Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-18

'tHow could a knife make such a
wound as you describe?''
''It might have been turned in the
wound after the blow, either Intention
ally or by the weight of the body.
''Would such a knife as that have
done2'' and the coroner produced the
pearl handled knife which Mr. Padger
had discovered during his padding ex
| cursion.
perhaps it might. -
''You couldn t be sure that it would?''
'fNo, / couIdn t be sure -
Now Mr.. Padger having, as he
| thought, learned all that was to be
| learned from the Doctors evidence was
busy with his note book when these two
! questions were asked and answered, but
| peculiar information in the witnesses
voice caused him to look up suddenly just
| in time TO see the shudder with which he
returned the knife that the coroner had
| placed in his hand and he felt some sur
| prise at the want of nerve displayed by
one of his profession.
The doctor who conducted the post
norton was next called, but his evidence
was enurely technical, and threw no
| further light upon the matter. The
| policemen who were summoned described
| the finding and removal of the body and
| the clothes.
''Dld you observe anything likely to
| lead to the conviction of the offender?
tNothing whatever, was the answer,
and Mr.. Padger smiled quietly, and
wInked at the ceiling.
''Miss Gertrude Ennis, - was next
called and there was rustic of interest
among the spectators as they leaned for
ward to get better view of the girl as
she entered on her father's arm She
was worth looking at, tall, slim and
| striklngly beautiful, with curling golden
hair, and pale cheeks with a delicate
flush in them, dark brown eyes, and a
mouth which, in spite of its soft curves,
betrayed considerable firmness of pur-
pose. 1t was lovely face, but the ex-
preston indicated plainly enough that its
owner was not to be lightly trified with.
AS she advanced to the place occupied
by the witnesses, Mr.. Padger following
her graceful movements admiringly, OBJ
served her start, while singularly soft
look came into her eyes. Wondering
what the meaning of this might be, he
sought the direction of her gaze and per-
ceived the young doctor bending forward
with much such a look of loving admira-
ton. At the same moment, however,
an exclamation escaped from Mrs. Mac
nally, the bathing woman, and when
Mr.. Padger, after having eX-
changed fleeing glance with
the coroner, looked back at
Miss Ennis, the little silent drama was
over. So brief bad been this piece of
byplay and so imperceptible, that no one
seemed to have observed it, and Mr..
Padger himself was not sure that it had
not been the work of his Imagination.
"Half minute, if you please, Miss
Ennis, said the coroner. 81 wish to
ask Mrs. Macnally another question or
two
The young lady retired and the woman
hustled eagerly out and took her place
with an air of overweening Importance.
''Was that the young lady you men
toned? - was the first question.
cit was, sir. and
''She went into the machine with Mrs.
Ennis that day?''
''She did, sir, and
"What time did she come out again2''
81 dnna ken, sir.
''You did not see her leave?''
"No, sir. -
"Would you have seen her if she had
left?'' asked sandy-hair juror, who
thought it was time for him to show an
intelligent interest in the proceedings.
"Aweel, sir. l Gamma RIGHTLY tell,
AibIins. -
'Cau you swear you would have seen
her?''
''Na, couldna sweer till It..
''That s all nonsense, exclaimed
red-faced. hard-headed juror. "She
went in wi her. She warn It there when
the body were found so she must ha ,
left, seen or not seen.
The coroner frowned rebuke at this I'M
ceremonious outburst, but Mr.. Padger
nodded, and cast glance of approval in
the direction of the hard-headed one.
Miss Ennis was once more called in,
and once more all turned to look at her,
but this time there was q good deal of
grim interest mingled with the admIra-
ton.
Her name, she said, was Gertrude En-
mis-. Mr.. Ennis was her father, and the
deceased woman her stepmother.
"You went to battle at u 'elock on
July IA with your stepmother, did you
not? asked the coroner after one or two
unimportant questions.
81 did -
''were you in the habit of bathing with
her?''
ono. -
"Had you often bathed with her be-
fore?"
''No-ln fact never. -
"Why did you go that day?'
Mr.. Padger was watching her closely,
and saw that she was evidently confused,
but 1t was IN the direction of her father
that she cast furtive doubtful look be-
fore she answered hesitatingly:
Gwen, she asked me, and my father
was in town-so 1 went. -
"What time did you leave the bathing
machine?'
cat 12:3O.'
"That is very short battle, is it
not?''
"Not for me, soon get chilled, and
cannot stay in the water more than five
minutes. -
''where was your stepmother at the
time you left?" A
F'Still in the water - -
"Why did you not wait for her?'
Again that unaccountable hesitat1pn,
and second timid glance at her fagner.
con, she stayed in long time, aud II
was dull sitting in the machine
''You had never bathed with her Bbe-
fore?'' The coroner 5 voice was grow
ing cold and stern.