Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-12-13
THE DANCING GIRL.


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That much was certain. Il was evil
dent that he had died from pistol
shot. for there was . bullet wound in
his temple. and the doctors found the
bullet in his brain. A revolver with
one empty chamber, which the bullet
would have fitted before its shape had
been fiattened by contact with the old
mans SKULL was picked mp in the court
directly under q window Of the room
where the chambermsid had found the
Did gentleman lying dead. when she en-
tered the room with passkey at $40
in the morning. She also found that
the window was closed and fastened. and
this effectually disposed Of the suggcs-
ton that the old man had shot himself
and thrown the pistol out Of the win
dow. for while there was an infnitesimal
chance that be might have thrown the
pistol ont after firing the shot into his
brain IL wss absolutely impossible that
he could then have closed the window
and fastened 1t. Moreover. the position
of the body and the pool Of blood beside
il showed that no had fallen when shot
and never moved again. The most care
full search of the room disclosed no
weapon of any kind. Suicide was thers~
fore clearly out of the question Ii was
q case OF murder. So af least the police
argued, and II must be admitted with a
hood deal Of reason.
Who was the murderer To aid I'm a
solution Of this question the police rea-
sened in this way: As the dead man
was found in his apartpents in the fifth
story of the apartment house, where he
had lived alone for Is years, it was evil
dent that the murderer must have had
some powerful motive to induce him 20
take the risk attending such an act, or
else he must have been temporarily ex-
cited into frenzy by something which
had passed between him and the de-
ceased. What could the motive have
beeni II was not robbery, for q roll
Of notes and squantify Of loose gold lay
on the table, just 81. 800, which amount
II was quickly learned bad been paid
the deceased by one Of his tenants at
o'clock theafternoo before his dead
body was discovered by the chamber
maid.
No ono could suggest that the old
man had any enemies. His habit Of
life was sxceedinely simple. The worst
that could be said Of him was that,
though very rich. he was very penuri-
Gus. He was not q hard creditor, but
on the contrary. was inclined to be leni-
ent In his collections. He was some
what proud Of the fact that his mother
was the daughter Of an earl's daughter.
bat tile only one who used 10 consider
himself sggrisved by this was his hand
some and high spirited nephsw and
namesake. So n murder for revenge
seemed out Of the question.
Had any one an interest in his deafhi
On this point there was no doubt, for
John Hartlepool. IT.. was known TO all
the community ~ his sole heir-at-law.
II was also soon learned that ON the very
morning before his death the old man
had instructed bis solicitor to make q
will cutting OF hts nephew with . pit
lance. which will wss 10 be executed the
NEXT day. II that young gentleman would
not In tie meantime renounce his inhm-
ton of marrying . young lady who waa
Q member Of popular opera troop and
took q role which Wa more conspicuous
because Of The elegance OF her figure
than Of the quality Of her vocal powers
or the derrvs Of her histrionic ability.
mot cent Of my money shall 60 &c
brat Of girl who MAKES living By
dancing" said the old man 10 mors
than q score OF people. for his nephew
infatuation for the pretty chorus CIR
was the one core spot In HE life.
Not that Nellie Ethan (she had mo-
rissn to the dignity Of stage nsmel va
hrat she was simply an honest little
l girl. who, having to earn her living
Wa doing 70 In way that nature hs<
ernineutiy Gts>d her for. When Nsste'
Jack. In Q moment Of unintentiona
frsnkne~s. he'd blarted ont his uncle
Pet objection 30 their Marriage. she hrs
grew red. and then ~ pale - spow, an'
ended BY bursting into tears. the out
break being % long that 10 vas goo
hear before Jack ZEE ssts IN taking HI
departure.
IL va known that uncle and perke'
had had An Interview b<t~cn 8 aud
o'clock. dnrinx which tirne q ter1ih
thunder ssorrn vss raging. The FL,
vsfor boy remembered that when II
ypung man Ia he hous hs took u