Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-04-27
CHAPTER VII.


chamber where the cold form, once so
full of life, lay so silent,
Nv this time the hustle OF the carly |
morning came floating in at the open |
window-New York was fully awake.
Mr.. Ketcham had given me the key 10
the chamber of death.
with nv hand upon the knob paused
for an instant, involuntarly shivering,
but quickly overcoming TINS leellhg ol
nervousness | entered
Everything was exactly as we had ielC
it. even the gas burning lowly.
! turned it ont. Then ] locked about
me TO see whether could discover any
thing Cf interest which might nave cs-
caped my observation before.
Tho curtain of the bed having been
drawn aside, the form of the dead doctor
was partially exposed to view.
Could these cold lips only speak, how
soon would they diSpe the mystery ana
either convict or acqut the falr girl on
whom this threatening shadow rested.
That was impossible, but he might
have left behind him some written EVIL
doncc of the case that would enllghten
us.
I walked over to the ebony secretary,
on which stood the Ormou CLOCK.
When I touched the key the desk
oroned and | saw numerous drawers
and pigeon-holcs filed with papers
There was mine worth working, but
If was not for me to disturb aught My
friend. Mr.. Ketcham, would doubtless
attend to all this
wandered over to the window
AS bent down ! discovered something
that brought a cry to my lips.
The window sill was painted white,
and upon it could catch glimpse Oh
the imprint Of haad ,..:.
1t was a dirty mark, as though inc.
person in climbing up. the vines mao
sojlcd the hands Wn1i the CRIME tha'
come upon them from time to- time.
Surely this was ciew
Examining the m3rint closer ! saw
that portion of the fOreiinger was
missing. u.;- r
While / was still examining TINS /
heard low cough behind me, and turn
ing found Mr.. Ketcham there.
had not heard him enter.
"Doctor. this thing is looking bad, he
said, solcmnly. ,,
aThcn Won have learned something,
sir?o
aYou remember examining the wound
in his hroast2" Jerking his thumb in the
direction of the bed.
eyes"
"What. in your opinion, was the style
of weapon with which the deed was
done"
cat the time l said either stiletto OF
Malay creese, as the wound had closec
again. making the hemorrhage internal
@Do YOU still hold to that opinionY'
"T see no cause to change
He produced something from hi
pocket. ,.roa
aHow wonld that fill the bill?"
saw at once it was Malay creese-
indeed it could be nothing else with tina
serpent-like shape.
Then I remembered where he had gon
when he parted from me-
"Groat heavens, man, do you mean u
say YOU found that in her room"
{ "Yes,
, "This is terrible. terrible! Suppose W
try and see if it fits the wound.
81 was about to propose that, Doctor
IT. was not concealed, but lay upon he
table among several magazines and wa
o evidently used as paper cutter. 10
have practced surgcry-perform tn
c operation" bat do,
8 tor shrinks not before such tasks.
> took the blade.
II seemed a pretty toy, and yet In
point was sharp as a needle ana the eug
keen.
@ Even a weak hand could use such
weapon TO advantage
Tnstinctively | looked quickly aioh
the polisbed surface from point TO nit
There was no sign Of blood upon IT,
S Then stepping over to the pea p'
" nv words into operation
TO my horror success greeted II
II efforts
b The wound had been made by SUE
a blade as the creese.
e "Mr. Kctcham, it fits rerfecty.
a said as | drew the blade out ana WIPE
it upon piece of paper.
A dry chuclIle was my only answer,
G. Turning around | saw the old detectl
sr had nassed over to the window and W
bending down to examine the same Il
N nrint that had caught my eye
knew he would find it, and that
I'd was merely question of time. Nothi
escaped his eyes.
re @Ah! YOU have found clcw W
IS about to bring to your attention, sir
O. "And very important one, too \
500 it is the left hand, for here is I
?n thumb. Half of the forelinger appea
TO be missing"
as "Then Lconore never climbed inc
nd vines" -. ~
ne 81 never even thought she did. /
marty whose hand rested upon this $
re came came up here intent on some oil
ry business"
:" I locked at him in surprise. He hat
way of leading one to think he mes
cd one thing until his end was attain
II? and then he would veer around ike
." weather-vane at a change of the wind
ist The finding of that tool below e
ror vinces me that burglar climbed TIT
he vines and even crawled into the roc
but that he left hastily as thou
las alarmed.
AT what?"
~ "Pcrhaps the coming Of LeOnOrc.
be ! this be so, that man, crouchcd just
ler vond the window yonder, must have 81
to the whole terrible drama acted.
it His words fell like lead on my SC
| They showed ne that he still suspcc
the young girl through all