The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-11-04
1cd though was, for the life of me

ncd though L was, for the life OF me
could not help looking round.
An ordinary hotel bedroom; the COM
monplace furniture, the pink-and-white
haneings, the cheap paper on the walls.
But it seemed adorned and frightened
by the occupation of the beautiful crea-
ture that called it-te temporarily.
A subtle, indefnable charm pervaded it.
A few dainty touches-lace on the look
inc-glass, ribbons to the bed-curtains,
photographs in gay plush frames-quite
changed the character Of the room. Nor
was the eye the only sense gratitied.
was conscious also Of vague but pene-
trating perfume, some delicate and fav-
orite scent, plentifully used, and pro-
ceeding probably from the dresses hang
ing behind the door, or the richly
embroidered handkerchief sacbet Tying
by an ivory glove-box on the chest OF
drawers, or from the dressing table, with
it's toilet appliances, bottles and pots.
and the thousand odds and ends that
most pretty women delight to use.
My eye travelling round the room and
noting its contents, with the half trem-
bling pleasure of an intruder tasting for
bidden fruit, rested last and longest on
this dressing-table.
There, just as I was about to leave the
room, where had already fingered too
long, I encountered Q sudden and unex-
pected shock.
Just in front Of the satin pin-cushion,
before the looking-glass, was little sill
YER tray. what the French call q vide
poche. Han q dozen trides-trinkets,
keys, and what rot, lay. heaped together,
and among them was tortoise-shell pin.
The impulse to take it up and examine
it was perfectly irresistible.
Yes, it was the exact fellow of that I
had found in No. SO.
What an extraordinary chance! The
luck that Hasnip exultingly claimed was
really mine. Here were new facts; proofs
almost overwhelming, indeed, Of Miss
Bertram's completely in the crime.
Coul'3 there be any doubt of it now?
had heard her own confession that it was
she who had visited No. SO. This was
corroborated by what saw here with my
own eyes. In the privacy of her bed
chamber, and with every ground for pre-
suming it to be her property, was hair
pin exactly similar to that dropped in the
room of the murdered man.
Surely this was enough to justify the
strongest Notwithstanding more.
Yet I could not bring myself to con-
demn hel, but she could justify herself I
was sure. She had told me that herself,
although not in so many words.
I paused, doubling, hesitating to ab-
solve entirely, yet hardly daring to con-
denim.
Then, as waited. I was aroused to the
fact that had no right to be where 1 was;
that if discovered it would be difficult
nay, impossible-to excuse my presence;
in no case could be found there with
out more or 1883 compromising MISS Ber-
tram.
So turned to 60, having the hair-pin
still in my hand. But had I any
right to that, either? 1t was hers; if
took it should be no better than thief.
And if left it there-tlis important,
dangerously compromising clew-and it
fell into other hands? Into Hasnip's, for
instance, who would move heaven and
earth to secure it?
Miss Bertram would be lost, absolutely
lost, and although knew not whether to
blame or exonerate, l still wished to
help her.
Il will keep the pin at any rate, for the
present." 1 said to myself. 1T will be
safest for her." And then slipped eau
tiously and quickly out of the room into
the corridor, which led me back to No. SO.
TTo BE CONTINUED