The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-17
PART III,
MIR. STALERlDGEI is AMUSED, AND
STARTLED

"Your friend Mr.. Stalbridge. is a
Wondrrfu mar
So said Detective Johnson to me on
tn, evening of the day of the murder.
| was too deeply Interested in learn
ing what Stalbridgr had done to think
of protesting against his being called
my friend After leaving the scene of
the crime for the purpose of conveying
the dIeadfui news to my aunt and my
cousipsI had known scarcely anything
of thr progress of the case. The de-
tective had promised to report to me
at my uncle's house. and had been
imp;ttiently awaiting his coming. 1t
was abou. eight o'clock when he was
shown into the drawing room and he
responded tn my cage question with
praise of Stalbridge.
what has he ddne?" | demanded.
"fIas he found the murderer"
Not yet replied the detective, but
he Is working down TO him rapidly.
That man has more than the instinct
of IA bloodhound The hound must hunt
for the trail, but Mr.. Stalbridge knows
where the trail is without hunting for
it,"
Il should view such knowledge with
suspicion" said |.
"Oh. come now" retorted Johnson.
good naturedly, you are doing your
friend an injustice To say nothing of
his character. it is impossible to sls-
pect him of any participation in this
crime. Certainly nobody could suffer
more than he does by the death of Mr..
Davis
"You should see MIR. Davis daugh-
ter" | said, bitterly.
rs she taking it hard?"
II never saw such grief 1t is heart
rendipg. She was scarcely in her right
MIND when | saw her las"
"Mr. Norman is here. ! SUPPOSE"
mo. he is not here. We have been
unable to find him.
II had the same luck" said johnson,
some slight token of interest appearing
IN his mechanically eXpressionless
voice. 81 called at his rooms twice"
What for?" | demanded
II hardly know what for the first
time" he ,replied; but the second time
] was after this"
lie showed me IA stiletto with a Jew
cied handle. ! knew it well. having
sern'it'often in Norman's rooms, where
there was n rubbishy lot of quaint
weapons with afew that were interest
ing and valuable.
'ilohnson," said I. eff you let Stall
bridge induce you to drag Norman into
TINS case. you'll make an awful mis-
take
MIR. Stalbridge doesn't urge it," he
replied. Il think he suspects some
BODY else. But ! cant overlook Nor
man altogether. You see this railroad
business brings him into the case, and
II J don't hunt him up the newspapers
VIII jump ON me. That's what we're
all afraid Of you know--the newspa-
pers. Now. if you think | am likely
70 get jumped on worse for arresting
Norman than for letting him alone.
why III act accordingly. | haven't any
feeling In the matter: and as for know
ing who killed Mr.. Davis or having any
suspicion of it. my mind is as empty
as box full of nothing"
Hasn't anything been done expect
this foolish business about Norman"
! asked, impatiently.
oh, yes: there's the examination by
the coroner's physician. l haven't the
written report, but l can give you the
substance of It, Your opinion re-
garding the stab wound was correct.
II pierced the heart. Death must have
been almost instantaneous. That proves
my theory that the fatal blow was
struck while you stood outside the door
Ah. good evening, Mr.. Stalbridge."
turned just as the eauni. high
shouldered figure stalked into the
room.
Stalbridge, usually SO, excessively
courteous. gave no. greeting to either of
vs.. He looked like man with one
idea yengence.
Have you done anything with the
fragments of that document ?" ne de-
manded of the detective.
Mrs. Johnson has them, SIR" he re-
piled. 'She is far cleverer than any
man at that sort of work.
What is this dOcument?" asked.
"1'was just going to tell you about it