The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-01-11

lnQlcate, as Mr. hetCudm sdio, Iudu
there was something wrong with the
girls mind. and that her loving guardian
was constantly expecting a periodical
outbreak, during which she seemed to
! seek his life.
His assertion to the detective relative
to an enemy who had followed him from
India might be only blind to hide the
truth, as he was apt to be sensitive upon
this point.
dismissed this from my mind, and
proceeded to the next point:
Second. The discovery OF the lock OF
black hair in the hand Of the dead, un-
doubtedly torn from the head of the as
sassin, and that, woman. 1t matched
Leonore's hair exactly, and although in
itself this fact was simple thing, taken
in the light Of corroborative evidence it
would amount to good deal, since she
had been in his room that night.
Third. The footprints in the dust OF
the old store-room. We had fitted Leo
nore's small slipper to some OF them, and
found that they Tailed exactly.
Fourth. The discovery Of the Malay
creese in her room. It was ostensibly q
paper cutter, but was just the weapon to
be caught up and be put to deadly use
by person whose mind was unbalanced,
and who in the delirium Of sudden in
sanity was bent upon taking human life.
Fifth. Leonore's own words and &C.
tions, as witnessed and heard by the old
detective, were strongly savored with
the view Of the case as he put it. She
seemed to avow that she was the cause
of the Doctors death, and bewsil the
cruel fate that made it so. Of course
different construction might be put
upon her words Under new light, but
just then they seemed to imply the
worst.
When all these facts were arranged in
q line before me, they presented terri.
BILE indictment against Leonore.
No wonder was silent
There were q few things on the other
side, but as yet they were overshadowed
by the colossal proportions Of the oppo-
site evidence.
Twas ready to work hard in order to
prove her innocence, but for the life OF
me just then I did not know how to
begin.
While my mind had been dwelling upon
these things, Mr.. Ketcham was regarding
me with interest.
could detect a faint smile lurking in
the corners of his mouth, as though he
eenld guess what was passing In my
mind.
e. Then for the first time I noticed he held
q paper in his hand.
The thought flashed upon my mind that
he had found something in the ebony
desk bearing upon the case.
Perhaps it was more evidence tending
to fasten the coils around Leonore.
AS he held the paper out I mechanically
took it from his hand.
It seemed to be letter. There was
no date on it, and yet something about
the paper told that it was several years
old.
I saw II was addressed to the old Doc
tor, and seemed to be from some friend
out in Singapore. .
Most Of it was mere gossip about the
old friends of DR.. SeabuEy In India.
Then came paragraph that riveted
my attention.
@And Leonore-I hesitate to approach
that subject, knowing how 1t concerns
your days and nights-how is she? Has
anything occurred yet? hope not, in
Heavens name, and that that terrible
scourge may never visit again my old
friend Seabury. -g
That was all on that subject.
Sick at heart, I handed the paper back
to the detective. =.
"Well, Doctor?"
II am afraid all roads lead to Rome,
sir"
sThen you admit that at least I have
good reasons for my suspicions?"
(. @Alas! 1t is too true"
doctor, you take it too much to heart.
Remember that, even If guilty, the girl
cannot be punished. She was insane at
the time"
Nv What s't5y you. say does not take away the
aSee here, Doctor, am I to depend upon
you any further in this caseP"
turned upon him Indignantly.
mo, sir; not so long as it comes to
hunting down poor girl. That is busi-
ness with you, but none Of mine.
"Then you wash your hands Of it?"
"Not at all. While you are seeking to
tighten the coils around Leonore, Mr..
Ketcham, shall be using my utmost en-
deavors to prove her innocence. We
shall see who will win the game"
His face frightened.
@Give me your hand, Doctor! I honol
YOU for the stand you have taken. II
ever that poor girl needed friend'it is
now. Strange though it may seem, I
sincerely hope you will succeed. but at
the same time I say frankly 1 fear the
worst
Those words drew me toward that man
as had never been drawn before.
1 left Mr. Ketcham seated in rocker,
his eyes glued upon the hieroglyphics on
the ceiling, while I went out to start
upon my hopeless task.