Evening star., 1895-04-27

had not been DETECTED slightly by the spine,
would have pierced the heart. Gen. Holli-
day had been dead very short tlme-cer-
tainly less thai an hour.
Considering his medical training, Hilton
was extraordinarily affected by this terri
BILE event. He was far less calm than l
was. and for that reason l decided that it
would be best for me 20 do what must be
done about informing Mrs. Holiday and
her daughter. Hilton begged me to do it,
speaking with pallid and trembling lips. 1t
even seemed to me, as l turned away, that
he dreaded to be left alone with the body.
We speak in the most ordinary way of
breaking such news that, to those who
will be heart-broken when they hear II. L
did my best, speaking to Margaret first, be-
cause she was stronger than her mother;
but l doubt if either could have suffered
greater pain at the most brutally sudden
announcement. Mrs. Holiday was utterly
Frustrated; and l believe that nothing but
her mothers dire need saved Margaret.
l have already confessed my prejudice
against Capt. Marshall, and it is therefore
with the greater pleasure that l admit
him to have proven himself serviceable
man in such an emergency. If it is in
him to face the perils of battle with an
equal calmness. he must be good soldier.
1t was under his direction that we at
last began to make all investigation OF
the tragedy. We had already telephoned
to the police of West Point.
Evidently the extraordinary circum-
stance-the seemingly impossible detail
W
mysteries-was the presence of Margaret
when the shot was fired. OF that fact
there could be no doubt. She told us that
she had come to the long room Immediately
after luncheon. Her father had come in
very soon afterward and had gone at once
to his desk. She must have fallen asleep
Immediately, and she remembered nothing
more till the moment when she saw me
standing beside her.
This is beyond belief" said Hilton. ut
is utterly incredible that Margaret should
not have been awakened by the report OF
the weapon. but it is even more prepos-
ferrous to suppose that any human creature
would have had the hardihood to commit
this crime right before the girls face, even
though she slept"
He might have felt sure that she
wouldn't wake" said Marshall, and l no.
ticed that his cold gray eyes scanned Hill
tens face narrowly.
The suggestion seemed to escape the
hysician but it came like a blow to me.
MargaretS sudden and deep sleep might
furnish the explanation Of the entire mys-
terry. Hilton sat next to Margaret at the
table. He might have drugged her food.
This neceSSitated the SuppoSition that he
knew that she and her father would be
together in the lcng room after luncheon.
1t was not impossible that he should have
known it. But II that seemed an obstacle
to the theory, another and more reasonable
one suggested itself Immediately. Mar
garet's sleep might have been natural in
the beginning. Then some one might have
come noiselessly to her side, as had done,
without disturbing her slumbers. He
might have caused her to inhale some so
poriferous vapor which would have dulled
her senses while the murderous deed was
done, passing away afterward without
leaving a trace upon her.
We three were silent while these thoughts
were passing through my brain. Hilton
sat in a chair and his head had fallen upon
his hands. Before him stood Marshall.
stern and soldierly. 1 stood at one side
observing them.
If Margaret was drugged thought, who
but this doctor could have done 1t? Is
heart for Margaret? Did she favor him.
and did he hope to win her when his rival
should lack a fathers influence in his IA
vor? Then there was the will; and Hilton
knew It's contents.
"They make powders nowadays" said
Marshall, (which develop extraordinary
energy but very little noise. l think 1t
possible that weapon so charged might
have been fired in this end Of the room and
not have been heard by anybody but the
| murderer. 1t is extremely improbable, but
we must not forget the fact. shot was
certainly fired in this room. 1t must be eX-
Where were your asked. with unin-
territorial rudeness.
He turned upon me with sort of mill
tary wheel.
II was in the parlor with Mrs. Holiday
he said "And your question reminds me OF
one that may be pertinent. Dr. Hilton,
from your examination OF the BODY, Shoulu
you think 1t likely that Gen. Holiday was
shot after Margaret left this roOgn?'
I flushed hotly and was on the point OF
uttering a sharp retort. And then suddenly
| the thought of the true-hearted. kindly
| man-the friend whom all of US had lost
came over me, and grief conquered resent,
| ment.
Gentlemen" said, 1--WE waste time with
| idle suspicious. Let us confine ourselves to
| the facts Of the case"