Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-05-04
COUNTEE-EvIDENCE.

We bad been talking long and earnestly
q the future. l had been urging Constance
10 name the day which was to complete ms
happiness, but had not succeede in getting
Q definite promise. Constance was the only
daughter of deceased clergyman; she AMI
her mother lived together in a quiet suburb.
Eyes / soliloouized as l strobe a,olg,
unconscious Of the melancholy echo Of my
footsteps in the deserted thoroughfares-
yes my darling and / will be very happy.
The 5000 Aunt Jessie was obliging enough
to leave me should buy fairly god
practice to start with, not to mention all
the comfortable etceteras, including a good
horse to trot me about. Mamma-in-law
must live with US, suppose, but as she is
such dear old lady, the arrangement doesn'
present the usual Objectionable features.
Oh, there is no doubt that we'll he a jolly
as sandboys, as happy as-Great God,
what's thatn
It was something white and ghostiy that
flashed through the warm, misty air clcse
before me, and fell with a horrid thud at
my feet.
reeled backwards, and an acute feeling
Of intense sickness spread through my frame,
for by the dull, crunched sound of the fall,
and the half-groan, half-gasp which accom-
panied it, knew that the bruised msnyled,
bleeding, and, in all probability, lfeiess
form of fellow-creature was lying before
me
1 quickly recsvered. and in a moment was
bending over the body Of what judged to
be man of niddle-age clad only in long
coarse night-shirt 1t was a CHASTITY
spectacle; the man was quite dead
Stepping back into the road, looked up
at the house which 1 was opposite. There
was no light in any Of the windows, and by
the light of the street iampI could see that
they were all closed with the exception of
one on the third floor. That must have
been the window from which the man had
fallen gave a short cry for assistance.
1t was answered Immediately; the huge DARK
figure of policeman turned a neighboring
corner and hurried to the spot
whats going on heref he asked, as he
bent over the body.
This poor fellow has evidently fallen
from a window" / explained, cs he turned
his lantern upon the dead, crushed face.
Then he rose and looked at me.
This is bad job" he said seriously.
do you think he Is deads'
Pm sure OF it." answered; and then l
speaking with certainty.
After a glance at tie open win
dow l pointed out to him, the
policeman despatched a man, who CHANGED
to be passing, for assistance, ard then he
strobe into the house and up the stairs,
closely following Arrived at the third
story, my companion hammered with his
baton until a door was opened, and an Old
i,,h a,- y,icv c1otbaa rnlat NTH
considerable asperity to know what was the
matter.
Are you the iandladyfH
The woman answered CURLY that she
was
.Show me TO your front room then"
The old woman declared angrilly that she
would do nothing of the kind, and as there
were two gentlemen sleeping there: but
when the lantern was turned on and she rec
ognized the man of law, she became sub
missive Immediately, AMI lighting candle
obeyed orders The door she conducted us
TO was not fastened, the lock being broken,
but it required a vigorous push to send il
open, as there was a chair placed against it
on the inside, which fell noisily to tn, floor.
On the opposite side OF the room To the win
dow was a sort of alcove, formed by the
roof sloping Downward, and each corner on
that side being cut OF by the wall In this
were two truckle beds arranged in such q
a manner that the occupant OF the inner bed
would be obliged in getting up and retir-
ing, to cross the outer bed From the inner
bed to the window-sill there was one TN
broken though irregular stream of blood;
blood On the tumblei furniture, splashed on
the washstand, mingled with and slowly
spreading its crimson hue over the split
water, lying here and there in great dark
pools, and even in one place sprinkled on
on the walls
We looked at each other with pale faces,
and then the policeman said sternly:
There's been foul work here
l shuddered and looked reward the beds
The inner one was empty, but it had re-
Gently been occupied, for tho clothes were
thrown back and the wet blood-stains be-
gan there In the other bed lay n man,
who, to judge by his heavy breathing, was
in a deep sleep. His face was turned in to-
ward the pillow so that we could not soc it,
but upon the hand and arm which hung
over the side of the bel the light revealed a
stream Of blood, which had been dripping
into little round pool upon the floor.
Now then get up, said the policeman,
scizing fine slumberer, or pretended slum-
berer, by the shoulder and shaking him vio-
lently. This CANNON won't go down
with me-"
The man started and half rose on his
arm, and as the full light of the "bull's-eye'
fell upon his face | had good opportunity
of remarking it Its strange and uncom-
mon beauty startled NE; it was the type Of
beauty Of tie Greek we sac only in chisellei
marble Hera, for tine first and only time
In my life. saw it in living flesh Glossy
brown hair curled naturally over broad,
solid brows; thick, clearly marked eye
brows surmounted eyes large, grey, and
daring, and fringed with long. silky lashes;
The face exercised species of fascination
upon me. not so much on account Of its
strange beauty, bu: because it awakened in
me vague recollections The features were
familiar TO me; hut in the excitement of the
moment was unable to connect them in my
memory. The dangerous, daredevil express
sion and the reckless, waywari mouth were
strangers to me.
What the devil are you people doing
here" asked the man, ansrily; then. re-
ceiving no immediate answer, he seized the
policeman's brawny wrist, and with no ap-
parent effort turned il round that the
light shone upon the group around him.
"Old Mother Mcpherson in her night
gown, a youthful and we'll dressed stranger,
and a giant representative of the genus
Bobby l say, Bill, we're holding re-
ception, by Jovei' he continued, turning to
the empty bed -Helloi he's gone-not &C
cus:omed TO society, ] suppose. If some of
You people don't speak soon, III think I'm
In for lad attack, and look cut for snakes
and blue FIRE"
Young man. said the policeman, you
are my prisoner. and / warn you that any
thing you say may be used in evidence
against you"
What do you meani' demanded the
young man, half leaving the bed. and APP
pearing to accept the situation seriously for
the first time.
What play actors you fellows are.7 re-
joined tn" policeman You are detained
ON suspicion Of having murdered your mate,
Bill-as you cali him-by throwing him
through the window
| was watching the man narrowly, and
the shock this direct accusation appeared 70
give him was 50 perfectly natural that !
could not altogether believe it 70 BE- acting.
never knew 4 man who could change color
at will IN this man turned deadly pale
AM spr.ui- o t o; bed He stood at least
six feet one o. his bare feet
Bill Ii own thrsuyh TIE window. h
fsitere1 It's d. Ii.
1T was done in thu height of a drrnkco
fren y Mentally determined, feeling
s.ranse relief At tbs thought that be Was
70: 10 utterly bad as Ia. supposed Ii
l. ust swaSehiag TO the coas iossness Of tlla
crime