The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-08-02


Burrows. "You see, have thougbt 30
that argue this way: Mr.. Lewis waa
standing in the room when he wac
struck by the ball. He turned ond
threw up the sash, endeavoring IN dis
cover the identity of his assailant
Then he staggered from the windo,,,
and fell few feet away, as we fnd
him, with his head in the fireplace. -
80 Ii is, Of course, possible. But as 10
is i'll his nightdress it is curious tbot
he should have been in this room wbero
an assassin, whose presence he did NOT
suspect, could fire upon him. There is
another chance, which is that some ono
has opened that window this morniny
Now, looking out, what do we seegn
81 summer house directly opposito 3,
said Burrows. "A most oonvenient
place for man to hide in and shoot his
victim as he passed in front of a lipbt
III IA room at night +"
81 See" said Mr.. Barnes, "wbot wo
may be most grateful for, and that il
fresh snow. We must extend our invos
tigation presently i'm the direction ~
the summer house and search for foot.
prints"
He then turned toward the BODY. II
was lying on the right side, thus plain.
ly exposing a mass of blood which snr-
rounded the wound. The burned con.
dition of the head, owing to its proxim.
ity to- the fire, has been mentioned
There was upon one finger massive
gold ring set with diamonds, which
ring, Mr.. Barnes thought, would nee
essarily be known to the dead mans
family, and besides he found the name
"Jobn Lewis" embroidered upon the
nightdress.
Evidently not the work of bur-
glar," he remarked, pointing to the
diamond ring.
"No," replied Burrows, "for here OH
the mantel are handsome gold watch
and chain"
"Notice, Tom, that he is in his night
dress. In connection with later discov-
cries that may prove a very significant
fact. At present it puzzles me, for
cannot see why a man should be so
dressed in his parlor and murdered
without sign of any struggle. The
latter fact seems to strengthen your the
ory."
"There is door," said Burrows.
"Let us see if it leads into his bedroom.
In that event, he may have come here
for any trivial purpose and so have af-
forded the murderer the opportunity for
which he was waiting"
The younger man led the way, fol-
lowed by Mr.. Barnes. He opened the
door and both entered, when they at
once started back surprised. A young
woman was sitting at writing desk,
a small upright cabinet. with one of the
drawers open. This she hastily closed
as the two men appeared There was
also~a letter, sealed and addressed, ly-
ing on the desk, which she neryously
concealed in the bosom of her dress as
she hurriedly rose and turned toward
the intruders. This last motion caused q
small object to drop from her lap and
roll half way across the room, where it
rested. The eyes of all three Were at
tracted toward it. The woman moved
forward to recover it, but Mr.. Barnes,
thinking it thimble, with quick
ALLOW me-, stopped and picked it up.
He was about to return it when, sud
denly realizing what it was, he looked
the woman straight in the eyes, still
holding the object between his thumb
and foretinger, and said:
Madam, pardon me. You are, | pre-
sumo, Miss Virginia Lewis?'
THAT is my name. But who are you,
and why do you enter my apartment
unannounced?"
Il assure you that when we entered
we had no thought of disturbing any
one, least of all a lady. We came to the
house with Squire Olney OH business
with your uncle. In the parlor we dis
covered'-
My uncle's dead body"
"Then you know
Il found him two hours ago as you
have seen him. was naturally shocked
and unnerved and have been in here
ever since trying to collect my
thoughts. -
Miss Lewis, we are detectives, "
said Mr.. Barnes, and making brief
pause in order to watch the effect Of
his words he noticed slight tremor
pass over her form, but it was barely
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 continues:
I'VE came here with the squire at the
request of your uncle to discover If pos
'ible 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
again ask your pardon for our intru-
sion. ;"
Virginia bowed, and silently awaited
MS next words. Mr.. Barnes felt that
ne must retire, but was determined to
venture once more aI attempt &c learn
from her H. WoE.a have
liked nothing better th..l 20 lo,d her