Part 107 (1/2)
A cold chill went to his heart He tore down the coverlet, which concealed the greater part of his face The next moment he fell forward upon the bed
”Johnnie!” he screaid and fixed Around the neck was a faint, bluish line, a ht have been ain, in piercing tones He caught at the hands of the figure before him; he tried to pull it forward
There was no response The old , hite lips, and bloodshot eyes, and a face of horror
”He is dead!” he shrieked ”My boy--my son--my Johnnie! Murderer! You have killed him”
The landlord and the servants started back in horror from the presence of this father in his misery
It was for but ahiain and stood upon the balcony,inaudible words
A crowd gathered round The story soon spread This was the father of a young man who had stopped at the inn and died suddenly The crowd that gathered around the inn saw the father as he stood on the balcony
The dwellers in the cottage that was alht them the news
CHAPTER LVII
MRS COMPTON'S SECRET
On the night after the arrival of John, Brandon had left Denton He did not return till the following day On arriving at the inn he saw an unusual spectacle--the old ers around, the universal excite the inn he found so to see hi, and had been over to the cottage He had learned all about the affair at the inn, and narrated it to Brandon, who listened with his usual calave him a letter from Frank, which Brandon read, and put in his pocket
Then Philips told hihetti Langhetti and Despard were both there yet, the for for some friends He also told about the affair on the road, the seizure of Clark, and his delivery into the hands of the authorities
Brandon heard all this with the deepest interest While the exciteht, he hurried off to the istrate into whose hands Clark had been committed After an intervieith him he returned He found the excitee close by the inn, where Beatrice had found a hoe Philips ith hieelo opened it They entered the parlor, and in a short time Mrs Cohetti
”He is about the same,” said Mrs Compton
”Does the doctor hold out any hopes of his recovery?” asked Brandon, anxiously
”Very little,” said Mrs Compton
”Who nurses him?”
”Miss Potts and Mr Despard”
”Are they both here?”
”Yes”
Brandon was silent