The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-06-14

"Yes. Not very much in the way of clearing up the mystery, certainly :; but, strangely enough. your theory of murder seems to have received confirm ation."
 '' How i" asked Manton, eagerly.
 Well, it appears that the doctors ex- animation proves that the wound could not have been self-inAicted, and, more over. it must have been inflicted with a heavier and coarser weapon than razor. The doctor suggests"
 "A sailors sheath -knife," interrupted Manton.
 How on earth did you guess that You haven't seen a paper this morning, have you !'
 "So. Itold you would tell you some thing st -ange this evening. l expect to keep my word"
 "You are a most incomcrehensible fellow. Why make mysteries with ne =
 Bee iuse l may be utteily mistaken in my suspicion. Is there anything fur ther about the case ?"
 "Yes. A towel covered with blood, no doubt the towel with which the knife, or whatever it may have been, and the murderer's hands had been wiped, was found under the bed in the woman's room."
 Anything else? Was any stranger seen entering the house between one and two o'clook:''
 "Yes. What wonderful fellow for guessing you are. You quite amaze me Tell me, honor bright, were you in We'll close square yourself yesterday between one and two o'clock P
 This IS too awful matter for joking. was no nearer to it than the river Thames is."
 "Yes, l know you were on the river Sure you didn't land at Mapping, or whatever pier is handiest to the square P f Don't, please" exclaimed Manton with shudder. 4 Perhaps I'll make you feel as uncomfortable as felt last even- ing when l meet you again tonight. But who was seen going into the house ?"
 "Oh, yes. It appears some children who were playing in the square saw a strange mana foreigner they fancy knock at the door about a quarter after one"
 How was he dresseds Did any one | notice that ?"
 Well, it appears the children are not quite sure but as far as their recollection goes he was rather we'll dressed. He might have been a sailor. as some one of the papers suggest but from the descrip- ton the children give of his appearance fancy myself he was too well-dressed for sea-faring man. Come, l hope you are satisfied now, old fellow. think have told you all the news the morning papers-i have looked through four or five already-contain abou, the affair. Your coffee is getting cold"
 The same evening between eight and nine o clock Bompas and Manton were again seated at the fireplace in their room. Manton looked quite pale and careworn, md for nearly half an hour re- mained silently staring into the fire, re- .fusing to be enticed into conversation by Bompas, who was now eager to hear his friends promised story.
 At last the younger man took his pipe from his mouth, and rising, placed the pipe on the mantelpiece. "I warned you, he began, with slowness and hes itan which sometimes made Bompas feel uneasy, that would tell you strange story tonight in connection with this murder in Wellclose square. When | have told you my story you will, perhaps, think am a fooKthat have jumped 10 conclusions without due cause. know 1 have always been inclined to let imagin- ation run little riot with me. but in the present case imagination has been aided by few stern facts"
 Why. that's regular speech. almost felt inclined to interrupt you with hear, hear once or twice." Bompas seemed in high spirits, and had made up his mind to chaff his friend out of his gloomy, morbid mood.
 '' Do be 5erious," said Manton. .A,e you capable of receiving a shock calmly ?"
 "ies. Shock me as much as ever you like,
 Manton placed his hand inside the breast of his open coat and drew from the breast pocket long brown-paper parcel.
 Bompas eyed his friend a little un- easily. He began to feel he was in the presence of something awful-he knew not what. Then it flashed into his mind that Manton looked strangely altered since they had sat down to breakfast to- gether on the previous morning. Could anything be going wrong with his friends intellect?
 Manton unrolled the parcel, and, an ex- pression of mingled pain and horror dis torting his features, laid long, glittering sheath-knife on the table.
 Good Godw cried Bompas, starting to his feet, and trembling with vague sense ofterror. aWhat is that p
 The knife which cut the womans throat"
 There's blood upon it-take it away :" almost shrieked the elder man. "Take it away. can't touch it."
 !" Do not be alarmed said the younger man. It is not her blood. It is his blood"
 Then he caught the knife by its wooden handle, and folding it up in the paper, laid it on the mantelpiece.
 You said you were prepared for a shock. l thought you had more courage. After all, what is it now more than any other knife It will never harm any one again"
 "Oh, don't talk in that cold-blooded