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Page 33
"Letty!"
"He is very nice--I know you'll like him when you get to really know
him. Of course he hasn't much money, but I don't care for that. You
always said money didn't count for so much anyway--that it was
character--and he's got that."
"Hum!" For the life of him Adam Adams could not speak. He felt
himself growing hot and cold by turns. He caught the girl closer.
Never had he loved his friend's daughter so much as now.
"I hoped you would approve," she went on, shyly. "I--of course I
didn't want to leave you--you've been so very good to me since papa and
mamma died. But--but Tom doesn't seem to want to wait. He has asked
me twice now and--and--I don't know how I am going to put him off. He
seems so miserable when I say wait."
"Asked you to marry him?"
"Yes."
"And he wants you to go to the theatre with him--now?"
"The invitation is for to-night--he sent it last week. He has been
traveling out of town, but he said he would be back some time to-day.
I want you to meet him." She paused. "Isn't it all right, Uncle Adam?"
He did not answer, and she gazed at him curiously. Then the look in
his face made her draw back, slowly and uncertainly. At that moment he
felt that the occupation of a detective was the most detestable in the
world.
"You--you know something?" she gasped. "Oh, Uncle Adam, what is it?"
CHAPTER XI
AT THE CORONER'S INQUEST
Sidham was in a state of keen excitement. No such mystery as the
double tragedy had occurred in that neighborhood before, and all of the
inhabitants were anxious to hear the latest news and learn what the
coroner and the police were going to do. A hundred theories were
afloat, all centering on the one object--to find the murderer.
"Find him or her, and swing him or her to the nearest tree," was the
verdict of many. "The law is all well enough, but this dastardly crime
demands an object lesson."
Coroner Jack Busby, who was a dealer in horses, had never had a murder
case before, and was uncertain as to the method of procedure. But with
the eyes of the whole community on him he realized his importance, as
he ran hither and thither, to arrange for the inquest. He felt that
his own little office was altogether too small for the occasion and so
arranged to bring off the affair in the general courtroom.
The place was soon crowded with people, and another crowd gathered
outside. The hour for opening the inquest was at hand and the majority
of the witnesses were present. The coroner, short, fat and
bald-headed, looked around anxiously and then turned to the chief of
police, who was near at hand.
"I don't see Miss Langmore."
"Neither do I," answered the guardian of the law, with a shrug of his
shoulders, as if it was none of his especial business,
"Yes, but--ahem! you are--ahem! responsible--"
"She'll be here, coroner, don't worry."
"You have had her properly guarded?"
"Yes. I reckon she's coming now," and the chief of police nodded
towards a side door of the courtroom.
There was a slight commotion, and Margaret entered, escorted by Raymond
Case, and followed by one of the women and the policeman who had been
on guard at the Langmore mansion. The crowd arose to gaze at the girl
and to pass various comments.
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