Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1884-04-03

''She might have had n few dol.

''She might have had u few dol
lars" he answered.
He did not know where she kept
the money, he said: and he was eer-.
tain that she was asleep when he came
in the previous night. His theory
was that ;llc stranger whom he saw at
the gate had entered the house and
committed the crime.
1T seems strange that he should
have known that the money was hid
den under corner of the bedroom
carpet" 1 SAID.
He made no reply, and continued,
''She must have made IL desperate
fight, aGd l think the villains sleeves
must be stained.''
His eyes went down to his sleeves,
as l spoke, but he quickly raised
them e I'D
Il don't know, I'm sure" he said,
after while. "It's an awful thing,
and I'm so nervous that can hardly
think of any one thing for moment
at time"
Poor boy! it is hard blow on
you" put in one of the constables,
in consoling voice.
Tom covered his face with his
hands, and seemed to be much affec-
ted, and l told him l had done with
him.
.Hold!' SAID, as he was leaving
the house. ''Have you any idea of
hoN much money she had hidden
away
"No." as
1T makes no great difference" l
went on to say; II have ascertained
there was nearly thousand dollars,
and the bills were all fives and tens
on the Ocean Bank of New York and
the Drovers' Bank of Brooklyn
1 saw he had look of annoyance
and chagrin. l had found no such
memorandum, and only judged Of
the value of the bills and the banks
represented by those left behind.
Well, there was my case. The
young man was guilty, and / knew
it. But if l had said so and made
the arrest, would have been mobbed.
1t was the general idea that a stran-
ger had committed the deed, and it
would have been folly to take Tom on
such evidence rs had accumulated,
much of it having no weight except
in my own mind.
A couple of old nurses were allow
ed to come in and prepare the body
for burial; the servants were recall
ed, and l asked Tom to return to the
house and guide and direct as far as
he could. He followed me over to
the hotel. and when we were seated
he asked, swell, what have you dis
covered."
''That the crime was committed by
some one in the village" I answered.
lyon don't mean that!''
"Yes."
"Who is the mani"
''If l knew 1 would arrest him.
l replied. $50 far have only sus-
picions; but perhaps before to-mor.
row morning we may have the william
in custody" E IN.
81 hope so," he exclaimed, much
excited.
then told him that | wanted to
pass the night in the house with the
corpse, and wanted his company. ]
did not wish to go in until Tom had
retired to his room, and would rather
| that none of the servants should see
me. l cautioned him not to betray
me, and warned HIM that the capture
depended on silence and discretion.
At 10 O'Clock that night Mr.. Par
sons (the justice) was admitted to the
house by one of the back doors. The
servants and Tom were up stairs, and
three women were watching with the
corpse. 1t was bright moonlight
night, rather cool, and Parsons had
brought some cigars.
We sat in the room beyond thu
dining room, having no light in tht
room; but the door was partly open
and lamp on table in the dining
room shone in. and the light fell Oh .
large mirror hanging on the wall tt
the left of us.
! i had to prepare him very. gently
for my proposed search. and / die
not dare to tell him that l believed
Tom to be the original, although h,
could not help seeing that was try
ing to fasten the crime upon some in
mate of the house.
! 1t was just three minutes of L
o'clock, and we had been very quie
r for long time, both thinking, whe
1 suddenly saw face on the glass OIL
the wall. 1t was Toms, and I locke
: around expecting to see him in th
!, doorway. He was not there; and a
turned to the glass his whole forr
I came in view, being clad only in
, night shirt. The moon was streanin
e in at the window, falling in a Shove
on the glass, and between moonligf
4 and lamplight the glass was converte
a into a magic mirror to represent wbs
( was transpiring in the rear Of tb
house in the yard behind the kitchen
e 1 turned from door to glass three q