Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-02-11

could rouse no one, | turned and came
away. When | had got back in my
room somewhat nonplussed at not being
admitted after my uncle had sent for
me, happened to put my hand in my
pocket, and found there the nugget. |
knew it was my uncles for l had often
seen it there, and how 1t came to be in
my pocket was mystery that excited
me somewhat. 1t seemed like witch
craft
'Devil-craft more likely said who
was now more mystifed than ever. ]
did not doubt the truth of Franks
story in the least. Some one put it in
your pocket to throw suspicion on you;
but how, and when, and where2 Did
Mrs. Bland come close to you when she
came to say your uncle wished to see
your
mo. she did not come in. She left
word at the door. But from my window
saw her 90 by. I'm sure it was her,
but she could not have put the nugget
in my pocket.
~ may as well say here that the
housekeeper had been Investigated AID
was conclusiveiy proved to ba elsewhere
when the murder occurred. WAS she
an accomplicef' was the question | was
bordering. A thought occurred to me.
Did you find in your pocket the little
veivet-lined box, that held the nugget
asked.
"'No, there was nothing but the
piece of goii, that saw, Frank replied.
81 went straight to Franks lod 5ings
and made careful search. searched
the Bertrand mansion for the missing
box, but found nothing.
"Mrs. Bland seemed very much dis
tressed over what had happened and was
much concerned for Frank. She de-
clared she didn't believe word of the
story that be was guilty. She said his
uncle called to her from his room, as he
often did, and directed her to call
Frank. As she was going to neigh
3or's she stopped on the way for her er-
rand. She locked the house behind her
on leaving, as was her custom, and found
see Mr.. Bertrand when he spoke to her;
only heard his voice.
81 then went t. my Office aud shut
myself into my private room to quietly
analyzc the situation. Who, besides his
housekeeper had motive for numbering
Mr.. Bertrauda pondercd the question
over and over again. That there was an
answer to it, was sure. But who had
that motive. That once settled fairly ia
my own mind, would look furtaer for
the Httle box. could easily sec how
Frank Bertrand had strong existing
motive to keep his uncle alive until he
should make different will. In his
death he lost all hope. Only sudden
anger under strong provocation could
have moved him to the deed. But he
was already out of my suspicion.
~ am great believer in motive as
the lever that moves human beings in
the commission of all deliberate crimes.
That it was not mere robbery, in this
case, was evident-since only the nugget
e gold WAS taken, and that attributed
> momeutary fancy rather than to any
previous intention. 1t could not be
hatred, Tor the old man had not an
enemy in the world that we
could discover 1t must then he
greed OF some sort, some advantage to
be gained though Mr.. Bertrand's death.
Here was another diIemms. His house
keeper was to have all the property, aud
she could not have committed the
murder. 1t must then be somebody
reaching further, somebody hoping for
gain through her But the old woman
! had not relative in the world that
had ever heard of. She had lived very
many years in the family, and thought
her relatives would have been heard
from, if there were any greedy enough
to commit murder in order to give her
property which they might not get after
all Had she lover!
"The thought struck me with such a
sense of its affording solution of the
mystery, that it was like an electric
shock. She would not marry while Mr.
Bertrand lived; his death would make
her free, and besides would make her
wealthy, two great points to be gaiued,
which might have a strong influences on
weak minded man. | was sure also
from the taking of the nugget, that
whoever he was he would be found to
have been a miner or a collector OF ores
or minerals. Full of my new idea,
started out TO investigate
II had great faith IN Mrs. Bland's
honesty in the matter, but | did not
think it prudent to go to her now for
information, for l had not proved her
integrity as | had Franks, AMI she
might, if an accomplice, give warning
that would defeat my purpose. | went
+ to the few persons she was intimate with
aud made cautious inquiries about her
! gentlemen friends. 1t is almost needless
/ to say found one.
ale was tall gaunt fellow, aud
swarthv, like those who have been much
exposed to tbs sunlight. He had been
a miner in Australia. Mrs. Bland had
confled to female friend that the man
proposed. but she refused him, because
she could not leave Mr.. Bertrand
now decided to go straight to Mrs.
Bland add ask if this man knew of the
contents of the will. Tears came into
her eyes as she admitted that he did.
She had inclined to favor his proposal,
and had agreed to marry him alter Mr.
Bertrind's death
ii fou1d where the man had his lodg-
ing, and taking an officer made all haste
there. Ills room was shabby enough,
bu, ah, there were the minerals, as had
surmised. We arrested him as the m If
derer of Henry Bertrand, and after some
search among his rather mixed belong
ings found there tAe box with the velve,
lining
"When thai was brought forth. his
deiisat manner fell away from him and