The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-08-21

prove her SO, II Time WAS oniy "o"
ed him.
Do you know this hat. Senorita
Isora? said the detective. abruptly.
That hat-gocd heavens 1T is
the very hat Senior Arretta had on
the night he left for Contra! America,
said Isora in very excited manner.
Senior bought it on the very day ne
left. 1t was too large for him and
he asked me to put some wadding
under the lining for him. Before you
look, however, / feel that | owe you
some explanation for my strange COIL
duct, and will therefore pu: you In
possession of the facts of the case. l
regarded Sonora Arretta AS a mother.
Her husband had an uncomfortable
passion for the gaming tab!e-a pas
sion which, in the course of time led
to an arrangement between them.
Sonora was very beautiful, and still
young, and failing 10 find that love
and affection which she had hoped
her husband would show her. formed
an unfortunate intrigue. Her lover
proved unworthy of her confidence,
and succeeded, by menaces, in obtain
ing from her large sums of money.
It was but q few days before her
death that she confi,ied this to me.
and at the same time begged me to
take care of her jewels and money in
nv box. as she dreaded lest her sordid
them. ---'~-""~'"" ut
The last time saw her alive was
on the very night she went to the
opera. At what hour she returned
know not, for she always had q pri
vate key with her. The rest you
know. Hence, you will understand
my reluctance to have my boxes
searched and my evasive answers as
10 the moneys and jewels in therl. If
| had told the truth | would not have
been believed. Furthermore, / could
say nothing to dishonor the name of
one who has been more than mother
to me. Now let US examine the hat.
Turning up the lining the wadding
fell out, and with it a piece of paper
which had been used to add a little
to its thickness. 1t was bill written
by the landlord of a hotel in Central
America, made cat in Senior Arretta' 3
name, for a weeks board and lodging.
1t was dated July Sd, just fourteen
da,s after his departure from Mexico.
Isora and the detective looked at
each other for a few moments in ST..
lence, as strange thoughts passed
through the mind of either.
That it was Senior A rretta's hat was
beyond any question of a doubt. But
how did ii come there
WAS HE THE MURDERER?
Do you suppose at Senior said
Isora, turning deadly pale and gasp
ing.
the murderer added the d.
tective, finishing the sentence. Yes,
/ 10. But | will go at once to the
chief of police.
The detective now left and fastened
to the house Of the chief.
Well. what did you find? asked
the chief.
Be good enough to examine this
hat, said the detective, as he handed
it to him, and recounted to him the
manner in which he found il, and
what ,sora had subsequently told him.
Her husband He the murderer.
Yes, it is plain, and We have been ac-
cusing an innocent girl! calculated
the chief. carefully examining the
hat. He Immediately caused inquir-
les to be made, and ascertained tina.
the senior was a confirmed gambler,
and that his journey to any other
place than Central America was PROB
ably ruse to avoid arrest. He i'm
mediately dispatched agents
to Central America to track
his steps from that place.
The agents, upon arriving in Cen
trail America, repaired to the princi-
pal hotel In Guatemala. The land
lord perfectly remembered the senor's
having stayed at his hotel a week,
and having then gone-whither he
could not say. The porter, however.
remembered where his baggage was
taken. II was to a house outside the
city. on the road to Icacos, where
carriage was in readiness. He got in
to the carriage and drove off; but
as the driver was an acquaintance
of the porter it was not difficult to find
him.
When Sencr Arretta arrived at the
the Office of the chief to obtain a reg
lister of the death and burial of his
wife he was shown into a private
room and invited to take seat while
the necessary papers were being made