The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-11

through the grounds should prove 10
have mad some connection with the muv-
der even this would be worthless. A
s.rict inquiry was made to ascertain
who the man was, but all efforts were
futile.
The inquest consumed whole day,
but no light was thrown upon the mys-
terry surrounding the tragedy, and the
coroner's jury brought in verdict that
the deceased, whose name was unknown,
had come to his death by a wound in
6icted by knife in the hands of some
one unknown.
The peaceful and quiet village Of May
burg, whose very nature was utterly
antagonistic to anything sensational,
rarely had its sober dignity disturbed
by any unusual occurrence, and, as may
be imagined, this startling and tragic
event occasioned the most intense ex-
citement. The whole community was
shocked and indignant that such deed
could eperpetrated in their very midst
and the criminal escape detection.
Keenly alive to the ignominy that the
daring deed reflected upon the good
huino VI tnO tOWns tnb luotOI tnC
council together and offered reward
of 81 900 for the apprehension and con-
viction of the murderer.
This action resulted in bringing sew
eral detectives TO the place, who at once
set TO work to unravel the mystery.
Meantime photographs of the murdered
man had been taken, after which his
body was embalmed and laid to rest in
the village cemetery.
On the evening Of the third day after
the murder was sitting in my Office,
rejecting over the incident. when my
eyes happened to encounter the valise
which had been found with the MUIR
dered man. 1t lay in the corner of the
room, where it had been left after the
inquest. Moved by sudden impulse,
j took up the valise, and opening it be-
gan TO examine the contents, with the
vague hope that might hit upon some
thing overlooked by the coroner's jury
which might furnish clew to the mys-
terious affair.
first examined the few articles of
clothing for marks, but could find none.
then took the three novels and turned
the leaves carefully through each one,
hoping to find a bit of writing on some
of the margins, but not mark was to
be found. Taking up the small black
glass jar previously referred 10, / re-
moved the glass stopper. Apparently ii
contained nothing but about eight
ounces of alcohol. After q short exami-
nation of the contents / was about to re-
place the stopper when on a.sudden a
turning of the jar low metallic sound
came from the inside. 1t was evident
that there was something in the Jar, but
peering in through the neck / could see
nothing.
then poured the liquid into glass,
and turning the jar mouth downward
something fell out upon the table. l
picked it up, an exclamation of aston
ishment escaping my lips as did so. 1t
was human finger!
l am not a nervous man, and being
physician and surgeon it might natu-
rally be supposed that my experience in
the dissectine room and hospital had
rendered me Indifferent 10 such sights,
yet / must confess that the unexpected
discovery of that bit of human anatomy
gave me an unpleasant start.
The finger, which was the first Of the
left hand, was small and shapely and
was encircled by plain gold ring set
with single diamond Of rare brillian-
cy. That the finger was that of wom-
an was plainly evident by it's size and
shape as well as the character of the ring
it contained. Here indeed was another
mystery, even more perplexing than the
first, and the more l reflected over the
matter the more puzzled l became. 1t
was strange enough proceeding that the
deceased should carry human finger
about with him in that manner, but the
presence of the diamond ring thereon
served to intensity the mystery that sur
rounded the whole affair.
j removed the ring from the finger
for the purpose of discovering any in
itials or inscription that might be en-
graved thereon, but none was found. l
had just replaced the contents of the
jar. having made no further discoveries,
when there came tap at my Office door.
Crossing the room, threw open the
shutter and was greeted by the consta-
BILE.
II was passing by and just stopped tc
say that we have arrested the murder
er," he said. II supposed you had not
heard of it,
mo. That is indeed news TO me,
replied. "Wbo is it you have arrest
ed?"
"A young man stopping at the Red
field inn--Gerald Rainforthp was the
reply.
CHAPTER III.
Had the earth opened to swallow me
I could not have been more surprised
than was at the constable's announce
ment.
Gerald Rainforth arrested for MUIR
derl" gasped in astonishment. "Sure-
ly there must be some dreadful mis-