsewhere. They are, however, an

e d

knowledge a

. She met our servant, and gave her a mes

send af

di

your me

of the name

urning to his companion with a l

es

n of that name

ame. He is a

tain any infor

ng away. He had to return t

he came b

es

ther, however

es

in the h

e i

e she is

, and I am anxio

ill be cleared up. At what hour of th

e and ten o'clo

ung lady to come home. H

know to a

s not t

N

see her

nnot

now? She has

has

se adherence to fact, bewildered her. "When she left this house last night she was in good health. Contradict me if such is not the case, and in anything I may say which is o

e it yes

found in the grounds of Parksides to-day. Therefore Miss Far

brooch he had sh

dear niece by her fa

Pamf

es

whispered a few words to him; the man nodded and left the room. Aunt Leth heard him close the s

believe she did not bring it away with her from Parks

swear t

ece will be ab

it might be used in

ake tell me what you are here for! Do

longer. Miser Fa

ea

ht a copy of an evening paper with me containing the information. It was just out as I came

unfolded the

urder.-A Mys

made of a horrible murder committed on a small estat

ite in the village. The establishment altogether was not in good repute, although the only charge that can be brought against the inmates is that they did not court society, and kept themselves from their neighbours. This remark does not apply to Miser Farebrother's daughter. She was generally liked, and has been in the habit of going frequently to London and paying long visits to her aunt and uncle. The only persons in Parksides yesterday, until the afternoon, were Miser Farebrother and Mrs. Pamflett, the house-keeper. Then the house-keeper was sent by her

hat he did not require anything further from her, and that she was to go to bed. She obeyed him, and getting into bed, was soon asleep. She describes herself as a sound sleeper, and difficult to awake. It was strange, therefore, that she should awake in the middle of the night, with an impression that some person had entered the house. She looked at her watch; it was twenty minutes past one o'clock. Not being satisfied with a mere impression, she left her room in her night-dress and went down to the kitchen. There, to her surprise, she saw Miser Farebrother's daughter. The house-keeper does not know how she got into the house, nor for how long a time she

other was at Parksides. Miser Farebrother was, besides, a person of eccentric habits. He was frequently in the habit of wandering through his grounds in the middle of the night. The sounds grew fainter, as though the miser and his daughter were walking away; or, as the house-keeper expl

morning. On this morning, however, he did not summon her at the accustomed

room. She knocked, and received no answer. Then she opened the door, and found that the room was empty, and that there was no appearance of the bed having been sl

e ground, at some distance from the house. Bending over him, she was horrified by the discovery that he was dead-not only that he was dead, but tha

an, who were followed by two or three idlers. It needed only a slight examinatio

he matter rests. The inqu

ure here to refer to. The affair is in the hands of the police, who

nutterable horror. Quiet and observant, Mr. Beeminster carefully fo

r says it would be premature to refer are Miss Farebrothe

h a pallid face and horror-struck ey

e as possible," said

said Aunt Leth. "What was it you whis

wed the direction of his. The man she referred to was on the opposite side of the road, strolling a few steps

watch us?" asked Aunt Leth,

ster. "Miss Farebrother will most likely be serve

it will kill her!

thout replying, qu