y of Mrs. Pattmore's death the Doctor was unable to call; hence
only Mr. Pattmore and Mrs. Reed were present when she died. Pattmore
spoke very endearingly to his wife and tried to caress her, but she
pushed him away, gave him one long, reproachful look, and fell back
dead. Pattmore professed to be overcome with grief, and tears flowed
down his cheeks, as he requested Mrs. Reed to arrange for the funeral,
and to spare no expense. He stopped at the door as he was leaving the
room and said:

"By the way, Mrs. Reed, if any one inquires about it, you can say that
dysentery was the cause of my beloved wife's death."

Miller said that there was little doubt that Mrs. Reed suspected foul
play in connection with Mrs. Pattmore's death; but she was a very
discreet woman, and would not spread any story which she could not
prove. It was only by very skillful management that he had been able to
induce her to talk upon the subject at all. She knew that Pattmore was
very popular, and that she would be speedily silenced if she attempted
to suggest anything against his character; hence she preferred to keep
her suspicions to herself.

On receiving this report from Miller, I sent him instructions to
continue his acquaintance with Mrs. Reed, and to keep a close watch upon
her movements, for it was possible that she, too, might be induced to go
away. As she would be an important witness, it would be necessary not to
lose sight of her. At the end of the week I received another report from
Miller, stating that Pattmore had called a select meeting of his
political supporters in the district, and had laid the plans for an
energetic effort to obtain the Congressional nomination. Miller had been
taken into their confidence, and he was working hard to secure the
election of Pattmore delegates to the approaching convention. This gave
him ample opportunity to become intimate with Pattmore, and he felt sure
that the latter would not take any important steps without consulting
him.

I was much pleased to hear this news, as it showed me that Pattmore was
no longer in fear of detection; moreover, it satisfied me that politics
would detain him in Greenville for some time, and there would be no
immediate danger of his marriage with Mrs. Thayer. Having a prospect
that he would not return to Chicago to interfere with my plan for some
weeks, I decided to proceed with my attack on Mrs. Thayer's credulity
and superstition. In the afternoon, therefore, I s