Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-03-26
PART III.
MR. sTALBRIDGE is AMUSED. AND START
LED.

MR. sTALBHIDGE is AMUSED. AND START
LED.
Your friend, Mr.. Stalbridg., il
wonderful man."
SO said Detective johnson to me on
the evening of the day of the murder.
was too deeply interested lin learn
ing what Stalbridge had done to think
OF protesting agains, his being called
my friend. After leaving the scene of
the crime for the purpose of conveying
tie dreadful news to my aun; and my
cousin, | had known scarcely anything
of the progress of the case. The de-
tective had promised to report to me
at my uncle's house, anu | had been
impatiently, awaiting his coming. II
was about eight o'clock when he was
shown into the drawing-rocm and he
responded to my eager question with
praise of Stnlbridge.
What has he doneY' | demanded,
HAS 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 a bloodhound The hound must hun1
for the trail, but Mr.. Stalpridge knows
where the trail is ithout bunting for
it."
II should view such knowledge with
suspicion" said l.
"Oh, come now" rctortel Johnson,
good-naturedly, you are 'loing your
friend an injustice. 70 say nothing of
his character, t is impossible to sus-
Lect him of any participation in thia
crime. Certainly nobody could suffer
more than he does by the death of Mr.,
Davis"
you should see Mr.. Davis daugh-
ter" said, bitterly.
us she taking it hnrd?'
81 never saw such grief. It is heart
rending. She was scarcely in her right
mind when saw her last
"Mr. Norman is here. SUPPOSE"
mo. he is not here We have been
unable to find him."
81 had the same luck" said Johnson.
some slight token of interest appearing
in his mechanically expressionlesS
voice. 81 called at his rooms twice."
wv hat for?' ] demanded.
81 hardly knew what for, the first
time" he replied; "but the second time
was after this"
He showed me a stilctto with u jew,
cled handle. = l knew II WELL having
seen it often in Norman's rooms, where
there was rubbishy lot of quaint
weapons, with few that were interest
ing and valuable.
johnson" said !, "iI you let Stall
bridge induce you 10 drag Norman into
this case, you'll make an awful mis-
take"
"Mr. Stalbridge doesn't urge it," he
replied. 81 think he suspects some
body else. But I can't overlook Norman
altogether. You see this railroad busi-
ness brings him into the case, and il
l don't hunt him up the newspapers
will Jump on me. That's what we're
all afraid of, you know-the newspa-
pers. Now. IL you think l am likely
to get jumped on worse for arresting
Norman than for letting him alone,
why I'll act accordingly. haven't any
feeling in the matter; and as for knows
ing who killed Mr.. Davis or having any
suspicion Of it, my mind is as empty
as box full of nothing"
"Iasn't anything been done except
this foolish business about Norman ?"
| asked, impatiently.
"Oh, yes; there's the examination
by the coroner's physician. I haven't
the written report, but 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. All, good evening, Mr.. Stall