The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-01

went up the steps. When ] got to the
door everything was quiet. This puzzled
me. aud | opened the door and went
Then the door was not locked?" ques-
toned the officer.
NO"
The detective made note of this.
Proceed" said he
1T was pitch dark. My candle went
out az the door, I struck a light. There
was poor Mr.. Lawton, just Ike you all
found him. ! was so scared didn't know
wha; to do. and ] ran TO the door. and
saw this gentleman. and-but he can tell
you the rest"
Daring the examination that followed
I found IT convenient to appropriate upon
the sly ring found among a chaos OF
treasured trites. This was a heavily-en-
gravcd band with an emerald setting.
Detective -- had not seen II. ] thought
II would help me in unraveling the knot.
for my theory, ] thought, was already
different from that OF the officer. The
ring bore the inscription. Il from II.
| pretended to agree with the detective
on every point. / had the advantage
however. In several respects, having Sc
cured the manuscript which / could not
help believing was history of the muir
dcred mans life.
articles which he thought might serve as
a basis for the discovery Of the mans
identity and furnish a clue TO the one
who administered the drug. for post
mortem examination disclosed the TACT
that poison had been employed.
CHAPTER Ill
Am I'D aiming?
The portrait enclosed in the manuscript
was that Of a girl some seventeen years
of age The face was dashed with q
touch Of passion from the large. dark
eyes. 4 stroke OF exquisite vivacity
seemed 20 conceal partially an air OF
delicious Venetian languor suggested by
the lips. ripe tantalizing. The bust was
somewhat full for the delicately outlined
waist
was astonished. Gertrude Lorraine
/ said 10 myself. How could she -?'
/ turned TO the last page Of the manu-
script II was signed "Harrolde Lor-
raine" in a nervous chirography.
us II possible?" l exclaimed. Her
father
A page or two cast enough light upon
The problem TO arouse my suspicious that
Don Theron Glennvile was in some way
implicated. "Glennville a murderer
What will become Of her? Poor GIRL II
will break her heart
These thoughts flashed through my
mind while a bit Of romance sprung
within me. ! thought Of the pretty young
girl who was none other than Glenn
ville's ward and the daughter Of the
murdered man. / had never forgotten the
cordial greeting she had given me when
| was present in the capacity of re-
porter at a reception Of hers. The eX-
uuisite movements Of her figure came
back TO me: The sweet voice, soft mu-
steal. with a Southern languor, the warm
light Of her big brown eyes us she cast
"a glance over her shoulder AT me when
iotted down the names of her guests.
Somehow | found myself wondering how
long ere she would return from Europe
The name Don Theron GlennVille
stared at me much as Greek letters at
an illiterate man. In this meditatlVe
frame Of mind / had almost forgotten
that the manuscript on the table before
me would probably clear up the mys-
terry.
Finally. arousing myself by an effort,
I began reading the weird story found in
the apartments of the murdered man.
(The autobiography which follows forms
an indispensable part of my narrative
hence IT is reproduced. for which l beg
the indulgence of my readers.
Ely HISTORY.
was born in Richmond october II,
IS. Ny father. native of France, was
left a large fortune by a New orleans
man who adopted him. and at the death
of my mother the money fell to me. HaV-
Ing been able TO crafty my every wish,
when / entered college at the age OF
nineteen my nature was tinged with cy-
nicism / led a retired life until / be-
came intimate with a fellow law student,
Don Theron Glennvlle, who was man
Of refined instincts and unusual mental
attachments He was congenial, impulsiVe,
and warm blooded, in conformity with
his Spanish extraction.
,rrT ArrI,tp