The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-08-26

a mere coincidence. Inc button mas
been there for years, probably. Don
you see 1t Is quite unlike any you ever
saw before ?"
Nevertheless. note down where we
found il.
The place next visited was the house
of the murdered man. The corpse was
lying on the bed.. but with the clothes
still on, awaiting the COroner's jury. A
constable kept watch to prevent any IN
reference until the inquest should have
met. He was as garrulous as DogbeTry
himself.
'I'll take my davy, that L VIII, he
said, that gals sweetheart put her up
to 1t. The thing stands to natur' But
they do say she has temper of her
own. There's where the dagger went
in, he added, lifting the sheet
"a single blow seems to have been
sufficient, remarked the District Attor-
ney.
''It was much stronger one, in my
! opinion, said Mr. Mordaunt after a
pause, =" than girls hand could have
dealt Ha, he added after pause,
"what does this mean ?'
"What ?" asked Mr. Gresham, while
the constable, having replaced the sheet,
walked to a window.
"Dont you see? The blow was
! left-handed one. Now. Miss Stray, as l
happen to know, is not left-handed
''This really does look like something, |
at last, said the other, rejecting.
For even he could see that the cut,
instead of going from right to left, which
would have been the case if the blow had
been dealt in the usual way, went from
left to right, as if a left-handed person
had struck it.
But Mr.. Greshams increduity re-
turned after moment.
Don't let us be too quick, he said.
:" 1t is not impossible for a right-handed
r>s41 3 :. :.
once IN score OF tunes 1t might
happen perhaps oftener. Besides you
can't explain away the danger that
damning fact remains.
"It will all explain itself in good
time" answered Mr.. Mordaunt.
had faith from the first in the girls in
nocence. Now ! am sure of 1t. At
present I am going back to the Locks,
where everybody about here Is known.
1 am looking, you see, for n left-handed
man, who had some interest IN this
murder"
but quietly followed his friend.
The inn at the Locks was crowded.
Everybody from a circuit of twenty
miles around, had been attracted thither
by the report of the tragedy. The
real criminal" Mr. MOrdaunt argued,
" will most probably be there; for he
viii be anxious to hear the Coroner's
verdict wonder if his manner Will
betray him TO me"
But amid all the throng he saw no one
who showed the least sign of guilt. The
beer-mugs circulated freely, and the
room was filed with tobacco smoke. A
dozen voices at once discussed whether
the lover had been an accessory, for the
opinion was universal that the daughter
was guilty. No, not quite universal, for
one man, a hill farmer from the forest,
ventured to dissent.
"For where is the money ?" he said.
E" paid him 1856 the evening before
some money had borrowed from him
last wear. He was I saw, afraid to keep
it in the house over night; he feared
robbers he told me he would take 1t TO
the bank the first thing the next morn
ing. Now there is no money found on
him"
"The girl robbed him after killing
him." said a harsh voice, IN answer.
No doubt of If"
Mr.. Mordaunt looked around quickly.
The man spoke in German, with a Bflva-
rian accent. As if to emphasize MS
words he plunged his beer mug down on
the table with a vigor that made the
pipes living there rattle More than this,
the button which Mordaunt had found
was the button belonging to the uniform
g a q
he happened to know.
Mr.. Mordaunt turned to his sssea--t- sssea----
neighbor.
"Who is that fellow ?" he asked.
"Well, 1 hardly know. A newcomer
here: lust from Germany; lives off in
the forest by himself. They say he's
been making up to the servant girl at
old Stray's, however; she's believed to
have saved money. She has probably
told him that her mistress robbed the old
man: he seems so positive about it.
But this solution was far from being
that of Mr.. Mordaunt On the contrary.
he attributed the accusation of the man
to a desire to screen himself. AS if by a
flash. the whole tragedy from this mo-
ment became clear.
Mr.. MordaGnt rose, and leaving the
room, sought the District Attorney.
"I want two search warrants" he
said. Zone for the trunks of the serv
ant girl at Stray's, and another for tn
house or cabin of a Bavarian, living, l
am told at the three mile crossroads In
the forest. Three or four officers, also.
as we may have to make arrests.
"This is rather unusual, as you viii
know, but we'll stretch point to please
you," said Mr.. Gresham. "Im afraid
your zeal, for once, however, has outrun
your Judgment.
"Trust me for that, replied Mr.. Nor
daunt SCI My intuitions in these mat
! ters have never misled me-"
| Accordingly, he found, on searching
the Bavarian's house, Just what he had
expected; the green uniform of flag
station guard in Bavaria, with one but
ton missing. The button had evidently
been violently wrenched out. The bit Of
cloth attached to the button which Mr.
Mordaunt had picked up, exactly fitted
the rent.
so far, so good" said Mr.. Mordaunt
Now for the servant girl"