Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-30

What, then, do you think Of this?'' He
handed Burrows beautiful silver
mounted revolver, in the chambers Of
which were four loaded cartridges and
one empty cartridge. The weapon had
apparently been recently fired. Burrows
looked at it a moment in amazement
and then asked:
"Where did you find this?''
"Outside of the summer house, lying
in the snow, just where I claim that
the woman stopped. Now you see what
I meant when said could guess why
she did so. But you have not seen all
yet. There is name on it. Read
Burrows examined the butt more at
tentively, and there saw piece Of plate
let into the stock, and neatly engraved
thereon the name, "Alice Marvel"
"Mr. Barnes, what do you make OF
that?'
II think that some one had that pistol
last night and fired it. From other evil
dence that I have I should say it is
circumstantial probability that Miss
Marvel herself was here last night and
fred her pistol.
"This is the second time you have
used that phrase, 'circumstantial prob
ability Won't you explain it?"
Certainly. We are considering a
case purely on circumstantial evidence.
I have all my life made specially Of
such. and divide it into three grades,
according to the logical deduction which
it indicates. The first Of these I call a
'circumstantial possibility For exam
pie, had the wound in this case been
differently located it might have been
a 'circumstantial possibility that it
was suicide. Second, we have cir
oumstantial probability such as have
here and will explain. Third, the cir
oumstantial proof where the attendant
facts leave absolutely no room for
doubt is in my experience rare thing"
II understand. Now will you tell me
why you think it circumstantial prob
ability that Miss Marvel was here and
fred the pistol2'
"From the facts which have already
given you I should say it was ques-
tion whether she was here or whether
some one else had her pistol. But !
found another pistol."
"The deuce you didp'
"And this one," producing dupli-
cate of the one already shown, "also has
a name-Harry Lucas. Now follow my
argument. Squire Olney told US that
these two young people are sweethearts.
The tracks indicate that a woman play
ed the spy on man who came to meet
another woman. The weapons bear the
names Of a man and his sweetheart. Is
it not plain? Miss Marvel came to hear
hat the other girl had to say to her
i YER, and he to her."
"You are right" said Burrows e1-
citedly, "and is it not equally evident
that the second woman is Miss Lewis2
Remember, the meeting was in her own
grounds"
II am more inclined to think 80 than
at first, though I do not commit myself
yet. But there is another matter worth
considering. found Lucas weapon in
the snow at the point where I claim he
was attacked by the dog. There is also
q little blood STAIN
"Ah, I see, you argue that he drew
his pistol and fred at the dog, and 80
account for the empty shell there?"
"Yes. But the blood stain is impor-
tant. I think that came from wound
made by the dogs teeth. As the discol-
oration is visible, although somewhat
covered, I believe the snow stopped
shortly after. Thus I reckon that he
left about O'Clock. The woman left
after the snow had ceased"
"You think Lucas shot at the dog
and dropped his pistol in the scrim-
mage. Do you think Miss Marvel shot
at the dog also?'
"That we must find out I have
shown you the probability Of the case,
ending with the idea that both of these
pistols were fired at the dog. But there
is another aspect which you must not
neglect, and that is the 'circumstantial
possibility Remember that both Lu-
cas- and this girl, according to the
squire's story, had threatened the dead
man. They both came here armed, an
unusual thing for woman at all
events. Suppose that Lucas saw Lewis
through the window and shot at him.
The noise may have attracted the dog,
and thus that contest may have occur
red after the discharge of the weapon,
instead of before. Further, suppose that,
seeing that her lover had left, the girl
had also taken aim at the same target.
One shot may have made the hole in the
seiling, and the other may have reached
the mark"
"Why, this becomes more complicated
every minute. What about the pistol in
Miss Lewis room?'
"Ah! That is the problem. But,
come; we will 90 across the river"
Thereupon they proceeded to the boat
landing, marked L in the diagram, and
crossed in light rowboat, which they
found fastened at that place. On the
other bank they found continuation of
the footprints marked No. 2. These led
to the base of gigantic maple (R),
around which seat of boards had been
arranged. Mr.. Barnes examined the
spot critically and finally said:
II guess it was Miss Lewis after all.
See, this tree is covered with carved
monograms of her initials and Marvel's.
Evidently this has been trysting place
for that pair Of lovers. Here is another
evidence that the snow stopped shortly
after tho meeting at the summer house,