Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-11-08
RaipfOrth' SStrange Case.
By WILL LIsENBEE.

lno contents OIL the manuscript uau
just read Impressed me strangely. Sure
~ the young artists experiences had
been as strange as they were romantic.
Tho object of his visit to Darkwood
Hall on that fatal night was fully ex-
planned, yet the revelation he had made
only served to deepen the veil Of mys-
terry that enshrouded the fair young
mistress Of the hall. Had she really
committed tho murder? No. ! could
not believe her capable of crime, yet
had she not confessed to it in the open
Coult2
AS ! reflected over the matter the find
ing Of the human finger in the murdered
man a valse and my subsequent discov-
cry that corresponding member was
missing from the self accused's hand
came forcibly to my mind.
AS soon as had finished reading the
manuscript | went to visit the young
artist in his cell at the Jail. He was
strangely moody and had little to say.
Presently his manner changed.
You have read tho manuscript I
gave your" he asked.
Yes" | replied.
Can you believe that she ever COM
mtted tho murder?'
Il cannot. There is great mistake
"a great mystery somewhere
You are right" he answered, land
! am going to solve that mystery. l
know she is innocent Look ut this and
tell mo what you think of it. Hero he
produced a piece of paper about inches
,,ybi t.h n Il ~, had hann rn-
Gently made. It was a pen drawing
an excellent piece of Notwithstanding Il
scene by moonlight. A lew, well
trimmed hedge and grove of trees
formed shadowy background. In the
foreground, the moonlight plainly re-
voaling their features, wero two men,
~ono slightly behind tho other, an uplift-
cd knife In his hand AS | looked closer
at tho picture | started violently az !
recognized tho features of the one in adj
vlESlne as belonging to the man who had
been so mysteriously murdered near
Dnrliwood Hall Tho other, who held
the upliGted knife showed man Of
about 50 years of age. with short,
stubby beard and dressed as n Iaborer.
What does this mean?' l asked,
turning to Gerald in establishment.
Do you recognize either of the faces
IN The picture?' he asked
Yes" | replied lone has tho face
and form of the man who was muir
dered."
90 You are sure of it?'
Yes"
A bright light cleaned in the young
artists oye.
You know tho deceased then?" l
asked.
"No'
lyon havo seen him
Never"
"Yet you drew this picture?'
Eyes"
Il don't nderstand-surely''-
lie interrupted mo with wave of his
hand.
"Listen,' no said Il will explain.
l said that would solve tho mystery
would discover the real murderer, for
whose crime | have been arrested. This
is bis picture'' AS he spoke he placed
hfs finger upon the picture OF tho man
with the uplifted knife in the drawing.
| looked ut the speaker in amazemont
Had he taken leave of his sonses2
lie saw tho establishment upon my
face and continued hastily:
s. s2e you are surprised--I am often
surpi cd ut it myself--it is something |
cannot explain, but the scene you see on
rhis T. Ter came to mo IN the middle of
tho II 1T following that on which the
mu was committed. 1t has twice
t.s.. ,nutoJ Gall vision or
wi. III will, it so stamped itself upon
Any Tin that l was ablo to reproduce
Ii in the drawing rs accurately rs if it
had tnally transpired before my very
eyes Photographs OF this drawing are
now IN the hands of the detectives, and
have hopes that the murderer will
sooa a eaught."
t.. I not help but DO impressed
NIt ,s Anguine manner OF the young
artist; yet, being very skeptical. | could
regard tho matter in no other light than
that of an illusion or tho product of an
excited imagination. But there was the
likeness Of the murdered man-that was
som athjrg that set my whole reasoning
faculties into a tangle.
"Bo1ieving that Grace Dangertield is
innocent how do you account for her
con esaiag to have committed the
&rlMe' I asked.
II rs i very strange, y he answered
after "a pa lse. why, it is absurd to
think aaa is guilty. for as near as [ can
judge by The evidence in the case | must
have q with her at the very moment
thaGfhc II urder was committed. | re-
lAemhJr at the clock struck 5 Just as
/ camy2 t4i ough the hall after left her.
But, then, there is her confession. and
in addition to that there is the mystery
of the missing finger. All taken to-
gether makes the whole affair seem de-
cidedly strange"
"Havs you ever thought that she
might bo Iaboring under spell of tenn