"I have told you that I had nothing to do
with your husband's death, madam."
"Who killed him, then?" she cried.
"I don't know. He must have committed suicide."
"Don't think you are going to escape in that way.
I won't rest till I see you hung!"
"I wish I had never entered the house,"
thought Carl, uncomfortably. "I would rather
have gone hungry for twenty four hours longer
than find myself in such a position."
Half an hour passed. Then a sound of voices
was heard outside, and half a dozen men
entered, including besides the messenger, the
constable and a physician.
"Why was he not cut down?" asked the doctor, hastily.
"There might have been a chance to resuscitate him."
"I didn't think of it," said the messenger.
"Maria was so excited, and insisted that the
boy murdered him."
"What boy?"
Carl was pointed out.
"That boy? What nonsense!" exclaimed Dr. Park.
"Why, it would be more than you or I could do
to overpower and hang a man weighing one hundred
and seventy-five pounds."
"That's what I thought, but Maria seemed crazed like."
"I tell you he did it! Are you going to let him go,
the red-handed murderer?"
"Loose the cord, and I will question the boy,"
said Dr. Park, with an air of authority.
Carl breathed a sigh of relief, when,
freed from his bonds, he stood upright.
"I'll tell you all I know," he said, "but it
won't throw any light upon the death."
Dr. Park listened attentively, and asked one
or two questions.
"Did you hear any noise when you were sitting
at the table?" he inquired.
Pages:
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56