Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-05-04
A WEIRD MYSTERY
Tracing a Dark Crime.
--. e%----
BY ALEXANDER ROBINSON, M. D.
BY ALEXANDER ROBINSON, M. D.
CHATTER VIII.

I5eonore was in the library
Sbo stood before the window looking
out upon the dreary day
H. had commenced to rain, and the
drip of the water from the trees III the
garden made dismal picture, in keep
inc with the affection that hal visited
this house.
As I entered she turned quickly, and
seemed somewhat relieved when she
found it was myself.
"Doctor, are those people gomez" she
asked.
eyes. Miss Lconore That was the
Coroner and his iury-a very necessary
infliction in cases of this kind.
eyes, know. What was the verdict
Doctor?" .,
She was wonderfully calm and self
possessed | could not but notice THIS
fact.
"They decided that Dr. Seabury came
to his death by poison, administered
with his own hand"
Watching her face closely ! could not
see that she experienced any emotion.
Her features were cam as the summer
sky.
aWhcn can l look upon my poor old
friend?"
Her words relieved me from duty L
did not like.
aNow if you desire Are you capable
of standing the shock?"
"Do not fear for me-; | am stronger
than Won marine Will you go up with
RE, DoctOr?"
81 have little writing to do connected
with the case So with your permission
] will remain here until you come down.
coofod r1oucnlf at desk
and began to examine the phial l hao
taken from the dead mans hand al the
same time drawing writing paper to me.
This phial was an odd little thing mace
of crystal, to all appearances.
IT, had been buried in the tOmbs OF the
nyramids for thousands of years, ana no
d0uht might have aroused fever of in
terest in the breast of man like Doctor
Schliemann.
Ieonore had left the room.
Irealized what shrewd trick this was
on the mart of the old detective, and dis
nleasing as the idea was to me, could
not forget that his aims were justice IT.
self
The innocent would never suffer at the
hands of Abner Ketcham, and if guilty
it was only the right thing thaC lhey
should be brought to the bar.
commenced my writing.
Some time passed by So nervous had
hecome that it was with difficulty that
kept at my work.
At last heard the rustic OF sklrtS on
the stairs. When LeOnOre entered the
library | was folding up what L mao
written. around the ancient phlal.
looked up into her face. Unless my
oves deceived me there were traces OF
tears there.
There rushed upon me mad desire tC
console her-tO pour out burning "oroS
of regret a. her lonely situation, ana tc
offer nv services in any manner accept
able: but wisely restrained myself.
She was vet under the ban OF sus
piciOn.
conce. il had not yet been clearly proven
and there were some things that needed
the closest investigation.
now desired to see Mr.. ketcham
TO do so. | must go upstairs again
In looking around for my hat, ! tOunt
that had left it in the chamber above
and leaving LeOnore, | assembled.
found MIR. Ketcham standing
thoughtfully by the window. He turne'
as entered the room, and although
looked eagerly in his face, was Oafled
aClose the door and sit down, Doctor
His words. innocent in themselves
sert a chill through my heart Ihe
meant that he had discovered somethln
worth while repeating to me.
Being deeply interested in the case,
could not do otherwise than hsten
eagerly. =.
aWhen Leonore entered the room, sh
stood right there for minute Win ne
hands claspe1. her eyes glued upon tn
bed and that mOtionlcSs 1gure.
"Then she seemed to break the spe
that bound her, and gliding forward te
on her knees beside the dead
doctor, I have in my time looked VI
on some strange sights, but never or
quite equal to that, where girl we o. o.
leve guilty of murder bends over u
form of her aged victim, and 1onoies
aand."
could not restrain o cry
aSbe is innocent. sir. A guilty so
would tnrn from such a sight in terro
WHY the dead must even arise 10 co
denim her did she dare do that"
"Listen!"
Gained myself under his magnet
eve. and waited to hear more,
The ouiet assurance of his mann
cave me warning that in some WI
Iconore had not improved her case
the visit she had made to the death be
"She remained there, apparently co
yulscd with grief, and yet uttering
sound.
oThen I saw her raise her head al
clasp her hands cODvulsively, while s
gazed down upon the body.
aWords fell from her lips. III
rcached my ears. and were tre&sur
every one as having decided bearing
the case.
aThis was exactly what she sal
breathing the words in apparent de
emotion;
"'My poor, murdered guardy, to thu
that it has como at last, that which y
have feared so long. Heaven forgive l
for being the cause of it ALL
"Ihen she gave way to MT OF SC
hing. This lasted but short tin
however, and LeOnOre became hers
again. -,
aShe bent over and kissed the cold Il
of the dead, then left the room
could sit still no longer
"Do you mean to say, sir, the girl W
could be guilty of such base crl
would act in that manner"
await! i neither condemn nor acq
until tho returns are all IN. l sim