Help me to dress."
But the news had already touched the outer shell of the great
house, and little groups of the visitors were discussing it upon
the veranda. For once, the idle badinage of a pleasure-seeking
existence was suspended; stupid people with facts came to the fore;
practical people with inquiring minds became interesting; servants
were confidentially appealed to; the local expressman became a
hero, and it was even noticed that he was intelligent and good-
looking.
"What makes it more distressing," said Raymond, joining one of the
groups, "is, that it appears the Doctor visited Mrs. Saltonstall
last evening, and left the casa at eleven. Sanchez, who was
perhaps the last person who saw him alive, says that he noticed his
horse was very violent, and the Doctor did not seem able to control
him. The accident probably happened half an hour later, as he was
picked up about three miles from here, and from appearances must
have been dragged, with his foot in the stirrup, fully half a mile
before the girth broke and freed the saddle and stirrup together.
The mustang, with nothing on but his broken bridle, was found
grazing at the rancho as early as four o'clock, an hour before the
body of his master was discovered by the men sent from the rancho
to look for him."
"Eh, but the man must have been clean daft to have trusted himself
to one of those savage beasts of the country," said Mr. Buchanan.
"And he was no so young either--about sixty, I should say.
Pages:
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94