The morning times., 1895-08-25

Aht N'lA'A
That, Mr.. Mariinot, is all l can tell
you Mr. Hollowood's viii did not dis
inherit his son Ii was made that day and
left him extra bequcsts."
Il will consider this matter" l said,
"and by daylight L shall want to make
a search of the library"
Well, said l To myself after had seen
my visitor 10 her carriage, here is a case
that is very simple Banker Hollowoud
ma rries again. He has talk with his
wild son, telling the young man that he
has got to behave himself. Charles Hollo-
wood gets angry, but thinks best not To
let his father perceive it. He pcrsuades the
old gentleman TO make a will and stabs
him afterwards, or gets some one else to do
il, so that il looks like suicide. But
but-well. | must search the premises.
l found the HOLLYWOOD library dark and
chill, as it lay closed and unaired in its
silent quarter OF the house. Not chair
had been moved since the fatal night. and
the servant who let me in merely pointed
TO the door with motion of his hand.
Not for worlds would any of them have
entered this chamber of horrors. When |
stepped across the room and threw open
the blinds I knew il was the first time
tlit ilEht bi NtA iieifl ltiftkiSitti lhN ibOAaA
since Mr.. Hollowood's death The fireplace
lay full of charred, burned-out embers, and
in front of il a silent witness was a great
blood stain 10 show the spot where Anton
Hollowoud had breathed his last.
All important papers had been removed
from the table, and there was no trace OF
mysterious footprint nor sign of finger
mark nor stray scrap OF paper TO give the
fN..a
ferret out crime
The room was corner one, with four
large windows IN il. The two windows
at the side looked out over what was in
summer pretty stretch of lawn Under
meath the window ran a flag walk Looking
down at 1t, saw that short man could
have easily reached up 10 tap upon the
window
As examined these side windows there
was something about one OF thcm-the
one that had been tapped upon Toy the short.
stout man that night-that seemed to my
searching eyes little different from the
other Examining it closer, saw deep
crack IN the woodwork at the side. The
crack reached 10 the floor and up as high
as / could see / stood upon a footstool
which was convenient and followed it
lilAil anu iN ny AAA-lfs0 Allt up
OF the window they came in contact with
a small bolt
/ pushed the bolt gently and it flew
noise,cssly back l stepped down and
pulled The wondow-seat with a sharp jerk,
and immediately the whole window yielded
10 my hand Without the crcak of hinge
II swung inward from ceiling to floor.
leaving a large open door | stepped out
I ~,
the door-wndow exactly as l had found
II, and covered up the crack again with
The long portiere
/ went over the entire window very care
fully. looking for marks or traces of those
who had last opened It, but all could find
was faint. hasty scrawl upon the glass,
done by a sharp instrument long since
The scrawl was an attempt at monogram,
and l dectphered the letters II. g.
Now, said L, for my search for this short
stout man who was on such friendly
terms with Anton HOLLYWOOD that he taps
upon the library window for adnIittance.
And who was a not unexpected guest,
for ne has private entrance cut for him
Rearranging everything in the library,
/ / went back TO the dra wingrOom and sent
up my card TO Mrs. HOLLYWOOD.
! Mrs HOLLYWOOD, greeting ME with
] hand clasp You must come up to her
boUdoir, and | ask you TO spare her; she
! is very i'll"
To Adelaide's boudoir was shown, and
/ / must say here that the room was a model
of beauty, luxury ana refinement. In
all my professional eXperie nee in the
homes of wealthy women have never be-
I bnlI ., ~
| had been spent upon it and its mistress had
made it very gem OF artistic beauty.
! The entire ceiling and walls were frescoed
with white lotus flowers tinted with pink,
pale blue and delicate green Their foliage
was a mass of wocd.colored leaves and all
seemed 10 be growing from great Oriental
! jar in a niche at the side of the fireplace.
! The furniture OF the room was pale pink
and green and so luxurious that not an inch
of woodwork appeared in the entire room.
Everything was cushioned draped or uphol-
stored into a dream of softneSs.
Like many other young ladies, Miss
}, Adelaide had a fad for noticed as / crossed
the room that a great crystal globe hung in
the center of the room, and into its Oriental
depths Were reflected the images of other
crystaIglobes thathung in front ofthe divans
4
The air of the room was romantic with
Eastern lilies
Miss Adelaide's fad for Oriental things
and the power of so fully gratifying it
was explained later by the entrance of a
dark-skinncd woman servant, whom I re-
membered TO have beard that Miss Holly
wood had brought with her from India
As walked across the boudoir, treadiHs
upon the thick rugs, could hardly re-
alize that / was in the heart of my own
| city and not in some distant Eastern
boudoir
Mamma, >" spoke Miss Adelaide indicat-
ing her stepmotlcr with a gentle look,
tells me yoU,desire to question me about
poor papa S death. Yet l can add nothing
10 what you already know. Mamma has
told me of-of the missing bonds and money.
1t is very sing-terribly So" she
added with a shudder, covering her face
with one of her thin hands.
) 1T is not about your fathers death that
/ wish 10 ask you" / said, but about
the short, stout man who accompanied your
father home on the night of his death.
Had be any friend who answered that de-
scription?"
Yes" said she, "but / do not know
his name and he has long been a mystery
10 me 1t is certainly very peculiar l
seldom saw him come or go. but / would
hear a strange voice in the library and
then catch sight Of short, thickset man
walking away from the house i think
he must have had latch-key or that papa
let him in / know that his visits annoyed
papa greatly, for he was absent minded and
irritable after them Once some wears ago