Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-09-16

pause in order to watch the effect OF
his words he noticed slight tremor
pass over her form, but it was barely
perceptible, and he concluded that she
was q woman of great self control. New
ertheless he detected an involuntary,
instantaneous glance IN the direction OF
the writing cabinet. Having gained
this point, he continues:
"We came here with the squire at the
request of your uncle to discover If pos
sible the whereabouts Of his assailant,
young Marvel" This time she showed
no emotion. GAS your uncle is dead the
squire has asked us to investigate. 1t
was while making an examination OF
the premises that we camo in here, and
again ask your pardon for our intru-
sion."
Virginia bowed, and silently awaited
his next words. Mr.. Barnes felt that
he must retire, but was determined to
venture once moro an attempt to learn
something from her. He would have
liked nothing better than to hold her
in conversation, that he might study
her manner as much as her words, but
he saw clearly that he could not force
her to talk long.
"Miss Levfs, am aware that this
interview must DO painful to you, and
If you will allow me to ask one or two
simple questions we will withdraw.
Receiving a sign that he might oon-
tinuc he asked: "Can you tell me
whether your uncle owned O weapon or
whether be had any cause to commit
suicidcp Some disease, for example,
which he may have thought inourable2"
my uncle did not own n weapon, to
my knowledge, nor do know Of any
thing that would have induced him to
take his own life."
"Did you hear & pistol shot during the
nightP"
II did not"
Mr.. Barnes left the room, followed
by Burrows Once moro in the parlOr,
where lay the corpse, he said:
"Tom, did we discover anything IN
thore?''
Yes, think So"
"Weil, as you are the younger at this
business, I am anxious to give you the
chance to think for yourself. I suggest
that you givo me your views and deduo-
lions from the different points that turn
up before you hear NINE
Every well. Let me specify what
think we gained by going into the next
room. We learned that we were not the
first to find the body. Miss Lewis ad-
mits having been in this room, so she
must have raised the window, which Is
especially probable since, as no other
window Is open, the room would have
been full Of the odor of the burned body
when she entered"
Mr.. Barnes nodded acquiesoence.
"She hid letter when we went in.
think she wishes the name Of her cor
respondent kept secret. By the way, she
must be woman Of singular tempera-
ment to find the dead body Of her uncle
aud then 60 into the next room and
write letter.
Exactly, and 1t may be Of the ut
most Importance for US to learn the ad
dress of that letter and its contents if
possible. Anything more, Tom?"
"Yes, but first tell me what it was
that you picked up from tho floor She
dropped it from her lap as she stood up.
Why did you keep itf'
II thought it was thimble till
held it in my hand, and then found it
to be-the empty she'll of cartridge"
"No wonder that you kept It. Now,
see this" Flo handed Mr.. Barnes q
small round brush, attached to twisted
wire handle. II took 1t from the wash
stand"
"This fits my theory exactly" said
Mr.. Barnes. "This brush is still damp
and slightly blackened. 1t has recently
been used to clean the pistol from which
this empty sholl was taken. That pis-
tol is in her cabinet, l am satisfied of
that by hor glancing in that direction
when che heard me declare that we are
detectives. Follow out the trail Of ac-
ton and you viii see why, with all
her self possession-and she has SO
much that I fear we shall not again
surprise hor into betraying herself-she
could not resist a hasty glance at the
drawer which she had just quickly
closed on seeing us. By her own admis-
sion she knew Of this murder before any
one, as far as we now know, except
the murderer. She retires to her own