The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-07-13

.tracted tCW1rd ~ The woman moved
,farwafd to feeaeet. 1t, but MI. hain4s,
thinking |, ttAmble, with 4 quick
s.Allo% ms, stopped and picked Il up.
Hs was about 70 fVsurn IL when, snd-
denly realizing what It was, be looked
the woman straight in the eyes, still
holding the object between his thumb
and forefnser, and said:
Madam, pardon me. You are, ! pre-
sume, Miss Virginia Lewis9"
"Tbat ID my name. But who are You,
and why do you enter my apartment
unannouncedf'
II assure you that when we entered
we had no thought Of disturbing any
one, least of all lady. We came to the
house with Squire Olney on business
with your uncle. In the parlor We dis
covered
my uncle's dead body"
"Thcn yoa know
II found him two hours ago as you
have seen him. / was naturally shocked
and unnerved and have been in here
ever since tying to collect my
thoughts,
"Miss Lewis, wo are detectives,
said Mr.. Barnes, and making brief
pause in order to watch the effect Of
his words he noticed a slight tremor
pass over her form, but it was barely
perceptible, and he concluded that she
was 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 continued:
1--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 "As your uncle is dead the
squire has asked us to investigate. 1t
was while making an examination Of
the premises that we came in here, and
I 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 more 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 Lewis, am aware that this
interview must be 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 con-
tinue, he asked: "Can you toll me
whether yonr uncle owned weapon or
whether ho had any cause to commit
suicide7 Some disease, for example,
which he may have thought inourable2"
my uncle did not own weapon, to
my knowledge. nor do ] know Of any
thing that would have induced him to
take his own life"
"Did you heay pistol shot during tho
night?'
~ did not"
MI Barnes loft the room, followed
by Burrows Once more in the parlor.
where lay the corpse, he said:
"Tom, did we discover anything in
therei"
Eyes, I think So"
well, as you are the younger at this
business, ! am anxious to give you tie
chance to think for yourself. ! suggest
that you give me your visws and deduc-
tions from the different points that turn
up before you hear mime
VERY we'll. Let me specify what I
think we gained by going into tho noxt
room. We learned that we woro not tho
first to f1na the body. Miss Lewis ad-
nits having been in this room, 30 she
must have raised the window, which is
especially probable since, as no other
window 10 open, the room would have
been full Of tho odos Of the burned body
when she entered"
, Mr.. Barnes nodded acquiescence.
she hid letter when we went in.
! think she wishes the name Of her cor
respondent kept secret BY the way, she
must DO a woman Of singular tempera-
ment to find the dead body Of her uncle
and then go into tho next room and
write a letter."
Exactly, and it may be Of the ut
most Importance for us to learn the adj
dress Of that letter and Its contents il
possible. Anything more, Tom?"
Eyes, 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 yon keep it3'
II thought il was a thimble till 1
held il in my hand, and then I found it
to be---the empty shell Of cartridge.
No wonder that you kept It, Now,
see this" He handed Mr.. Barnes q
email round brush, attached to twisted
wire handle. II took II from the wash
stan9,"
(To BIZ CoNTlNuED)