Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-22
CHAPTER I.
THE FIEsT CLUE.

the wrinkled sea which looked so brightly
azure that it seemed but a continuation
OF the air above, IN which the white OF
tawny sails of the fishing craft fioated
free, their hulls half hidden by the faint
imperceptible haze that veXed the hori-
zon. The tide broke in long, low ripples
on the shore, as if in the great heat it
was too do more than just brim over onto
the land. 1t was half past one, and the
sands glaring in the dazzling light were
almost deserted, for the greater part of
the varied threpg that all the morning
had covered them with noise and merri-
ment had gone home to luncheon.
OF all the *bathing machines that had
lined the ocean IS edge but one remained -,
its wheels Tapped with soft murmurs by
the ebbing tide. A steep ridge of peb-
bles rose behind it, and in its silent soil
tude it seemed cut of from the great
trOb of humanity. The white gulls
swOoped round it shrieking, on noiseless
wing; one Of a party of enterprising boys
threw a stone ST the door, and passed on
laughing at the hollow ring, leaving it
silent and apart as before.
Further off a group of children were
still padding with shouts and laughter;
here and there a lingering knot dotted
the white expanse with sDlashes of bril-
liant color. but there was row plenty of
room to wander back and forth, where
but an hour ago it was barely possible to
thread a tedious way between the clus-
tered crowds.
One man seemed determined to benefit
by the changed condition of affairs, and
paced the smooth floor up and down, now
casting an approving glance at the span
gled sea, now one Of thaHkfulness at the
a irua &c in ID
for the soft salt breeze and glorious sum
mer weather.
Suddenly q long shril scream rang up,
and echoed back clangingIy from the
oveThanging cliffs. At tins strange shat
tering of the peaceful hush the man
looked up, and beheld the few remaining
stragglers running together over the
soundless sands or rafting pebbles, and
gathering, as if at a signal, round the
bathing machine, which stood still alone
in the water.
"a doctor! Fetch a doctor! Quick,
quick.' he heard some one cry in q
strained voice, as he also turned in the
direction OF the new-found center of in
terest. and as the words fell on his ears
he started and changed his easy dwadle
for q run.
"Here, - he said, as he elbowed his
way through the gaping mob. "Excuse
me. Let me pass, please. am a doc
tor -
The crowd made reluctant room, and
he found himself at length in the midst
of the excited circle, face to face with an
old woman who appeared to be complete
" overwhelmed with speeches. terror.
She was the bathing woman, as he gath
cred from her amphibious costume, and
was rs a rule merry, red-faced creature
enough, but now the blood had sank back
from her face and lips, leaving her
deadly pale, her eyes stared wildly round
her, and she seemed unable to find
words, gasping inarticulately
What IS it?'' said the Young doctor
with that decided air Of taking the lead
in matters. and assuming all response
biIty which is characteristic Of members
OF his profession.
There, in there!' painted the old
woman, as if treasured by his presence,
pointing to the half-opened door of the
bathing machine.
He sprang up the steps with a bound,
followed by the more eager and less del
iCate of the spectators, but no sooner
had he glanced into the interior than he
turned with an air of Indignation and
exclaimed sterniy:
"Stand back, stand back, all of you.
What are you doing here?''
The intruders surged back, looking
rather sheepish under the welI-deservca
rebuff they had received, but grumbhng
under their breath at this usurpation Of ,
an authority which threatened TO deprive |
them CT the expected sensation.
"'YOu, sir, if you please continued !
the doctor, addressing one of the most |
respectable looking of the men, "wouId |
vn17 Kindly 0b1ipa mo l~aar;no-
door! Let no one enter without my per |
mission. -
The man, gratifed by the preference, |
at once took the place assigned to him, |
and the doctor went in, shutting the
door behind him
The other entrance, opening on 70 the /
sea, WAS shaded by a large hOod-shaped /
awning which shut out nearly all the
light, save that which reflected from the
heaying sea played in ripping lines upon /
the ceiling, but there was sufficient to |
shew him stretched upon the floor the
body OF a woman.
She was fine, handsome woman of
about five and thirty, lying on her back,
the legs stretched straight ont, the feet
together, the arms by the sides, Il singu-
lar position for person who had fallen
down in a fit. She still wore the dark
been bathing, and the water dropping
from il had formed little pools and rivu-
lets on the otherwise dry floor.
brief examination convinced him
that life was utterly extinct, but the lit
lie warmth which the hands and feet
vet retained assured him that death had
only taken place comparatively recently.
The dress, rs has been said, was soaked
with water, and chung heavily TO the
form, bUr IS he Withdrew his hand from
endeavOriug vainly to detect some slight
remaining tUtteU of the heart, he saw
upon his finger tips darker stain of I'M
mlst2kabie significance.
The next instant he recoiled with a
slight cry Of horror, AS he uncovered the
bosom his eyes fell upon a gaping wound
beneath the Left breast, exactly over the I
region Of the heart
Good heavens!'' he exclaimed.
{ sXYhy this is-''
"Murder!'' said a sharp voice in his
ear.
He started TO his feet IN establishment.
as il he had believed himself TO be alone,
and beheld short, trinity built man.
clothed in q suit of brown tweed. He