The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-05-17

you 90 to his lodgings, and then let ME
known the result of your inquiries.
Norwood agreed to this, and after Miss
Penfold had departed, called a cab and
drove to the address of MyIes Desmond.
Rondalina, more wan and ghost like than
ever, opened the door and informed the
lawyer that Mrs. Mulgy had gone out
That's pity, said Norwood, In a
vant."
Yes, s:r, replied Rondalina, dropping
q courtesy.
And you attend to all the lodgerss'
Yes, sir. :"
@Ohi then perhaps you can tell me
what / want to know, said Norwood,
cheerfully. Take me up to Mr.. Des-
mond's room 3"
Rondalina, being London girl, was
very sharp, and looked keenly at Mr..
Norwood to see if he had any design of
burglary. The scrutiny proving salts
factory she led him upstairs, and showed
him Desmond's sitting
Now. then" said Norwood, taking
seat, 4 want you to answer me few
questions"
Rondalina looked frightened, and said,
Yes, sir" in mechanical manner.
First" asked Norwood, do you dust
this room and put things straight"
Il do SIR"
DO YOU remember seeing a broken
dagger about the place-a blade and
handler"
Rondalina twisted her apron up into a
knot and thought hard, and then init
mated she had seen it.
"Oh!-and when did you see it?
About week or so ago, sir, replied
Rondalina Mr.. Desmond, sir, he comes
in at ) clock when / was a-layin' of the
cloth for dinner, and ses he, L amt
agoin' to stay in for dinner, cause I'm
agoin' bout, then he takes the knife from
his pocket, being broken in two, and
throws the bits on the table and goes out
to put his clothes on. l takes the dinner
things downstairs. and when l comes up
he were gone so | sets to work an tides
up the room.
Was the dagger still on the table,"
The knife, sir, corrected Rondalina.
Yes. sir, it were, and l puts the bits in
the Ii 'ornaments SO as to keep EN- out of
the way of the children, an l 'ope il
weren't wrong, sir.
No not at all, replied Norwood, but
tell me, did Mr.. Desmond come back on
that night"
Yes, sir-but not till late, sir-3
o'clock in the morning. He adn't his
latch-key, SO l 'ad to git h'up and let
him in.
Was he sober?"
quite, sir, only he seemed upset like,
and goes up to his room without saying
word"
This was all the information obtain
able from Rondalina, SO Norwood de-
parted from the house very much salts
lied with what he had discovered. He
drove straight to Park lane and told May
Pen fold all ROndalina had said
You see, he said, in conclusion, this
evidence will prove one thing, that Des-
mond could not have committed the crime
with that dagger
Then l suppose they'll say he did it
with another" said May, bitterly.
If they do so they will damage their
own case, replied Norwood, coolly, for
Dowker swears the crime was committed
by this special dagger, and if Desmond
did not use it-as can be proved by the
evidence of the servant-no one else
could have done SO; by the way. You say
Sir Rupert was down at Berkshire on that
night.
He was, replied May, but he came
up by a late train and then went to his
club shortly before twelve"
rs he in?" asked the lawyer.
NO; but you Will be able to see him
about o'clock, said Miss Penfold. He
has been shut up in his library since the
elopment of his wife, but had to go out
to- day on business"
I'll call then.
What do you want to see him about?"
Il am ANXIOUS to ascertain if he knew
of b S wife's movements on that night,
and whether she left the house"
Il don't think he can tell you that, as
his wife and he were on bad terms, and
occupied different rooms. Besides, even
if you find out that Lady Balscombe Wis
tied Lord Collisions chambers on that
night it won't save Myles."
Il don't know so much about that" re-
piled Norwood, cheerfully. 1T will help
90 unraNel this mystery, ond when every
thing is made plain I'm certain Myes
Desmond won't be the man to suffer for
this crime