The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-09-14
CHAPTER XXI.
1.-THE MYSTERY OF wALCoTE MANo

1.-THE MYSTERY OF wALCoTE MANOR.
The murder of Pierre Turrian soon
spread over the whole country. 1t
contained those incidents which at
tract and hold popular attention, and
for some days following the discovery
of the body all the newspapers every
where dealt with it.
The disappearance Of Sir Jaffray's
wife, the garbled accounts of the man
ner in which Pierre Turrian had left
the manor house, the apparently COM
plete absence of any conclusive proofs
of how the deed was done and the So
cial position of the people interested
made 1.-The Mystery of Walcote Man
or, as it was termed, nine days Won
der.
Popular suspicion fastened on the
fact of Lola's disappearance as strong
presumptive evidence of her guilt, and
in many papers the fact was commented
upon in manner which left no doubt
whatever of the writer's opinion.
A hue and cry was started all over
the country, and portraits of Lola in
all degrees of unresemblance appeared
in all manner of daily and weekly pa
pers, while pen portraits of the most
conflicting kinds abounded everywhere.
IF Lady Walcote knows nothing of
this most puzzling mystery, why does
she not come forward and explain her
conduct" asked one writer. "It is not
we, who but point out the facts, who
do her injustice, but she herself in not
making public an explanation, sug-
gested another. 1.-The law of this coun-
try very rightly holds all persons inno-
cent until they have been proved guilty,
and 1t is far from our intention" in
simulated third, "to attempt to reverse
that proper attitude in the present case,
but Lady Walcote and those friends
who are advising her in this critical
time must see that she and they are ac-
cepting very heavy responsibility in
not clearing up exactly her relation to
this most inscrutable affair. I"
These were only some of the COM
ments, while the reports of every Incl
dent that could be got hold of were
greedily sought for and used, and at the
inquest small regiment of reporters
appeared.
But when all was said and done and
questioned there was nothing came out
that really damaged Lola except the one
fact that she had gone away under cir
cumstances which no one could under
stand.
In the smaller circle of those who
knew the facts great curiosity and COM
ment were aroused by the dagger and
the bracelet. 1t was the latter which
made the mystery complete, and In
spector Borderham himself was most
baftied by this. AS he said over and
over again, he himself had found the
bracelet. Not a soul knew of its having
been found until he got to Walcote
manor and took it out of his pocket,
and therefore he was most emphatic
that the only course was to accept the
position and look for the person who
had done the deed among those who
could have access to LEICESTER Court
For Sir Jaffray himself the time wa
one of the most distressing trouble, ant
his disappointment when Lola was no
! found md did not of her own free will
return to the manor was keen and poign
ant.
i am afraid she is dead, Beryl," M
said on the third day after the discov
cry of the murder. "She has mad
away with herself in her sorrow an,
madness. +"
There is nothing to suggest that
nothing more than there was two day
ago, replied Beryl, thinking secret,
that it could perhaps be the best end
ing for them all.
Eyes, there is the fact that she ha
not come back" he answered. "It
which heaven forbid, she did this dee
in her madness and any knowledg
came to her afterward of what she Ina
done, she would do one of two things
either come back at once and own tn
full truth or lay violent hands on he
own life. / know her.
There is time for her to come bac
yet. Suppose, as you say, that she di
this in her delirium. She may yet b
wandering somewhere in the same stat
and may know nothing of what ha
happened.
1.-THE whole country is ringing wit
news of the mans death. She could ne
fail to hear of it il she were alive.