Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-06
THE ROBBER OF BRENT ROAD
BY HOWARD FFLDINGI
Copyright. 1896 by Bachelor. Johnson Bacheller)
PART
WHEN THE MOON CAME OUT.

PART /.
WHEN THE MOON CAME OUT.
The little hall smelIed strongly of the
law, though it had never before been used
for judicial proceedings, and the inquest
had been III progress less than an hour. 1t
had been equally crowded many times, and
by the same people, but most of them were
evidently strangers to the statutory flavor,
and knew not why the familiar place had
suddenly developed so many queer discom-
forts.
Entering in the wake of Detective Horace
PrebIe. ] secured an advanta geous position
just IL front of the two wooden benches
which held the jury. Chairs were mystic
riously provided for us. probably by an act
of oppression on the part of the police.
My star witness is here whispered
Preble
who is he?'' 1 inquired.
big fellow. with pompadour hair. on the
end of the second bench back of u.s." said
Preble. His name is Henry Dunning.
Lives on Brent road. not far from the Nor
risons- He's a wealthy and respected citi-
Zen, I'm told
He looks like an localized portrait of
Jim Corbett, the prize fighter said l.
w hat do you expect to get out of him.
Let me ask you a question first, re-
turned the detective. Did you come way
up here-into the wiids of what used to be
to hear me talk. or to taste the joys of an
inquest?'
Il grieye to be obliged to state that it
was the inquest which
Quite so. but you'll get a great deal
more fun out of it if you don't attempt to
anticipate the proceedings. Let a knowl-
edge of this remarkable case filter into you
gradually. Now, keep quiet. Emily Morri-
son is going to resume her testimony
Pretty. isn't she?'
Amazingly. She's Douglass Morrison's
daughter, / believe.
PTeble nodded.
There had been a pause in the proceed
lass. for the coroner had had his attention
fixed upon Prcble ever since that young
gentleman had appeared. He seemed to
expect a communication from the detec-
tive. but il speedily became evident that
Ireh!e preferred 10 play a thinking part
ia tbs drama at the outset.
The coroner turned TO the Witness who
sat pale ard trembling. her hands clutching
the arms Of the rough wooden chair in
which sine sat
Now. Mss Morrison" he said. kindly.
will You please tell us what you know of
this terrible AFFAIR."
The girl had evidently considered care
Tally what she should say, for she began
without hesitation. She spoke in a low
tome, but her voice was SO beautifully clear
that every word was distinctly audible
throughout the crowded room.
On Tuesday night" she said, Il re-
turned about IL O'Clock, and very soon
Vent 10 sleep. l was awakened by a flash
OF moonlight in my eyes. You will re-
but about midnight the heavy clouds were
blown away by the wind. and the full
mn came out 1t shone between the
binds at the window OF my room and the
light struck straight into my face
IT IS startling to be aroused in that
way. AMI l sat up in bed terrified 1 did
not know 1t was the moon. My first
thought was that some one vas nashins
= md laF
l VAS tally awake / remembered the many
rohi'er.cs about which there had been so
nJsh talk. ard l thought there was a
burglar in the room L was Just going to
s-igaIn for help when l perceived what
the Light vas
Then 1 heard the closing of a door
somewhere below in the house. and that
t-s%atyu-! me- again: for | mao the i'm
preston Of having slept a long time. and
II seemed strange that any one should be
stirring about at such hour. | Sprang
cut Of bed. and ran to the ioor of my
room. My brothers room is opposite mine
l called 10 him. To my surprise, he ar
81 eTet NE from the stairs He vas coming
Up He hai his OVerCoat on. and his hat
was n his hand Then 1 knew that he had
just come IN. and that it WIS the closing
OF ;he front door that / mad heard. | ask
Ell him ii il was rot very late. and he
told me the time
What was it," asked the coroner.
He did not look at his watch" replied
the witness He only SAID 1t was about
Midnight Then / asked him If father was
down stairs, for : saw that fathers bed
room door was open. and he always closed
AID 10, ked It when he retired for the night.
My brother said he guessed that father
was out. for he had seen no light in the
lower part Of the house. except the gas
that burns in the hall at night. Then my
brother told me to go to bed, and he him
Self went into his room.
"But / was anxious. You see l had
been frightened. and mad not recovered.
! did not like it that my father should
be out 50 late in this dangerous neigh
b0rhO0i Then so many people were be
ing assaulted and robbed on the street.
So | went back to my room, put on a long,
heavy cloak, and then went down to the
library. hoping to find father there"
The girls voice almost failed her at that
point. Her paIlor became CHASTITY. 1
thought that she would certainly faint.
But she controlled herself, and proceed
ed
Il pushed open the door The room was
dark. except that the moon shOne in, just
it shDne into my room. overhead-a mar
row stream of light making an oblong
pattern on the floor
She was not speaking from memory then
Her face was rigid; her eyes were cast
down. and ON the floor of that hall she
saw. | doubt not. that oblong pattern OF
pale light. broken in one terrible spot by
something that would haunt her all her
life
II saw my fathers face" she said. al
most in whisper; his face, in the moon
light. with that dreadful wound upon his
temple.
Il don't know what happened then, I was
SO frightened. / screamed and screamed.
II seems to me that / fell down beside my
fathers body. Then / felt some one lift
me U" and it was only a moment after