Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-05-25

mere W1S llO ICtu VI btlliIr "' 'ii'' W
Mr.. Kctcham -,
The Vantage was already on his
side since he la drawn out all J Knew
and suited him self about returning tho
favor
By this mean that he told me what
he discovered, but without taking me
fully into his confidence, and explaining
the possibilities of each discovery.
did not feel hurt by this way OF con-
Quoting the case. From the beginning
| had realized that it was an honor 10 De
connected with man OF sterling worth
like Abncr Kctcham.
was contcntcd to assist him by any
means that lay in my power, without any
! desire TO reap the reward
In the name of justice | would work;
| at the same time it was with the hope
| that could help to provo the innocence
! Of the one against whom the case seemed
| darkcst-LConOre.
NV mind was set in n certain quarter,
| and ] was anxious to once more begin
work, so that l might the better learn
whether my last suspicious were founded
upon fact or were fatcd to be waited
away at the first breath of cooling wind.
in some way must find out who had
entered through tho pantry window,
what their object had been, and also
| what they had seen or done.
If this end could be achieved, ] felt
that the curtain must be raised and q
glimpse of the truth be discovered.
Every means within my lower must be
brought to bear upon the matter, with
this end in view.
In connection with this, l believed
had a strong point, whether Mr.. hctcham
noticed it or not.
when we examined the tracks in tho
cd room adjoining the Doctors, and The
detective had fitted LcOnOre's small slip
pcr into them, had noticed two things
which | believe | made note of at tho
time.
These were that there wcro other
tracks present, somewhat larger than
hers, and also that in places these
heavier ones completely covered the
marks we believed Lccnorc had left,
thus establishing very important
point, viz: this other person had passed
through the dusty room after Lconorc.
Another little thing gave me courage
this way, for | 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 MIR.
Kctcham, who mentioned If, although at
the time | had not known that he was
aware of its presence.
Putting these things all together, be-
gan to believe | bad 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.. Kctcham had seen.
Perhaps he had first tried the vines
but changed to the other.
When his bloody work was done he had
retrcated in the same way.
This was easy to place Itoolk posi-
tive and keen pleasure in noting how
neatly all the facts seemed to join to-
gcthcr, 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
woman,
Was this necessarily so?
I approached the subject carefully
determined not to leave stone unturnet
in the endcavor to ferret out the truth
First 1t was not proven that this hail
came from the head of his assassin. II
might have been deposited there by acci
dent.
Then again the party might have beer
q woman in disguise. No one could say
aught to the contrary.
As a third thought: This supposc(
burglar, whom believed to be the assas
sin. must prove the long dreaded foe fol
whose coming DR.. Seabury had watched
, and waited, knowing that fate wa
| bringing the time nearer.
Who, then, could this enemy be?
Ny mind went back.
The good Doctor had spent many year
of his life in India, and 1t was rrobabl,
there where he had incurred the hatred
of this party.
Then the vengeance-seelIer might be
thug. one of that secret band OF assas
sns TO whom the use of the cord ant
creese is sacred.
D The presence of the wound made by
crccse suggested that such was tn
truth.
S This far had como, patching 1T up OF
the way, when, happening to lool
toward Mr.. Kctcham, | saw that he hat
quietly inserted his hand into his pocket
z When he drew it out he tossed smal
J white object toward mo
a "Examine that, Doctor" he said
! simply.
When l opened it out I saw it was
b lady's embroidered handkerchief. A fc'
. stains of blood marked it. Lookin
@ closer could see where it, had LEE
d partly cut, as though a sharp instrumcn
t had been drawn through it. Inrthc
@ still in one corner was the letter i
5 "Wherc did you get this Mr.. ketcf
amp" asked, holding my breath.
/, His answer gave me terrible blow.
f am tho room of Lenorc, hidden bl
o hind trunk, Doctor"