The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-10-08
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Copyright, 1894. by Tillotson 6 Son..
III.

Constable Metcaf 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 knocker.
In a 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 a dim and
ghostlke figure. Then he heard a bolt
being shot back, the rustic of a chain
and h sound Of a key being turned in
the lock.
The hall door was then opened with
q swift, movement, and a young girl
who wore a white and terrified counte-
n confronted the policeman.
MY aunt! Mrs. Davorn - she gasped.
whats wrong, miss?"
She is dying-dead, l fear. l am so
terrified L an scarcely realize it. Will
you run for the nearest doctor? Perhaps
something may be done"
Constable Metcalf stepped into the
hall and placed his hand on the arm of
the terrified girl
Just a moment, miss said he.
Dut WV CIV ApSiAlS tiuiS, CI1St lie
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 l can scarcely realize it."
She covered her face with her hands
and seemed utterly bewildered.
perhaps 1t is only a fit or something
that way" suggested the policeman.
Now, you put on your hat, miss, and
run round for DR.. Percival on the Cres-
cent road. He's the nearest doctor, I
think. must stop and see after things
here. We may, a you say yourself,
miss, be losing precious minutes. Will
you direct me at once to Mrs. DavOrn's
room and then hurry for the d~octor?'
"Oh, / can't go near the room ~ sob
bed the girl. Il daren't go near it. l
am so terrified of death-and she is
dead-coldr
She burst into Il paroxysm of weep
ing as she uttered the last words.
Only just tell me where to find the
room. There. Is that a hat Of yours,
miss? Looks like it, l should say" tax
ing a hat from q small stand which
stood in the hall. Now, please, start
off, miss. III find the room for myself"
1T is there" pointing, "on the first
landing, said the girl, making a strong
effort to control herself as with trem-
bling fingers she put on her hat.
THANK you; now be off. And if Won
do chance to come across II of my
mates-I mean IA policeman, miss-you
might oblige by sending him along here.
Come now; the air will set you up"
And almost pushing Miss Rodney out
Of the house Constable Metcalf closed
the hall door and then mounted the
stairs at a bound.
At the top Of the first landing, facing
the hall door, was a room, the door of
which was half open. The policeman
entered the ROOM, which was furnished
IS a kind Of sitting room and sleeping
chamber.
In the bed lay a woman. her face half
hidden by the pillow. After a brief ex-
animation Constable Metcalf had no
doubt whatever that Mrs. Davorn-the
lady in the bed-had ceased to live. She
had probably been dead some hours.
He glanced a~nSiously round the room,
but saw nothing which would indicate
q struggle.
Looking at the face again, it seemed
to him as if the woman had been stran-
gled, but he could find no marks on the
neck. Then he moved to the door, and
grasping the brass handle he noticed
that the key was not inside-indeed,
that there was no place for it inside.
he drew back the door and found the
key in the lock outside. There was a
small brass bolt at the back Of the door,
hut 1t cid not seem to have been tam
pered with.
"Anyhow nothing can be done for
the poor Lady by doctor or any one else
reflected the constable, moving on
the landing and drawing the door after
him and locking it. NO wonder the
young lady was frightened. And now
for my young gentleman in the front
bedroom
The next landing was approached by
five steps. 1t was a squar landing,
measuring about four feet each way.
Opening ont on it were two doors, one
ldClHR Tic sldliCaSe ana the Otler Sltuat-
ed to the right hand side of the land
ing. A small winding staircase, consist
ing Of about a dozen steps, leading TO
two attic rooms overhead, turned off at
the left hand side Of the square landing.
Constable Metcalf proceeded to the
door Of the room directly facing him,
and trying the brass handle-an old
fashioned handle, similar in appearance
10 the one OF. Mrs. Davorn's door-he
found the dooT would not yield. The
key was in the keyhole outside, just as
the key was in the keyhole of the dool
which was nov closed upon the deat
woman.
Rather an unusual sort Of way t.
have locks fixed" unused the police
man. But there is no doubt our youn;
friend is right-that he is securely lock
ed in. Now, then" as he grasped tn
key and turned it slowly in the lock
''we'u see what he's got to say"
After the key had been turned the pc
Iceman turned the brass handle an