The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1895-07-21
CHAPTER H.


sound of the piercing cry died away.
"What in thunder is that?' he gasped.
HAS the hall door been opened YETI
Constable Metcalf made no answer,
but squared his shoulders and stepped
back to the hall door. He pulled the
bell vigorously and then applied him
self To the znocler.
In few moments he heard the sound
of feet swiftly descending the stairs.
Then he caught sight through the glass
panels of the hall door of dim and
ghostlike figure Then ho heard bolt
being shot back, the rustic of chain
and the sound Of n key being turned in
the lock.
The hall door was then opened with
swift movement, and a young girl
who wore n white and terrified counte-
nance confronted the policeman.
my aunt Mrs. Davorn ~ she gaspcd.
What wrong, miss?"
"She is dying-dead, fear. l am so
terrified can scarcely realize it. Will
you run for the nearest doctor? Perhaps
something may be done. F"
Constable Metcalf stepped into the
hall and placed his hand ON the arm Of
the terrified girl
"Just "a moment, miss" said he.
''But we are losing time, " cried the
young girl, wringing her hands. per
haps it is not too late, though she is
cold--cold. My dear aunt, who went TO
bed quite we'll last night-she is dead,
cold. can scarcely realize it. "
She covered her face with her hands
and seemed utterly bewildered.
Perhaps it is only fit or something
that way" suggested the policeman.
Now, you put ON your hat, miss, and
run round for DIR. Percival ON the Cres-
cent road He's the nearest doctor,
think must stop and see after things
here. We may, as you say yourself,
miss, be losing precious minutes. Will
you direct me at once 20 Mrs. Davorn 3
room and then hurry for the doctorY"
"Oh, can't go near the roomr' sob
bed the girl. Il daren't go near it. 1
am so terrified of death-and she is
dead-coldr"
She burst into paroxysm of weep
ing as she uttered the last words.
"Only just tell me where to find the
room. There. Is that hat of yours,
miss? Looks like it, should say tax
ing hat from a small stand which
stood in The hall. "Now, please, start
off, miss. I'll find the room for myself -
ut is there, pointing, on the first
landing said the girl, making strong
effort TO control herself rs with trem-
bling fingers she put on hen hat.
Thank You; now be of. And if you
do chance to come across one of my
mates-I mean policeman miss--you
might oblige by sending him along here.
Come now; the air will set you mp.
And almost pushing Miss Rodney ont
Of the house Constable Me,can closed
the hall door and then mounted the
stairs at a bound
At the top of the first landing, facing
the hall door, was Il room tho door of
which was half open. The policeman
entered the room, which was furnished
as q kind of sitting room and sleeping
chamber.
In the bed lay woman, her face hall
hidden by the pillow. After a brief eX.
ammunition Constable Metcalf had ne
doubt whatever that Mrs. Davom-thC
lady I'm the bed-had ceased to live. Sh,
lind probably been dead some hours.
He glanced nuXiously round the room
but saw nothing which would indicate
a struggle.
Looking Mt the face again, it seemed
to him rs if the woman had been stran
/ gled, but he could find no marks ON th'
neck. Then no moved to the door, anC
grasping the brass handle he notice,
that the key was not inside-indeed
that there was no place for it inside
He drew back the door and found thi
key in the lock o1tside. There was
{ small brass bolt at the back Of the door
but it did not seem TO have been tam
pered with.
Anyhow nothing can be done 10
tho poor lady by doctor or any one else,
reflected tho constable, moving ont Of
the landing and drawing the door afte
him and locking IT, "No wonder tn
Young lady was frightened And nov
Cor my voanq gentleman in the from
bedroom !'
Tho mex. mding was approached b
Z /
Z measuring about four feet each way
% Opening out on it We're two doors, ON
{ facing the staircase ana the other 5ituai
S ed 70 the right hand side OF the lano
- ing. A small winding staircase consist
y Ing OF about q dozen steps, leading
Two nt.'c CONS overhead. turned of p
J. tho efs hand side Of he square landing
i Constable Metcaf proceeded 10 III
q doc. of tnc room directly facing hin
e and trying the brass handle-an oil
C fashioned handle, similar in appearing
10 the one ON Mrs. Dayon 5 door
J. found the door would not yield. III
: key was in the kcyhole outside, just q
y the key was in the keyhole Of the do
which was now closed upon the dea
woman.
~ Rather an unusual sort Of way
a have locks fixed, " unused the polio
.e man But there is no doubt our youI
Il friend is right-that he is securely loc
=, ed in Now. then, rs he grasped q
'e key and turned il slowly in the loc
:, 'twe'll see what he's got 10 say. -
= After the key had been turned the ?
=. liceman turned the brass handle "A
- found the door yielded easily. He ste
y, ped into Albert Steinworth's bedroom
e, The young man was standing at Z
,e window. He hurried toward Coastal
Metcaf as the latter entered the rool
'e and with a grave and anxious face
u asked
le "What ON earth is the matter Wh