Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-03-05

upon the words she uttered"
was silent.
Although he had not broken down the
barriers Of my conviction, still his argu-
ment was unanswerable.
Before my mind was arrayed the evil
dence against the girl
In one way il was overwhelming. Iput
It down under different heads, so that II
could be regulated.
First The photograph on the back
of which the old doctor had written
@LeonOre-the cause Of my sleepless
nights and watchful days" It would
indicate, as Mr.. Ketcham said, that
there was something wrong with the
girls mind. and that her loving guardian
was constantly expecting a periodical
outbreak, during which she seemed 10
seek his life.
His assertion to the detective relative
to an enemy who had followed him from
India might be only blind to hide the
truth, as he was apt to be sensitive upon
this point.
dismissed this from my mind, and
proceeded 10 the next point:
Second The discovery of the lock Of
black hair in the hand of the dead, IN
doubtedly torn from the head Of the as
sassin, and that, woman. 1t matched
LeonOre's hair exactly, and although in
itself this fact was a simple thing, taken
in the light of corrobOratiYe evidence it
would amount 10 a good deal, since she
had been in his room that night.
Third. The footprints in the dust OF
the old store-rOom. We had fitted Leo
nore's small slipper TO some Of them, and
found that they Tailed exactly.
Fourth The discovery of the Malay
creese in her room. 1t was Ostensibly a
paper cutter, but was just the weapon to
be caught up and be put 10 deadly use
by a person whose mind was unbalanced,
and who in the delirium of sudden in
sanity was bent upon taking human life.
Fifth. LeOnore's own words and &C
lions, as witnessed and heard by the old
detective, were strongly savOred with
the view of the case as he put it. She
seemed to avOw that she was the cause
of the Doctors death, and bewail the
cruel fate that made it so. OF course
a different construction might be put
upon her words under new light, but
just then they seemed to imply the
worst.
When all these facts were arranged in
a line before me, they presented terri
BILE indictment against Leonore.
No wonder 1 was silent.
There were few things on the other
side, but as yet they were overshadowed
by the colossal proportions of the oppO-
site evidence.
was ready to work hard in order to
prove her innocence, but for the life OF
me Just then I did not know how tc
begin.
While my mind had been dwelling upon
these things, Mr.. Ketcham was regarding
me with interest.
could detect a faint smile lurking in
the corners of his mouth, as though he
~Nan# -gfr. In,
mind.
Then for the first time noticed he held
paper in his hand.
The thought flashed upon my mind that
he had found something in the ebony
desk bearing upon the case
Perhaps it was more evidence tending
to fasten the coils around Leonore.
AS he held the paper out mechanically
took it from his hand.
1t seemed to be a letter. There wa.
no date on it, and yet something about
the paper told that it was several year!
old
saw it was addressed to the old Doc.
tor, and seemed to be from some friend
out in Singapore.
Most of it was mere gossip about the
old friends of DIR. Seabury in India.
Then came a paragraph that riveted
my attention.
HAnd LeonOre-I hesitate to approach
that subject, knowing how it concerns
your days and nights-how is she? Has
anything occurred yet? I hope not, in
Heavens name, and that that terrible
scourge may never visit again my old
friend Seabury-"
That was all on that subject.
Sick at heart, 1 handed the paper back
to the detective.
GNVan DDetor9u
q am afraid all roads lead to Rome,
sir -
%Then you admit that at least have
good reasons for my suspicions?"
@Alas! it is too true"
doctor, you take il too much to heart.
Remember that, even il guilty, the girl
cannot be punished She was insane al
the time"
what you say does not take away the
sting, sir?"
~See here, Doctor, am to depend upon
you any further in this case?"
turned upon him Indignantly.
"NO, sir; not so long as it comes &c
hunting down a poor girl That is bust
ness with you, but none of mine"
"Then you wash your hands of it?7
"NOt at all. While you are seeking Il
tighten the coils around LeOnOre, Mr.
Ketcham, shall be using my utmost en-
deayOrs to prove her innocence. We
shall see who will win the game"
His face frightened.
@Give me your hand, DoctOrl honor
you for the stand you have taken. Il
ever that poor girl needed a friend it i:
now. Strange though it may seem,
sincerely hope you will succeed, but a
the same time say frankly 1 fear tho
worst
Those words drew me toward that mar
as had never been drawn before
left Mr. Ketcham seated in a rocker
his eyes glued upon the hieroglyphics OF
the ceiling, while 1 went out to star
upon my hopeless task.