The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-24

from behind his back"
AIand's eyes cleaned almost spitefnlly
for a moment, and then changed 10 milder
expression as they met the Generals.
"Maud, dearest said he, 81 sympathize
deeply with you in this affection. You have
q good, kind father, and, if he were taken
from you"
"Do not speak of it, CRANKY" she plead
ed, tearfully, and her lips qulyered. do
not, l beseech you, anticipate such an event!
should, indeed he an orphan then-no
| mother, no father, no one" She hesitated
| n moment and then threw herself upon the
Generals breast, weeping unrestrainedly.
81 shall have no one but you, Granby--no
! one but you'll"
"Dare her enemies call ter false-a mur-
deress?" CRANKY Dumont thought, drawing
her close to him. And | my darling, will
| see that your path is strewn with roses" he
said. ''But cheer up-don't be d0wncast!
Father is not going TO die. The physician
has every hope of his recovery"
Maud OvngtOn looked up into his face,
the tears glistening on her cheeks.
''But how is the doctor 10 tell at this stage
of the case2" she asked.
mot very easily, it is true; but we must
not worry. We shall be forced to defer our
marriage, dearest, but let us hope not for
! any length Of time. Meanwhile we can be
happy in each others society and in minis
terng to the wants of your dear father"
Not word did the noble-hearted soldier
mention of that scene in the church. He
had come to the Ovington residence with
deathly feeling at his heart that there might
be some truth in the accusation of that
spirit form, but one look into the tear
stained. pnllid face of his betrothed dispe1led
all doubts. Nor would he add 10 her sor-
row by telling her of the last effort of her
,nemies.
Plans of the library of Mr.. Ovington were
taken, and the position of every article was
noted by the officers and detectives who I'M
dertook to ferret out the mystery of the pre-
vious night. The paper-weight bloody, and
with hair from the victims head clineing to
it, was marked and set aside, to be used in
| evidence. 1t was clearly the weapon with
which the deed was done. The open win
dow showed how the man or men had es-
| scaped.
After the officers had finished their work
ON the premises, Mr.. James Dalton, who had
called to get an umbrella which he had pur-
| posely left behind the night before, was al
| lowed to enter the library.
Mr.. Dalton looked carelessly about the
rich carpet and glanced over the sides of the
window-frame through which the thief had
escaped. Standing moment by the win
| dow, he directed the attention of the detec-
| tives to large winter plant which lay on
one side against the fence in the yard below.
"The fellow must have knocked that plant
over in his flight" he said 'perhaps he
| stood on the vase which contains it to facili-
tate his scaling of the fence"
While the attention of the men was taken
up with viewing this unimportant fact, Mr.
James Dalton stopped to brush off some
dirt clinging to the bottom of his trousers
leg, and, unobserved picked up a tiny object,
which he clasped his hand over.
"He is keenerw said one of the men
shes no botch"
"No, sir, replied another.
VERY shrewd, gentlemen added James
Dalton, unconcernedly; 'but the shrewdest
of them sometimes overstep the mark"
The two detectives nodded acquiescence.
"You are right, sir" said one. Murder
will out"
81 hope so" said Mr. Dalton, "but am
inclined to fear you will never see the rascal
behind prison bars"
Quitting the library, James Dalton, UNI
brela in hand, descended the broad stair
case and crossed the hall to the front of the
house.
As the servant was about to open the door
leading to the street, General CRANKY Du-
mont tapped him lightly upon the shoulder.
'Nr. Dalton, word with you"
"With pleasure, sir,
The two men stepped into the drawing
room.
"Mr. Dalton" said the General, "what is
your theory of this attack upon our friend
Ovington? Do you attribute it to burglary
merely, or do you think it may have been
the work of an cnemy?'
"Wel, really, General, have not yet
formed an opinion" replied the artist
Your question is rather odd, for YOU can
scarcely expect me to know so much of Mr.
Ovingtons affairs as would enable me to
Judge OF the caGSs Of this dastardly act. ]
am but an artist, sir, and was invited to
dine with your select company merely as,
presume, person of R-nus, whose friend.
ship is worth cultivating"
"But you have been conversing with the
detectives, and l thought, you might, per-
maps know something of the matter"
IAN expression of opinion in such cases
frequently defeats the ends of justice, Cen
eral Dumont. l know of case being
worked up which would utterly fail of frui-
ton were the parties interested to proclaim
their belief to Others"
"Then you advise reticence2" asked the
| General.
''As you have honored me by seeking my
advice, willingly give it as my humble
| opinion that the utmost caution should be
exercised. Whatever you hear in regar,l to
the case, let the knowledge remain with
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