The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-17

I
sll tho devotion that o woman could de
sire, and his death could in no apparen
way improve her position. Had she 9
lover, and was his the hand that carried
out her secret murderous desIresg Not d
breath Of scandal attached ~ her name
even In large clearinghouse. She knew
but few gentlemen, and never went oui
except in company with her husband Of
his brother. Mr.. Pryor sadly relinquished
his hope that the exemplary woman
might DO the murderess, and COntcnted
himself with chasing her under the head
Of factors eliminated from his problem
Next lie TUNED his attention 10 Mr.
Banks, the man who had Quarrelled with
Mr.. Anderson. He was young broker
quite handsome and elegant young fel,
low, engaged In profitable business, and
general iaYorite among women. HG
was hot.tempered man, and was fond
Of billiards and champagne. lie could
hardly be called dissipated man, though
he was not by any means a SERIOUS
minded" person. A very little study oil
this easily.gauged character convinced Mr.
Pryor that he was not the sort Of stuff OF
which murderers are made, and he was
about TO class him also as an eliminated
quantity when he accidentally learned
from a communicative cambermaid that
he was not In the parlor at the time OF
Dir. Anderson's death, In spite Of the tes'
timony Of Mrs. Stein to that effect. The
cham6ermAid had entered the parlor that
evening 10 search for something she had
mislaid, and found II unoccupied. She
told this, not with the slightest idea Of
casting suspicion upon the young man,
but out OF dislike to Mrs. Stein, whom the
servants sgreed In cordially hating, chief.
~ because Of her persistence In demand
ing pitcher ice.Water every evening,
Here was certainly q clue al last, A
witness at the inquest had committed per.
jury. What could be more suspiciousP
She evidently had some powerful mo-
tive IN proving an Rlibi, either for herself
or for Mr.. Banks. In either case there
was reason TO suspect that one or the
other was In some way concerned in the
tragedy-or murder, IS the amateur do.
tective was now nearly ready to call 1t,
Greatly encouraged by this first apparent
trace Of tue criminal or criminals, be i'm
medistely took pains To convert his slight
acquaintance with Mrs. Stein into terms
Of as close intimacy as possible.
She was q handsome, accomplished
woman Of the world, anywhere from %
to 50 years of age. She had no relations
that ever made themselves visible, and
was apparently quite alone in the world.
1t was not long before Mr. Pryor came to
the opinion that she was q woman Of un-
usual GOODNESS and nerve; precisely the
sort OF person to play a dangerous and
difficult game 10 q successful end. lie
grow very much interested In her as q
curious study, and while nothing was
further from his thoughts than the least
idea Of sentiment in connection with her,
he paid her such close attention that the
boarders one and all settled into cOnvic.
ton that he was desperately in love.
She often showed rare ability in con-
versationsl fencing, and could ward OF a
subject which she did not wish TO discuss
with infinite skill. Yet she never showed
the slightest hesitation In talking Of Mr..
Anderson's mysterious death and she did
not hesitate 70 express her opinion that
be had been murdered. This rather puz.
zled Mr.. Pryor. Had she any guilty
knowledge OF the, affairs, as her dSliber-
ate perjury would seem to indicate, she
would naturally be adverse TO discussing
1t, and would, at all events, endeavor to
foster the idea that II was case OF SUI
eide. With.all his efforts he could draw
nothing from her which In any way aid
ed him IN the task he had assumed when
be entered the house. By closely watch
ing her he had, however, learned some
thing Of her capacities as On intriguer.
Latterly he had been attack, so he an.
nounced, with inSomniG, and In his rest
lessness frequently took turn up and
down the hall al. all hours Of the. night.
These midnight walks had not been alto
Rether iruitless, And when after three
weeks of Careful intimacy with Mrs.
Stein he found that be had not advanced
his purpose a single step thereby, he de.
termlIed TO try the worth OF weapon
hitherto held In reserve.
One evening when he was sitting alone
with her on the little balcony upon which
the parlor windows opened, he led the
conversation to the subject Of sleepiness,
and mentioned his habit OF nocturnal
prowling. d q.
at has led me-" he continued, Unto
several curious situations. What do you
say to my having been met In dark hall
long alter midnight by beautiful woman
who, installing me for darling Harry"
embraced me and told me that l had left
nv watch In her room? l have never
yet decided whether / ought 10 have IN.
deceived her or not"
He looked straight into her beautiful
eyes Rs he told this story, and she return.
ed his gaze steadily and without chang
ing color. When he had finished, she
said:
"That Is hardly a lit story TO tell to o
lady, and j think you owe me an apology
for venturing TO tell Il"
Her wonderful GOODNESS aStonished even
him, who had already learned to admire
the perfect command in which she held
her nerves. Hewas not, however, the
man 10 permit the aesthetic TO interfere
with the practical; so he drew q hand
some watch from his pocket and replied;
~ certainly apologize II / have unin-
tenLlOuAlIy uu0uuSu yOuI auu IASMlSO
apologize for having so long detained the
watch. Shall return It to you or to Mr..
Harry Banks?" }...Fls f;.'H
She knew now that she was in his pow.
or, and surrendered with the same COOL
ness with which she had fought. u
"You have my secret" she said coldly,
though l cannot compliment you on the
means by which you discovered. Il. May
I ask what use you intend to make Of Il?
You arc capable, / presume, Of trading on
woman's indlScreaon."
"Let me AK you q question before l
answer yours. Was It merely an indIs-
ctesion which you committed when you
swore that MIR. Banks and yousSf were
in the parlor on the night OF the murder