The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-21
by as he SAID, in low, eager tone

by as he SAID, in low, eager tone:
II have made discovery, more than
one, in fact. First, the dagger found
in the pocket of Miss Lawrence's dress
is not the weapon with which the fatal
wound was inflicted"
"Wynne!"
at is not the same weapon, MIR. Lud-
Lowell" the young man reiterated, frmj
ly. II fitted it into the wound, and it
is o much smaller blade. In fact, it is
utterly impossible that the fatal wound
could have been made by that dagger,
even had Miss Lawrence possessed
physical strength sufficient to infict
such blow"
"by Jove!"
Chief LudIowe threw down his pen
and leaned back in his big leathern
armchair with look of admiration In
his eyes.
you're shrewd fellow, Wynne," he
went on, eagerly. "Well, what else?"
"Did you observe that when the girl,
Maggie Will. tt, was telling her story, I"
went on Arthur, e1citedly, "that she
carried out the idea entertained by su
save you and THAT the murder was
committed at half-past two, or there
abouts."
Mr.. Ludlowe nodded his head sew
eral times thoughtfully.
$50 she didl So she did! I noticed
thatw he said, slowly.
"And we know that the clock stopped
striking when it struck eleven!" went
on Arthur, impressively. "And, MIR.
Ludlowe, there is something more. I
have just called upon DR.. Franklin,
the dentist, and he positively denies
having extracted tooth this morning.
"His work all the morning hap
pened to be confined to his labora-
tory, and he keeps no assistant.
Mr.. Ludlowe, believe me, there is foul
play somewhere here, and I must find
it out!"
Ludlowe arose slowly to his feet, and
grasped the young mans hand.
"My boy, you're a credit to the
forcel You have chance to make
name, and I pledge you my services
in this dark and mysterious affair.
believe Miss Lawrence to be 1nno.
cent?
"How could you believe otherwise!"
cried Arthur, Indignantly. "But
listen, sir, to my other discoveries.
In the cold hand of the dead man,
grasping it with frozen tenacity, ]
found tress of golden hair just such.
hair as that upon Ruby Lawrence's
headp
The Chief started.
"Good heavens!" he cried. Is it
possible? That looks suspicious!"
Arthur smiled sadly, and shook his
head
lou nave not neard air. no conrIn.
ued gravely. when the body Of Gil.
bert Lawrence was lifted from the floor
to be arrayed for the coffin, solved
the problem of that strange odor Of
bitter almonds which you and I both
perceived in the room.
"Upon the carpet, just beneath the
body, I found q tiny phial, which had
been shivered in fragments by the
weight of the body-a phial which had
uuoOuDuSolJ OOAoHlhCo ~ uoolO dSlu.
The question is-how came it there?"
Ludlowe shook his head doubtfully.
cts all amystery-a dark mystery
he observed, slowly; "but it rests with
you and me, Arthur. to unravel it
Heaven grant US the patience and the
power to succeed"
"Amen!p responded the young de,
tective, fervently, as he wrung hh
chiefs hand.
And then, for the first time, recol
lecting that he had eaten nothing all
day, he went slowly homeward fol
needed refreshment and rest.
And so the night came down. And
with the dawn of another day ther,
came shock to the community, before
which even the murder of Gilbert Law
renee seemed to pale.
Ruby Lawrence had disappeared!
With guard at the door of her room
and another below her windows, she
had yet been spirited away, and there
vas no clew to her whereabouts.
1t was dark mystery indeedl