The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-21
PRIZE DETECTIVE STORIES. No. 10.

Whether this impression originated with
in myself or whether felt unconsclously
that Philips conclusions were tending
in that direction, do not know. Stlll,
i could not deny that this last bit OF tes-
timony was very material as clrcumstan
tiaI evidence. TO be sure, Billy Gough
was hardly half-witted, but, as the con-
stable said, he knew Ralph well enough
not TO be mistaken on question OF MS
identity.
have forgotten to state that, immedi,,
ately upon my discovery OF Fhiiiips
death, L had naturally telegraphed SUI
perintendent Sanford, and that, by his
directions, Inspector Ransom had come
mn TO attend the inquest and 10 make ar
ranRements for the removal of the BODY
TO New York. He had had little or noth-
ing to say during the proceedings, ana
had left him In the room occupied Dy
Phillips, while / saw the constable 10
the door.
AsI turned back into the hall, Mary
! was descending the stairs Her face was
agitated and | surmised at once that she
must have overheard Skidmore's parting
remarks, a surmise which proved 10 De
correct.
"What did that man say 10 you" she
asked, coming close
told her in few words, intimatlng,
as 4 did so, a hardly-felt doubt as TO ne
''He was perfectly correct, neverthe-
less, 1" she said, after short hesitation.
~ went out about O'Clock to meet JACK
by appointment and to arrange 10 go away
with him. j met him on the road, ana
be walked as far as the gate with me.
Ii was almost six O'Clock ana Jack
went back TO the village. He did not
come even as far as the house, and
know he could not have killed father.
As for your New York friend who was
trying to fix ii on him"
"Mr. Smith, may 1 have few words
with you at once?H came voice from the
stairs. NV niece started at the sound and
darted into the library.
Certainly, Inspector" i answered.
''Can / trouble you TO come up here?'
mounted the stairs hastily, and Ran
som drew me into the room closing the
door behind US. His face was more than
serious.
'Here is a sealed letter addressed to
You. - he said. "lt is Phillips hand writ
ing. found ii in the escretoire.
"Utterly astonished at this new devel-
opment, / took the envelope from him
and mechanically opened it.
"Pardon me, !" i said. Then read as
follows:
"Dear Sir-Realizing that nv 'fe must
terminate shortly, l take ot casion to com
NIT TO writing brief summary OF the
discovered facts as TO your brother
murder.
"He was killed by knife thrust in
fiicted from behind over the right
shoulder. This happened in his own
room or, at least, in the house, and the
murderer was a man admitted by ap'
| pointment. The charred letter in the
| CRATE was doubtless the communication
asking for the appointment and must
have advanced strong reasons to Obtain
1 "A. 4 n lsaI
| Ii came ostensibly from one of the rail
road gang and offered to disclose, for a
| consideration and under conditions in
| suring secrecy, the directions given by
some officer OF the company TO his subor'
dinates TO delay the work and TO harass
Mr.. Smith AS much as possible in retalia-
tion for his persistent hostility. Your
brother, feeling as he did, would have
been only too glad 10 get such informa-
tion on any terms, so he destroyed the
letter, as was doubtless stipulated for,
rose, dressed admitted his alleged infor-
mant secretly, took him TO his room, was
stabbed, partly undresed and dressed
again, carried out while 1t was yet dark
and placed or thrown into the cut, care
being taken that his skull should be frac-
tured as to apparently account for death.
Then the murderer, having wrapped ur
the garments through which the knife
passed, took them away with him. Much
of this Is in the nature OF a recapitulation
OF facts you already know. 1t is the sim
plest thing in the world TO see that the
murder was not committed by your
niece, your servant or by Mr.. Ralph. The
first could not have carried the body tc
| the railroad cut, and neither of the Others
| could have obtained an appointment al
such an hour. Ralph, moreover, would
never have used knife, though / admit
that, assuming the local theory of al
early morning walk, quarrel and blow