Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-22

wound as you described
cit 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
! done?'' 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?'
''No, I couldn It 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
| a peculiar information in the witnesses
! voice caused him TO look up suddenly just
in time TO see the shudder with which ne
| 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. 80
The doctor who conducted the post
mortem 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
&c DID you observe anything likely to
lead to the conviction of the offender?
Nothing whatever, - was the answer,
| and Mr.. Padger smiled quietly, and
wlpked at the ceiling.
Miss Gertrude Ennis was next
called, and there was a rustic of interest
among the spectators as they leaned for
ward to get better view of the girl as
she entered on her fathers 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
mouth which, in spite of its soft curves,
betrayed considerable firmness of pur-s
pose. 1t was a lovely face, but the ez@
preston indicated plainly enough tha8s8ts
owner was not to be lightly trifled with
As she advanced to the place occupied9
by the witnesses, Mr.. Padger followin9s
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 feeting 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 a 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
tioned?' was the first question.
~ sTt was, sir. and
''She wentintO the machine with Mrs.
Ennis that day?'
'She did, sir, and
:. ''What time did she come out again2'
,>''I dinna ken, sir.
''You did not see her leave?"
Ono, sir. -
"WOuld you have seen her if she had |
left?" asked a sandy haired juror, who |
thought it was time for him to show an |
intelligent interest in the proceedings.
"'Awee!, sir. l Gamma RIGHTLY tell, |
Aiblins. -
:, "Can you swear you would have seen
hber?''
"Na, couldna SWEEP till It. -
'That's all nonsense, - exclaimed a
red-faced, hard-headed juror. ''She |
went in VII 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. y
''You went to battle at u 'olock on
July IA with your stepmother, did you
not? asked the coroner after or two
questions.
''were you in,the habit of bathing with
ler?''
Ono. - -
''Had you often bathed with her be-
sore?''
''No-ln fact never. -
''Why did you go that day?'
Mr.. PadgeT was watching her closely,
Ind saw that she was evidently confused,
)ut 1t was IN the direction of her father
hat she cast a furtiYe doubtful look be-
ore she answered hesitatingly:
'Well, she asked me, and my father
vas in tOwn-so | went. -
GO What time did you leavethe bathing
nachine?''
cat 12:3O.'' 4
..sThati IS very short bathe, is it
lot{sa J. ~
met for me, : soon get chilled>- and
annOt stay in the water more than five
minutes -
"Where was your stepmother at the
line you left?''
''Still in the water. -
"Why did you not wait for her?''
Again that unaccountable hesitation i
nd a second timid glance at her father
con, she stayed in a long time, and II
Tas dull sitting in the machine . !
''YOu had never bathed with her. be-
ore?'' The coroner IS voice was grows {
ng cold and stern.
'fNo.
'Theh how did you know that she