The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1893-07-21

1t was becoming difficult for the most
enterprising of reporters to CLEAN
fresh items concerning it for the col
umns of his especial daily. The freshest
| were
That Eugene Norcross proposed 60
ing to Europe for an extended tour of
the continent Might perhaps be gone
years"
That Eugene Norcross had offered a
reward of five thousand dollars for the
apprehension Of the murderer or muir
| derers."
That "the detectives were on the trail
of an unknown woman who had been
admitted to the house on the fatal Fri
| day of the murder"
That ''Mr. Norcross had preserved
the strictest silence on the subject, re-
NAMED closely confined to the house in
Esplanade street, and sternly refused to
be interviewed. No papers were per-
mitted in the house."
Into this gloom-wrapped isolation a
visitor penetrated late one afternoon,
and was announced to his master by
Bennett. In startled undertone:
"A person for you, sir. The same, l
think. that was in the dressing room
that day.
| The study was so dark that the butler
could just discern the tall dark form in
the big chair by the writing table. He
added personal apology:
81 was listening for your bell, sir.
Shan light up?'
There was restless movement in the
| r. al, ~ u nd ID
heavily down among the loose litter OF
the writing-tablc, then curt demand
Light up. Let her come in. Leave.
And see to it that there is no listening
among the maids
AS the gas-jet sprang into existence,
| Eugene Norcross. looking across Ben
nett's shoulder, saw a sad white face
framed about with a plain black bon.
net. Its owners eyes were fixed upon
him searchingly. Evidently she had
planned her approach. If she had hoped
to surprise any evidence of guilt upon
the stern, handsome, haggard face op.
posite her, she was disappointed. He
met her intense gaze with one equally
intense. His calmness remained abso-
lutte. his whole attitude one of unfiinch-
ing fortitude.
That he had suffered at all could only
be conjectured from the black rings
under his eyes. and a certain pinched
look about his fine, thin nostrils.
The habits of a lifetime are not easily
forgotten. There was a woman stand.
ing while he was seated. He rose
waved her to a seat, staggered from
physical exhaustion, laid one long
brown hand resolutcly on the back OF
his chair, and waited for Bennett to
close the outer door of the library after
him. He spoke first:
You have taken a daring step. Dc
you know what you are suspected off
Are you not afraid of arrest?"
She looked him composedly over from
head to foot. A shuddcr ran through
her slight frame as she frightened he,
clasp of roll of newspapers she held.
NO." she said. 81 am not afraid Of
arrest. That was what I came here te
say. 1t was a daring step for you tc
take"
Il do not understand
''But it was in keeping. The mar
who could murder one woman might
readily seek to throw suspicion upor
another ONE
He was visibly trembling: was it from
physical weakness? She had refused to
be seated, and he had remained stand
ing. He dropped heavily into his chair
as that slight frail woman hurled the
monstrous accusation at him. in a vote,
which, though perfectly under control
! was fierce in its intense emotion. Sh,
misrcad his agitation:
!, Il do not wonder that you tremble
!. The man who could take a woman
life. who could clasp his brutal hand
. around her slim white throat and keel
them there while her strong young life
current ebbed out forever, is Just tn,
sort of man to pale and tremble at fea
of detection. Brute! Cowardly brut
that you are! would have denouncet
you publicly at once, but 1 thought
, No! they will drag my poor Nellie from
the grave, his rish friends, and the,
will buy him off from justice at an.
!. price. They will parade all of he
weakness and, her folly to the world
. They will blacken her memory, as he
J as you, Eugene Norcross, blackened tn
!, soft smooth white skin of her prett,
neck. My poor little Nellie! My pref
ty. foolish BUTTERFLY
u Great God! this IS hcrribletto
u horrible to stand,n