The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-02-01


side, since he had drawn out all knew,
and suited himself about returning the
favor.
By this I mean that he told me what
he discovered, but without taking me
fully into his confidence, and explaining
the possibilities of each discovery.
l did not feel hurt by this way OF con-
Quoting the case. From the beginning
t6m realized that It was an honor to be
connected with man of sterling worth
like Abner Ketcham.
Twas contented to assist him by any
means that lay in my power, without any
desire to reap the reward.
In the name of justice I would work;
at the same time It was with the hope
that could help to prove the innocence
of the one against whom the case seemed
darkest-Leonore.
My mind was set in certain quarter.
and I was anxious to once more begin
work, so that I might the better learn
whether my last suspicious were founded
upon fact or were fated to be waitea
away at the first breath OF cooling wind:
In some way must find out who mad
entered through the pantry window,
what their object had been, and also
what they had seen or done.
If this end could be achieved, I felt
that the curtain must be raised and a
glimpse of the truth be discovered.
Every means within my power must De
brought to bear upon the matter, with
this end in view.
In connection with this, I believed I
had strong point, whether Mr.. Ketcham
noticed it or not.
When we examined the tracks in the
old room adjoining the Doctors, and the
detective had fitted Leonore's small slip
per into them, / had noticed two things
which believe made note OF at the
time.
These were that there were other
tracks present, somewhat larger than
hers, and also that in places these
heavier ones completely covered the
marks we believed Leonore had left,
thus establishing very important
point, viz: this other person had passed
through the dusty room after Leonore.
Another little thing gave me courage
this way, for I had seen faint touch
Of blood upon the knob Of the door, as
though the knife had rubbed against it.
This fact was brought out again by Mr..
Ketcham, who mentioned il, although at
the time had not known that he was
aware of it's presence.
Putting these things all together, be-
gan to believe I had strong case.
The party who had murdered the old
physician, be it man or woman. had en-.
tered the house by means Of the pantry
window, as Mr.. Ketcham had seen.
Perhaps he had first tried the vines
but changed to the other.
When his bloody work was done he had
retreated in the same way.
This was easy to place. I took posi-.
tive and keen pleasure In noting how
neatly all the facts seemed to join to-
gether, just as though the mechanism
were complete within the affair.
One little thing still troubled me.
This was the long black hair taken
from the hand of the deceased. We had
believed that he had torn it from the
head OF the person who had murdered
him, and this had appeared to establish
the fact that this party must be q
woman,
Was this necessarily SOP
I approached the subject carefully,
determined not to leave stone unturned
in the endeavor to ferret out the truth.
First: It was not proven that this hair
came from the head of his assassin. 1t
might have been deposited there by acci.
dent.
Then again the party might have been
q woman in disguise. No one could say
aupht to the contrary.
As q third thought: This supposed
burglar, whom believed to be the assas.
sin, must prove the long dreaded foe for
whose coming DR.. Seabury had watched
and waited, knowing that fate was
bringing the time nearer.
Who, then, could this enemy be?
Ny mind went back.
The good Doctor had spent many years
Of his life in India, and it was probably
there where he had incurred the hatred
Of this party.
Then the vengeance-seeker might be
thug, one of that secret band OF assas-
sins to whom the use Of the cord and
creese is sacred.
The presence Of the wound made by
creese suggested that such was the
truth.
This far had I come, patching It up on
the way, when, happening to look
toward Mr.. Ketcham, I saw that he had
quietly inserted his hand into his pocket.
When he drew 1t out he tossed small
white object toward me.
"Examine that, Doctor" he said,
simply.
When I opened 1t out saw it was
lady's embroidered handkerchief. A few
stains at blood marked it. Looking
closer T could see where it had been
partly cut, as though sharp instrument
had teen drawn through it. Further
still, in ono corner was the letter L
"Where did you get this, Mr.. Ketch-
amp" asked, holding my breath.
His answer gave me terrible blow.
ain the room Of Lenore, hidden be-
hind trunk, Doctor"
CHAPTER XIV.
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