Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-13
MISS HOLIDAYS AFTERNOON NAP.
[Continued from page 81


Preble found a bullet hole. Five min
utes later he held in his hand the leaden
missile that had killed Gen. Holiday.
"Capt: Marshall" he said, you, as an
expert, VIII be able to tell US what
sort of weapon carries such bullet"
s'You know already" replied the cap
tain, with a sort of gasp. II can see
that in yonr face. 1t is the bullet which
the rife am testing carries. There is
no other like it."
I looked anxiously at Preble, and
saw, to my surprise, that he was not
regarding Marshall. He was looking
over the captains head.
l turned and saw man running
through the grounds. He was bent
double, and seemed to fancy himself to
be shielded by some low shrubbery. I
recognized Hanley, the butler.
You'd better go after him, Kelly"
said Preble, and Kelly obeyed exhibit
ing surprising swiftness of foot
He overlook Hanley before he had
reached the road which bounds the es-
tate upon the south; and in few min
utes the trembling servant stood before
Preble. The detective nodded to Kelly,
who instantly began to search Hanley.
In one of his pockets was package OF
twelve one-hundred-dolla bills.
snow, let's have your story without
moments delay" said Preble, sternly.
4 swear to you, sir" replied the but
Ter, solcmnly, "that 1 had no hand in
his death. I robbed him, but did not
kill him. It was this way: went into
the Long Room to speak to him. Miss
Margaret was asleep on the couch
The general also seemed to be asleep
with his head on his desk. And right
there IN plain sight was all that money.
I've been hard pressed, sir, at late.
There's been some US bad as nae at q
disadvantage and have used their
power. It's their fault, sir, that took
the money. I'm no thief at heart.
did it in sheer nervousness, at the sight
of what l needed so much.
''The general never stirred. He was
dead then, sir. I've no doubt, but !
didn't know it. l got away with the
money and hid it in my room. Then
when the murder was discovered l was
near frozen with horror. would have
restored the money, but there's been
no chance. Somebody has been in that
room all the time. So this morning,
when l learned that one of the sery-
ants had seen me go into that room.
and had told on me. l resolved to run
for IL That's the whole truth. sir and
Tn glad to have it off my mind"
II believe you, my man." said Preble.
s'It's never a good thing in this world
to be too smart, and it's your good for
tune that you're not nearly smart
enough to have committed this crime,
surprising that it is crime at all"
He directed Kelly to keep an eye on
Hanley and then we all went into the
Long Room. We found Margaret and
DR.. Hilton there Margaret greeted
Preble'with great cordially She said
that she felt much relieved at having
his advice and aid, for she had always
thought him to be gifted with an ex-
ceptionally clear mind.
"If my present theory of this terrible
mystery proves to be correct, said
Preble, 81 think we shall all feel great
ly relieved. It is only theory at pres
ent. and its basis is no more than this. >
He opened his hand and showed q
splinter of wood about an inch and q
half long, For my part had no idea
of its bearing upon the case. The othefs
seemed equally at a loss.
81 found this on the floor at that enc
of the ROOM" he said, pointing away
from the generals desk. ut was
knocked off the inside of the wall o1
the bullet which killed your father. Ii
surprises ne, gentlemen, that whe1
you had found where the bullet Wen
out vou should not have looked LOT 'is
place where it came in"
'But, Preble," exclaimed, you arr
not going to tell us that the murderer
fired through that wall and across the
whole length Of this room?"
"And q mile of open country oe
sides" said Preble, calmly, IN m,
theory is true. Capt. Marshall, Wi
YOU tell me whether l am correct II
saving that line drawn from the spo
where Gen. Holiday was struck oo"'
and extended through the wall on
font T., the left of that window woul'
nass close to your laboratory on Tn
other side of the Valley -,
Wa-sho1l,s forehead was wet wit
1T is true" he said, in low voice
.1am afraid that your theory is right,
lyon rlean," cried, that the ace
dental discharge of rifle which wa
being tested is responsible for this ter
rible calamity"
"You have seen the bullet" sal
preble. "and have proven the diret
t;on in which it came. The weapo
could not have been fired near tn
house or you would have heard the re
mort. The shot must have been acc
dental, for the distance and the impo
sibility of seeing into this room pre-
,clude the possibility of intent. 1 ca
see no other explanation. However
we need not be long in doubt. If Cap
Marshall will accompany me to tn
spot we can learn whether there wa
AN accidental discharge of rifle at tn
hour named.
81 may add" he continued, "that th
whole aspect of this case indicates tn
work of chance. 1t had not from th
FIRST the appearance of human devic,
m II