Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-02-26
AsI bent down I discovered somethins


person In climbing up the vines had
soiled the hands with the CRIME that
come upon them from time to time
Surely this was clew.
Examining the imprint closer saw
that a portion Of the forefnger was
missing.
While I was stin examining this
heard a low cough behind me, and turn
ing found Mr.. Ketcham there
Lhad not heard him enter
Doctor, this thing is looking bad" he
said, solemnly.
@Then you have learned something,
sir?"
aYou remember examining the wound
in HIS breast?" jerking his thumb in the
direction Of the bed
Eyes
@What, in your opinion, was the style
Of weapon with which the deed was
done"
@At the time said either a stiletto or
q Malay creese, as the wound had closed
again, making the hemorrhage internal. n.
@Do you still hold to that Opinion2"
81 see no cause to change"
He produced something from his
pocket
@How would that fill the bIIl?"
I saw at once it was a Malay creese-
indeed, it could be nothing else with that
serpent-like shape.
Then I remembered where he had gone
when he parted from me.
@Great heavens, man, do you mean to
say you found that in her rOOm?"
@Yes."
'HThis is terrible, tesriblei Suppose we
try and see if it fits the wound"
II was about TO propose that, Doctor.
1t was not concealed, but lay upon her
table among several magazines and was
evidently used as paper cutter. You
have practiced surgery-perform the
operation"
1t was not pleasant duty, but a doc
tor shrinks not before such tasks
I took the blade.
1t seemed a pretty toy, and yet the
point was sharp as a needle and the edge
keen
Even a weak hand could use such
weapon TO advantage.
Instinctively 1 looked quickly along
the polished surface from point TO hilt.
There was no sign of blood upon IL.
Then stepping over to the bed ! put
my words into operation.
To my horror success greeted my
efforts.
The wound had been made by such
blade as the creese.
~Air. Ketcham, it fits perfectly" I
said as drew the blade out and wiped
it upon a piece Of paper.
A dry chuckle was my only answer.
Turning around 1 saw the old detective
had passed over to the window and was
bending down to examine the same i'm
print that had caught my eye.
1 knew he would find it, and that it
was merely question Of time. Nothing
escaped his eyes.
GAh! you have found a clew I was
about to bring to your attention, sir"
Sand a very important one, too. You
see it is the left hand, for here is the
thumb, Half of the foreinger appears
to be missing"
"Then Leonore never climbed those
vines"
81 never even thought she did. The
party whose hand rested upon this sill,
came came up here intent on some other
business
looked at him In surprise. He had a
way of leading one to think he meant
one thing until his end was attained,
and then he would veer around like q
weather-vane at a change of the wind.
"The finding of that tool below con-
vinces me that a burglar climbed those
vines and even crawled into the room,
but that he left hastily as though
alarmed"
AT what?"
@Perhaps the coming of Leonore. If
this be so, that man, crouched just be-
yond the window yOnder, must have seen
the whole terrible drama acted"
His words fell like lead on my soul.
They showed me that he still suspected
the young girl through all.
"See here, sir, perhaps this burglar
was the party who took DR.. Seabury's
life"
~Knowing what we do, my friend.
cannot believe IL possible. The man did
not steal thing-evidence enough 10 me
that il there was a burglar among the
vines and possibly in the room early this
morning, he was deferred from taking
away any Of the silver scattered around,
through fear of being suspected of the
| graver crime, which perhaps would
arouse the people"
@Well?1
81 shall find the man. He has left a
| splendid clew behind him. There will be
no difficulty in finding him, think"
Success TO you, sir. Whoever sent
/ that good old man over the dark river, ]
/ believe justice should be done. You can
count upon me in any undertaking"
THAT is like yourself, Doctor. Al
/ ready you have rendered me good ser
vice. shall not forget 1t in a hurry"
a suppose you want it all kept very
/ quiet. sir.
@Yes. We will finish our investlga-
/ tiOns now, for once the Coroner and his
/ tribe arrive, all clews will probably be
| lost. They generally pry around and
make a grand muss- Come, 1 wonder
J where this door leads. Mark you, it is
not locked on this side"
He opened it.
A room appeared TO our eyes that
seemed to be full Of old furniture.
This was the stOre-roOm or lumber
closet, such as nearly every house has e.
| There was no carpet on the floor.
Dust had gathered there. Mr.. Ketch.
am got down on his hands and knees.
Some marks on the floor interested
him, and upon looking 1 saw that they
were footprints in the dust
Another chance for shreWdness.
This was the door at which Ursula
had said LeonOre had eRtered-at least il
led from the lumber-roOm,
Mr.. Ketcham arose without saying
/ anything and left me.
Presently he returned bearing in his
hand a small slipper that Cinderella
might have worn. knew at glance il
must belong to Leonore-
footprint in the dust. It showed be
yond a doubt that the slipper had
made it.
Remember that, Doctor"
81 will; but here are marks somewhat
larger-What do you make of them?"
POSSIBLY Ursula has passed through
here at some time" he replied care
lesslY.
Perhaps he thought I did not MAKE
note of a certain fact, but did, anC
sometime in the future would surpris'
him by mentioning it.
We shut the door. Mr.. Ketcham wen
and replaced the slipper. Then we helC
a council of war, at which it was decided
that all things had been done that coulC
be attended to with the exception o