San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-07-14
CHAPTER ii.

hurriedly out of the window as the
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 knocker.
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
ghostike figure. Then he heard a bolt
being shot back, the rustic of a chain
and the sound of key being turned in
the lock.
The hall door was then opened with
a swift movement, and young girl
who wore white and terrified counte-
nance confronted the policeman.
my aunt Mrs. Davorn I" she gasped.
What's wrong, miss?'
"She is dying-dead, fear I am so
terrified l can scarcely realize it. Will
you run for the nearest doctor? Perhaps
something may be done
Constable Metcaf stepped into the
hall and placed his hand ON the arm of
the terrified girl
| Just 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 Ny dear aunt, who went to
bed quite well 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 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,
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 to Mrs. Davorn' s
room and then hurry for the doctor?"
"Oh, can't go near the roomr' sob
bed the girl 81 daren't go near it. I
am so terrified of death-and she is
dead-coldl"
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. +"
sit is there" pointing, "on the first
landing" said the girl, making strong
effort to control herself as with trem-
bling fingers she put ON her hat.
"Thank you; now be off. And if you
do chance 70 come across one of my
mates-I mean a 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 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
as kind of sitting room and sleeping
chamber.
In the bed lay a woman, her face half
hidden by the pillow. After 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 anxiously round the room,
but saw nothing which would indicate
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,
but it did 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 out ON
the landing and drawing the door after
him and locking it. mo 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 square landing,
measuring about four feet each way.
Opening out on it were two doors, one
facing the staircase and the other situat-
ed to the right hand side of the land
ing. A small winding staircase, consist
ing Of about dozen steps, leading to
two attic rooms overhead, turned off at
the left hand side of the square landing.
8,