The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-10-28
THE JEVELED HAIRPIN;;
The Strange Tragedy Of the
Grand Hotel.
BY ARTHUR GRIFFITHS.
CHAPTER III.

WHO WAS he?
Every one now was eager to examine
Che ladder.
But they had been forestalled by Mr.
Hasnip. That active officer had already
thrown open the window in the passage
hard by the red notice-board. which bore
q gilt hand and the inscription, ITO the
ire escape" Just under the window wat
. narrow step, surrounded by an iror
hand-rail, below which was the usua
small ladder, with the rungs let in close
to the brick work; q difficult method Of
descent, which none but an acrobat Of
y burglar would willingly use, unless driven
ito It by an imperious desire to escape
from pressing danger.
Duty, or curiosity, or both, sent the de.
tective down the ladder hand-over-hand,
and I stood with the manager at the win.
dow watching him descend.
He stopped suddenly and threw ur
his head.
Il why, it's broken!" he cried, as he
quickly climbed up again and in at the
window.
I Then there can be no question that
The fire-escspe was not used as q means
of exit?" I said, rather triumphantly.
That brings US back to my first PROPOSE
fion. The murder was committed BY
some one inside the hotel"
You advance that statement very posi-
fively, my dear Mr.. Leslie, said some
one behind, placing his hand familiarly
on my shoulder.
y Il turned and found myself face to
face with the chief constable of the
thorough police, man with whom had
something more than nodding acquaint-
ance. He had been extremely useful to
me in legal matter altogether foreign
10 the present narrative, and I had ex.
pressed my gratitude SO warmly that q
certain amount of intimacy had sprung
mp between US.
mime is only an unofficial opinion, Mr..
Smart. You may take it for what it is
worth"
It's far too early TO express opinions.s
Said the chief constable, rather abruptly.
Forgive me, Mr.. Leslie" he went on,
half apologetically, but it is time fol
She law to take this horrible affair in
hand. Mr.. Gray, must ask you to al.
low me to clear the bedroom and the
passage. There are too many people
about"
&. The constable was accompanied by 8
couple of policemen in uniform, tc
whom he issued q few short orders.
Within ten minutes none OF the crowd OF
eager and mostly excited busybodies re-
rained but the doctor and myself.
faced mar with long gray whiskers and
the well-to-do, altogether respectable sp-
pearance of o prosperous tradesman OF
commercial traveller; one Of those placid,
easy going people, who are sometimes
little too self-satisfied and apt to depre-
ciate the efforts and opinions Of others.
We were still in the bedroom-the
manager of the hotel, Mr.. Gray, one OF
the walters, whom he called Cornelis,
and kept to convey messages, DR.. Peard,
4 Captain Fawcett, the chief constable,
Hasnip and myself.
Z I don't want to stay here longer than
can be helped, but there are one or two
little things should like to know" said
fhe chief constable.
Are you going to hold an inquiry2'
asked Mr.. Gray. If SO, you had bette,
come downs stairs to one of the sitting
rooms. Run, Cornelis--"
Stay, We will all 60 down together.
pnly want to look at the corpse again and
Z ask the doctor one or two questions, pri.
vately, Of course. The official inquiry
will be conducted by the Coroner. BE
has summoned jury and will be here
very shortly to open the inquest"
The corpse still lay on the floor.
1T had better be laid on the bed," said
Mr.. Smart.
-Lend a hand, Hasnip, and you"-to
the waiter.
But the latter shrunk from the unpleas.
Z ant d1ty and showed not strange reluc.
ta.ce to touch the body.
Cornelis," said the manager t.
him, .lou'Ie growing very squeamish."
stsaI am always afraid of such things,
he confessed, frankly. i obey, if yor
ps.sr, bSt it makes ME shiyy..--," -
sThS nan evidently a foreigncr, al;
thoug b I was not certain of his nationalit!
was trembling visibly, and his face wal
Z, very white. It was naturally pale face
) and with his pale, straw-coiored hair ant
white eyebrows he might have been al
slbino. Now the little color natural tt
his countenance had altogether disap
peared.
You're not the first man who has hesi
tated to touch a corpse, said the doctor
!, In kindly, reassuring way. 1T is NOR,
in my line, perhaps. Come, we will lif
ft together, " he added, to the detective.
L want you to tell me the cause O.
Seath. Yes, yes; know you have givel
your opinion positively, but / want i
verified by ocular demonstration.
In that case it will be necessary t
strip the body"
!, let us do So" The clothes were re
moved getty and the corpse laid on it
] stomach.
The shape Of the orifce indicates thai
the knife was double-edged toward the
point, becoming triangular with fa'
back near the haft."
sAh!" said Mr.. Smart, gently; CT
English knife?"
Possibly; it might have been sur,
rical knife. a bistoury, or even dagger.
This is a point that will have to b.
looked more into by and by" said Mr.
Smart to his assistant, Hasnip.
The detective nodded and whispered
few words into his chiefs ear.
YES. YES, of course; was going to tel
you so, said MIR. Smart, aloud. tninl
now We will adjourn" he went on. 1o,
can give us sitting-room, Gray, thin!
you said2"
out wnat had occurred" said Mr.. Smart
seating himself magisterially at table ii
the ceuter of the room, while we range
ourselves around.
The chambermaid."
@Is she here?"
Emma Jones was called in.
Yes; on the next floor, said the man
ager.
"Iay 60 with your I asked.