Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-09-30

dence that I have I should say it is q
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 .
case purely ON circumstantial evidence.
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 call a
'oircumstantial possibility For exam
pie. had the wound III this case been
differently located it might have been
'circumstantial possibility that it
was suicide. Second, we have cir
cumstantial probability such as have
here and will explain. Third, the cir
cumstantial 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 pistol?"
From the facts which have already
given you should say it was ques-
tion whether che was here or whether
some one else had her pistol. But !
found another pistol"
1.-The deuce you didr'
"And this one," producing dupli
cate Of the one already shown, "also has
q nnue-Harry Lucas. Now follow my
argument Squire Olney told MS that
these two young people are sweethearts.
The tracks indicate that woman play
ed tl1e spy on man who came to meet
another woman. The weapons bear the
names of man and his sweetheart Is
it not plain? Miss Marvel came to hear
what the other girl had to gay to her
lover, and he to her,"
"You are right" said Burrows cx-
citedly. land is it not equally evident
that the second woman is Miss Lewisl
Remember, the meeting was in her own
grounds
II am more inclined to think SO than
at first, though do not commit myself
yet. But there is another matter worth
considering. found Lucas weapon i'll
the snow at the point where claim he
was attacked by the dog. There is also
a little blood STAIN
''Ah, 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. think that came from wound
made by the dogs teeth. As the discol-
Grafton is visible, although somewhat
covered, l believe the snow stopped
shortly after. Thus l reckon that he
left about G O'Clock. The woman left
after the snow had ceased"
lyon think Lucas shot ut the dog
and droHped his pistol in the scrim-
mage. Do you think Miss Marvel shot
at the dog also?"
"That we must find ont. I have
shown you the probability Of the case,
ending with the idea that both of these
pistols were fired ut 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
squirrels story, had threatened the dead
man. They both came here armed, an
unusual thing for a woman Mt 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
ceiling, and the other may have reached
the mark"
"Why, this becomes more complicated
every minute. What about the pistol in
Miss Lewis room?''
"Ahl That is the problem. But,
come; we will 20 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 q 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 q trysting place
for that pair Of lovers. Here is another
evidence that the snow stopped shortly
after the meeting at the summer house.
for, whereas she came here directly, hel
footprints on this side Of the river art
quite distinct, showing that the SNOW
ceased during her trip over to this
place"
"She met a man here too. See hi
footprints. Could it have been the love-
this time-I mean Marvel2"
Possibly. But let us see II we Cal
trace him to where he crossed the river
if indeed it was he who did"
They followed the tracks, but the.
entered the woods just back of the ma
pie and were lost. However, a diligen
search along the river bank discovered
a track which emerged from the woot
and approached the river. They 60
into the boat, rowed across to q poin
opposite and found there the beginning
of the track on that side marked in th
diagram No. 1.
1.-The directness Of this trail from
this point to the house" said Mr.