The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-04-06
ThePiccadlIyP Puzzle.
TIE STORY OF A TERRIBLE EPISODE
IN THE LIFE OF An ENGLISH
NOBLEMAN.
BY F. w. HUME.
CHAPTER v-Continued.

1t Will be Bt1ll more SO peIOIe II b ooue.
I found out from Lydia Fenny that Sars.
chine discovered her lover was about tc
elope with Lady Balscombe, SO went to
his chamber to prevent it. She arrived
too late, as Lord Calliston had gone down
to Shoreham by the ten minutes past
train from London Bridge Station. In
stead Of Lord Calliston she found MIR.
Desmond, his cousin, and I suppose he
row royal, and she left the chambers at Il
o'clock or thereabouts. Desmond fol-
lowed shortly afterward, and that wal
the last seen of her alive, as far as J
know"
why? Didn't Miss Sarschine return
home when she discovered Calliston hat
gone off with Lady Balscombe?"
Il can't tell you, sir; nor what took he,
to Jermyn street, unless she got lost II
the fog, OF there was another man in tn,
case.
"Eh? Nonsense! what other man coult
there have been?"
well, said Dowker slowly, there Wal
Mr. Desmond"
"Pshawl" said Ellersby, springing tt
his feet. What rubbish! I've knowr
Myles Desmond all my life, and he's moi
the fellow to commit such a crime!"
Yet understand before you found tht
body you met Nh. Desmond coming uI
st. James street?"
Spencer Ellersby swung round in s
rage:
"Confound you!" he said, in an angry
tone, do you want me to give evidence
duplicating my friend2"
Dowker did not lose his temper.
NO; but I want to know what tool
place between you on that night.
Simply nothing. he was in hurry
and seemed annoyed at my stopping him
but that was only natural on such beast
ly night. I asked him to call on me here.
and also asked where Calliston was; he
told me yachting, and then went Oh
Nothing more took place"
"Humph!" said Dowker, thoughtfully
1T was curious he should have been there
at the time"
Il don't see it g. ALL, If You ask hin
I've no doubt he'll give you a good &C.
count of himself. Besides, he had nc
motive in numbering Miss Sarschine-hs
is in love with Miss Penfold."
Il don't say he deliberately murdered
her," said Dowker, quietly, "but there
might have been an accident. You SEE
this?" taking the Malay kriss out Of hit
pocket and unwrapping the papers.
@Yes-a dagger. Is that the" saie
Ellersby, recoiling.
NO; but I shrewdly suspect it's thu
neighbor to it. Down at Cleopatra Wills
there we're lot of these sort of thing.
hanging against the wall, arranged in
kind of pattern. One side OF the patterr
was incomplete, and I found out from
Miss Fanny that Miss Sarschine hac
taken one of the daggers with view
to trying it on Calliston if he did moi
give up his design Of eloping. She was
mad with rage or she would never have
thought of such an idea. Well-cannot
You guess what follows?-she has the
dagger with her-doubtless shows it tc
Myles Desmond during her stormy inter.
view with him, and leaves the house in 6
rage. he follows her to try and take sucl
dangerous weapon from her-meets he,
In Jermyn street-struggles to get it, anc
in the scuffle wounds herself; conse.
quently she dies, and Myles Desmond
Keeps quiet, lest he should be accused Of
murder"
Seems possible enough, said Ellersby
resuming his seat, but doubt its truth
However, the only thing to be done il
see Desmond, and find out what tool
what are you going to do with that othe!
dagger"
said Dowker, handling it .gingerly. If il
is it will show that the other weapon wal
the one with which the crime was com.
mitted."
will you allow me to look at it?" sale
Ellersby, stretching out his hand.
Certainly" replied the detective, an6
rising to his feet he walked across to El-
lersby to give him the dagger. Unluck.
ily, however. Just as he was handing it tc
him he stepped on Pickles, who with
growl of rage made bite at his leg. IL
the sudden start Dowker let 90 the dag.
ger, which fell upon Pickles back, in.
iicting slight wound.
The detective gave yell as the bulldog
gripped him, but Ellersby pulled Pickles
off, and Dowker, hobbling to chair, So,
down to nurse his wounded leg. 1t was
not much hurt, however, as Pickles had
got a mouthful of trousers instead oj
fesh.
Alarmed as Dowker had been by tn,
accident, he was not more alarmed thar
EllIrsby, who sprang to his feet with al
oath and rang the bell sharply.
-Confound it," he said. furiously; Ill
that dagger is poisoned the dog will die.
How could you be such fool?"
You'd be the same, sir, if devil of a
dog bit you," said Dowker, sulkily, not at
all displeased at having the question OF
the dagger tested at once. I'm very
:Sorry be hanged!' said Ellersby saw
agely. II wouldn't lose that dog for a
hundred pounds. Here" to the waiter
that entered. send for doctor at once
don't lose time, confound you'll" AT
which the astonished waiter vanished
promptly.
Meanwhile all this time Pickles was
lying down trying to lick his wound, and
evidently wondering what all the fuss
was about. Dowker watched him in.
tentlv, and in short time saw the dog
was becoming drowsy. Ellersby picked
up the dagger and was about to hurl il
furiously back to Dowker, when the de-
tective jumped up in alarm.
For Gods sare. DON'T" he cried: Il
believe it is poisoned-look"
Ellersby looked and saw Pickles trying
TO rise to his feet. He evidently knew
something was wrong with him, for he
commenced to whine and a glaze came
over his eyes. His master krelt down
beside IN and dried the blood off the
wound with his handkerchief, but it was
too late. The dog opened his jaws once
or twice, tried to rise to his feet, stagger-
ed snd fell over on his side, to all ap.
pearances dead. On seeing this Ellersby
jumped to his feet and began to rage.
-The aevI take You ana your case!
be said furiously. You've killed my
dog"