Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-11

the identity. No objection that can raise dis
turbs her. I thought that possibly,
last night, might have Judged on
insufficient evidence, and so 1 went this
morning into the room to look at the
corpse. Mrs Sidebottom had sent last night
for Yomen who attended to it, and it was laid
out in the spare room" She began to tremble
now as she spoke. and her fingers played a
rapid movement on the blind cords. 81 had
made up my mind to look at him, and did"
She paused, to recover the control that was
fast deserting her, as the delicate glow of color
in her face had now left it. 1T is Dot my uncle
looked at his hands. The head isis not to
be seen, nothing is distinguishable there-but
the hands are not those of Mr.. Pennycome-
quick"
I'm what does the difference consist~
II cannot describe it. 1 knew his hands well
He often let me take them in mine when sat
on the stool at his feet by the fire, and have
kissed them" The clear tears rose in her eyes
and rolled down her cheeks. 81 am quite sure
If those had been his dear hands that saw
on the bed this morning, would have kissed
them again, butt could not" she shook her
head, and shook away the drops from her
cheeks. "No-I could not"
miss Cusworth,' said Philip, ''you are per-
haps unaware of the great alteration that is
produced by immersion for many hours"
"They are not his hands, That is not uncle" !"
'She was so conspicuously sincere, SO sin
cerely distressed, that Philip relaxed his cold
manner toward her. and said in a gentle tone,
:'Did my uncle wear ring? There was none
on the hands of the man found yesterday"
"No-he wore nc ring"
with what did he seal his letters?"
"Oh! he had brass seal with his initials on
it, with handle, that was in his pen tray. He
0IQ nd ho D
without the Queens commission"
For my own part" said Philip, 81 ara beyond
forming an opinion, as have seen my uncle but
once since was a boy, and then under circum-
stances precluding exact observation"
Salome said nothing to this, but heaved long
breath. Presently Philip said, "Your mother
has she been taken upstairs?'
"Oh, no!p exclaimed Salome, excited as by a
fresh terror. "You do not know my mother
She has heart complaint, and we have to be
most careful not unduly to excite and alarm
her. She has suffered much on account of
what has taken place; and the shock of seeing
~
She shivered. "It cannot be-"
"And your sisterf'
''She turned faint when brought to the door,
and could not persuade her to enter She has
been much tried by the German invasion of
France, and her hurried Journey"
SIS there anything further you have to
say?'
'No-Mrs. Sidebottom is wrong, that is ALL"
Philip withdrew.
The girl had gained in his estimation. There
was strength in her such as lacked in her
sister. She must have had courage and deter
mination to go by herself into the room where
lay the mutilated corpse, and she had formed
her own opinion, independently, and held to it,
with frmness there was no breaking down.
Philip assembled the stairs thoughtfully. 1t
had seemed to him at the time that his aunt
had rushed at Identification with undue precip-
itation, still-she was the sister of Uncle
Jeremiah, and therefore better capable than
anyone else. Now he was himself uncertain.
When he entered the study where Mrs. Side
bottom was, she saluted him with swell, SO
you have had your interview with Salome
She has been hanging about the hall all the
morning for the purpose of catching you"
Philip made no reply. her light tone Jared
on his feelings, coming as he did from the pres
ence of girl full of sadness.
HAS she gained you over to her slider"
'Upon my word 1 do not know what to
think"
"Fiddlesticks," said Mrs. sidebottom, 1tshe
has made eyes at you. Girls with good eyes
know how to use them; they are better advo-
Gates than their tongues"
THE difficulty to Identification seems to me
insuperable."
''Pshaw! have no doubt at all. He had
been to bed; he went out without his coat and
waistcoat. He was lastseen on the canal bank;
not SO very far from the place where the corpse
was found. The body is discovered wearing
the great coat. have told you how explain
that. suppose Salome has made point to tell