Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-09-16

evidence the more that he could not have
put them in peril of either life or liberty.
He was attacked unawares, and SO far as
| can be seen unprovoked-tha is to cay,
by some enemy who had been cherishing
grudge against him and had improved
this opportunity to satisfy it.
| There was one circumstance, too,
J which struck me at the time, but which
| mentioned to no one, that may have
had something to do with his being sur
prised in the way he was This circum-
stance was flask of brandy, nearly
empty, in side pocket of his coat. l
know that the flask was full just before
he started for the lake, because he pro-
dueed it in my room when he and John
looked in to say goodby and took pull
at it. As he had already drunk good
deal, even for him, during the day, it is
fair to surmise that he must have been
somewhat overweighted by midnight.
John, it is true, does not seem to have
noticed anything especially distraught
in his behavior, but then John is man
who has room in his mind for but one
thing at time. and just then it was full
of burglars. Moreover, he could have
seq, h,:f little of Henry after thav took
up their allotted stations in ambush.
| Tom, the groom, would be more ex-
| pert witness if | chose to interrogate
| him, but | did hear him observe, as if
recalling consolatory circumstance,
that Master 'Enry was a-feelin mighty
good the night it appened." 1t is even
possible that he may have dropped asleep.
! But these speculations are unimpor-
tant. Since it is proved that he was not
killed lin the way of business" as the
detectives put it, it follows that he was
a victim to some enemy, and the next
step is to find out who his enemies were.
At first sight this would not seem diff
cult, for Henry was "a man to make
friends with everybody. and therefore
his enemies should be few. But. upon
second thought, no one can be said to
know much about Henry's real life, and
it is often the good natured. easy going
men whose enemies, when they have
any, are the bitterest and most unrelent-
ing.
Who can say into how many desperate
scrapes Henrys lax ways with women.
for instance. may have led him? Some
revengeful husband or brother may have
been following him half way round the
world, waiting his opportunity to strike
his blow Manifestly we could hope to
apprehend such a person only by the
merest chance. He might buy house
here and settle down tomorrow, and we
should never recognize or even suspect
him. A habit of secrecy and reticence
may be all very well so long as man
lives or gets into no trouble, but then it
is liable to react against him. Henry has
prevented MS from knowing how to
avenge or help him.
| Meanwhile the detectives, as their man.
ner is, seem disposed to exhaust what
ever material may be at hand before 60
ing on to the region of speculation. In
other words, they are aiming to find out
what Henry's relations We're with the
people with whom he was in contact
here at home. This list would include
practically no one besides John and my
self, Tom, the groom, and Sinfre. We
saw little company during his stay with
us, and that only in the most formal
way. Noone expects, of course, that the
inquiry will result in anything. None
Of the persons named is likely to be seri-
ously suspected of any share in Henry's
1 death, but it is no doubt right and prop
er that the form of investigation should
be gone through with. 1t will leave the
field clear for further investigation.
John agrees with me in this, and as
soon as the idea was suggested to him
he expressed himself as anxious to have
it carried out. IF | shot him, | want
to know it," he said, with touch of saw
! age humor. You're not in it, you
know, Frank" he went on; your equity
toe, that you found such fault with
served you that good turn at least. So
| it lies between Tom and me. And, upon
my word" he added after moments
thought, 'either he or | might have done
it, so far as opportunity goesl We can't
prove an alibi like the burglars and
you!"
| | laughed, but the fact is felt little
uncomfortable, not so much on Johns
or Toms account rs for another reaso,s
Of which John as yet knows nothing
! He thinks, as everybody else does, that
Sinfre was miles away at the fatal mo-
ment. But in truth no one but she her.
self knows exactly where she was after
10 o'clock that night. Should this leak
out it might lead to disagreeable COM
plications- Something might be discov-
cred of the reasons she had for hating
| Henry. Indeed were | to tell all that
has come to my knowledge it might ac-
tually endanger her life. People have
been hanged on circumstantial evidence
nc stronger than that. OF course know
as certainly as know anything that |
cannot prove that she is utterly incapa-
BILE of such deed, but of course also
this certainty is based upon my intimate
personal knowledge of her character,
which would be of no value as evidence
in court of law. If my testimony is
called for, am resolved to profess ig-
noranoo of anything but the most exter-
nal acquaintance with her movements
or motives, and for the rest she is am
ply able to protect herself if she chooses.
have just said that my knowledge of
her character is intimate, and yet it is
not, for | do not know whether or not
she will choose to protect herself. 1t is
impossible to foretell where woman's
notion of independence will begin or end.
1t is more than conceivable that Sinfire,
out of mere wanton defiance or way
wardness, might tell in the witness box
the whole story of her previous life,
which she has permitted even me only to
guess at. A jury might see in that story
motive enough to warrant conviction.
Fear of that same waywardness with
holds Inc from speaking to her on the
subject. If were to tell her that she is
in danger, she would be as likely as not
to go deliberately off and thrust her head
into the lions mouth. If, on the contra
ry. she discovers her danger herself, the
instinct of self defense and of justice
may prompt her to repel it. If hers
were a nature that | could control,
would put forth my power without hest
tation and give her lesson to repeat by
rote, only that if | could control her
should care nothing about her, and she
might do what she liked.
Fortunately or unfortunately neither
she nor have any leisure to pass in each
others society. Her hands are full with
household cares and nursing mother,
and | am sufficiently employed upon
other business. But in the evenings
after the work is done ! retreat to my
library and write or play with Saprani.
have an idea that ! should Ike TO put
on gypsy attire and wander off on foot
through the world with Saprani and
Sinfire. Saprani's performances would