Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-02-19
CHATTER Nv.

There was a dusky shade to the
rounded cheeks, and a midnight dark
ness in tresses and eyes, that told Of life
beneath the sun OF some warm cline.
remembered what the detective had
said about the Malay creese-
1t was used to great extent by the
thugs Of India, in connection with their
| nefarious cord.
Could ID be possible that one so lovely
would stOOp to such base passion?
What wrong had this learned ply
stefan done her to induce such an action?
1 could see that there was a depth OF
feeling in those fathOmless eyes, power
that had not been fully developed when
| this picture was taken, but which might
have been brought out
At last looked up.
Mr.. Ketcham had been observing me
| closely.
"Well?"
understood that he wished for my
opinion.
at seems impossible to me, sir, that
| the original of this picture should be the
terror of DIR. Seabury's life"
-And yet you will acknowledge, Doc
tor, that even there, in a picture taken
some years ago while Seabury was in
India, one can see remarkable power in
that face. If that girl made anything a
life work, she would carry it out"
II grant you that, sir. Now, will you
kindly tell me what makes you think
this is the assassin Of DR.. Seabury?"
~Readily. First of all, let me state
plainly that this is not positive but u
negative case. In the absence Of other
clews, I have decided to test this one
first.
"TO begin, then, I was not long coming
to the conclusion that the enemy the
good Doctor feared was a woman.
although he did not state so plainly
himself, 1 inferred as much from his
words, and one of the earliest things
did was to cast around to see If 1 could
make this out to be fact.
"Here you will see the positive evil
dence, which think can not be refuted.
Again he drew out something from the
pocket of his coat.
This time it was an envelope.
He opened it and placed the contents
in my hands.
1t was nothing except few shreds of
hair about foot long.
They were of sable hue.
Instinctively / turned again to the
picture.
Such hair as that would correspond
with the owner of this dazzling face.
Somehow it made me sick to think of
this; but mastering that feeling, 1 turned
once more to the old detective.
"Mr. Ketcham, where did you get this
tress of hair?" I asked.
Guess, Doctori"
"From some projecting nail that stole
it as the owner passed"
airy again, Doctor"
"Was it wrapped up with this pic
ture2"
mo, sir. This hair was taken from
the head of the assassin as she bent over
the bed yonder."
HAh!"
Il see you have guessed it now, Doc
tor, with grim smile.
1 silently pointed TO one Of the white
hands of Doctor Seabury.
~Yes, I found these strands Of hair
fastened about the fingers that now
clutch the coverlet so intensely. They
were snatched from the head of the
party who bent over him, and who,
there is at present every reason to be-
lieve, was the original Of that photo
graph"
I caught at q straw, as very often q
man who has about given up hope will.
~But, my dear sir, having found that
picture among his papers, as l presume
you did, what tangible evidence have
you to connect her with the case? This
is a most brutal crime. The fact Of this
hair resembling hers in color would
hardly warrant the suspicion that she
is the guilty party"
He smiled at my earnestness and !
half imagined he believed I was in love
with the photograph.
Hardly, Doctor. To begin with, 1
don't think you have examined that
picture as thoroughly as you might"
started and looked ut it again
turn it over. Upon the back you
may discover something"
Sure enough did
= - he rffxr~rfTfnor I n fan
words, as follows:
The cause OF my sleepless nights and
Watchful days
There was no getting around hiatt
must mean that this girl was the party
whom DR.. Seabury feared
1 could not but admit that the case
seemed dark for her, but why need 1
care so deeply-that picture was some
years old, and its original might now
have been transformed into an ugly
woman by reason of passion
@By the way, Mr.. Ketcham, what fam
lily has the old DOctor?"
/ was beginning TO wonder why he had
not aroused some member of his own
household when danger threatened; also
how 1t was we had not met with or heard
q living soul.
1t was now early morning, and could
see the gloom OF night giving way to the
light of day.
SI cannot answer that question fully,
for on my visits here saw no one save
an old woman servant named Ursula,
and his aged man of all work, Peter, who
sleeps in the stable
sStay-Once I did catch a feeting
glimpse of lady's silken gown just van
ishing through one door Of the library as
1 entered the other, but I did not see her
face"
u believe the Doctor was a bachelor.
Report said so, but we don't know
/ how true it was The Doctor was one
of a few men in New York who could
| keen their own secrets This lady, how
ever, may have been patient, or even a
distant relative"
~ hear sounds out in the stable. Peter
is up and at work"
~ will go out and inform him of the
sad event that has taken place within
these walls last night"
Leaving me here?"
sYou can stay here, or go down 10 the
/ library. There is smoke coming from
the kitchen chimney, so the old woman
must be up, too. see they're early
risers here
He passed out of the door.
/ was alone with the dead
This IN itself was not very terrible
| thing, seeing that ] was doctor, and
used to scenes OF dissolution
The consciousness Of the fearful mys
terry surrounding DR.. Seabury's taking
on served to make me feel uncomfortable
| n the presence Of that cold fsfe.