The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-09-22

it till it has left her custody, and be
sure she will be very careful how she
forwards it. -
eff we could get the pistol, might
we not be able to find out who is the
owner of it? That would be something
perhaps.
"Assuredly. Besides. it is probable
that though cleaned, one chamber may
still be empty. We have the shell and
evidence Of the recent cleaning. AS
soon as Miss Lewis leaves the house, as
she will do to start her letter on it's
; way, I will get the pistol from her
cabinet. y
Is there anything more that we can
discover in this room?'
"Let Us lock. %
To approach the body they walked
around a small table, which stood in
front Of the fireplace. On this were scat
tered loosely some papers. A drawer
stood partly open, and large cut glass
inkwell uncovered. Mr.. Barnes glanced
at these things as he passed, and his
eye was attracted by half sheet Of pa
per, with bit of writing. which pro-
truded from under the other clean
sheets. He picked it up, more from Gu
tiosity than interest, but after he had
read it his manner showed at once that
he thought it important Burrows look
ed at him inquiringly, but for a mo-
ment Mr.. Barnes did not heed him. He
was looking at the table before him
and seemed studying the situation. At
length he spoke:
"Miss Lewis has destroyed or re-
moved another clew See this" He
handed the piece of paper to Burrows,
who took it and read as follows:
eff I am dead IN the morning, my
murderer is''-
The word ''is'' was followed by a
huge blot, as though the pen had splut-
tered at that point. Burrows looked at
Mr.. Barnes in silence, and the latter
continued:
"Mr. Lewis was not killed outright.
He even saw and recognized his MUIR
derer. He attempted to warn his friends
and insure justice. Fearing death be-
fore aid would reach him, he wrote
that. Evidently excited, perhaps al
ready growing weak, as he reached the
name Of his assailant his hand trem-
bled, his pen spluttered and he threw
it from him. Here it is, lying on a
piece of pager, which it has blotted
where it fell. However, he essayed
again, and this time he succeeded, for
see, he has placed the second pen care
fully, the point on the edge Of the ink
well, proving that he finished his note
of warning. Miss Lewis undoubtedly
found it. She read the name. Whose
was it? Her own or Marvel's? If any
other, why should she remove it:''
"What would Miss Lewis do if you
showed her this paper and demanded
the other?''
"I cannot tell. She might deny hav-
ing it. She might admit taking it and
refuse to yield possession of it. She
might treat me with scorn and deny
my right to question her on the subject
at all. However, may conclude to
test her. / may ask her the question. :"
Burrows stood thinking and looking
down, when suddenly he noticed some
thing on the floor which attracted his
attention He stopped to examine it
and then called Mr.. Barnes, who was
still absorbed in the table and its con-
tents Mr. Barnes joined him and
looked at what Burrows picked up
some bits Of plastering. Beth simulta-
neously locked upward and saw just
over their heads q small hole in the
ceiling.
1.-The mark of ballet" said Mr..
Barnes. He walked over to the Win
dow, where he stood for c minute, alter
nately looking out and at the bullet
hole, in the plasteriug. '"That shot
came from without, passed through this
window and struck as we see overhead.
The summer house there is just III the
line. Evidently there was more than
one shot fred, for that ball could not
have passed entirely through the body
and then have continued upward. y
"Shall we examine the grounds
now?" said Burrows.
eyes. l think we have learned ali
we can at present in here. y
Followed by his companion, Mr.
Barnes then led the way out Of the
house.
no BE CONTINUED