Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-09-24

KNIFE Ga AreDzlet 1nalilac. be W ace
thing was inexpicabla
Yonder the door of a press cupboard
showed lines of whitewood through the
paint 1t had been repeatedly stabbed
Even the soap had not escaped There
it lay upon the washstand in a heap Of
thin shavingS What absurd fit could
have induced any one TO commit such
senseless acts as these? Had the room
been entered while he slept? To believe
that and explain the locked door aud
barred window was impossible. Some
body must have experienced a gloating
sort Of pleasure in cutting tho portman-
teau- That was evident from the way
in which it was done 1t was not sim
pie act of destruction The curved IN
cisions showed how carefully and DELHI
erately it had been carved as if the
knife had dwelt with a lingering JOY
over each sweep of its blade.
For some minutes he sat upon the
bed staring in perPlexity and bewilder-
ment at the evidences OF madness before
him. and then there passed f1eeting ex-
preston across bis eyes, and his face
was suffused with a deathly p;Llor.
A light was thrown across his under
standing. for he instantly started to his
feet, and the next moment his nervous
fingers were busiiy playing over the
lock OF al oaken case whose contents
became subjected to an intent and eager
scrutiny. A long black handled operat-
ing knife appeared to engage his chief
attention, for he several times felt its
edge, hreathed upon 1t, held it up to
the light Of day and contrasted its ap-
pearance with that OF others in the box
Two hours afterward DR.. Gardner
stepped out of his room, lingering for
short space at the door to reassure him
self that every trace of disorder had
been concealed, and in due time entered
the breakfast room, where DR.. Camp
bell and his daughter already sat
"Oh, Ned, I'm very sorry that your
room was so unpreparedl" was the re-
mark with which he was greeted by the
young lady as she rose to receive him
why need you be sorry at all, May?
I was quite as comfortable as / always
am, thanks to you
$50 1 have told her." broke in the
old gentleman without raising his eyes
from the letter which he held in his
hand, 'but like every other dear little
housewife she is never satisfied unless
her department rolls on with the I'M
swerving regularity of the solar system.
The maids forgot to give you pillow,
or something of that sort, and May has
done little else but worry over the omis-
sion since she came to breakfast. / fear
she worries herself about other folks
far moro than she does about her old
father" he said. with sly look at his
daughter.
well, / assure you, May, that 1 did
not notice the OMISSION" said his as
sistant.
"Of course you didn't Don't trou-
BILE about it just now," interrupted the
old scientist impatiently. Come and
help me with this correspondence.
BahP' he exclaimed, dropping a letter
from his fingers as if it had burned
them IF you find in that bundle any
more such atrocities as these, throw
them into the fire.
Thus requested, DR.. Gardner drew the
pile of letters near his plate and began
his examination of them.
"Oh, sir, what a princely Offer" he
said suddenly in a tone of establishment.
What is it? Another Of the same
sort?' asked Campbell. with his face
darkening, while his assistant devoured
the contents of the letter.
Eyes, suppose it is. An anonymous
correspondent, who will meet you by
appointment, offers 81, 600 for one dose
of the drug mentioned by you in your
evidence yesterday, and"-
TEAR it up. Stamp ON itl'' cried the
old gentleman vehemently.
Evidently a woman s handwriting, Z"
proceeded Gardner meditatively.
Tear it upl Throw it into the fire.
mani Don't handle it'll 1t comes from
perditionP' cried his friend, with in
creasing violence, and the young man,
slowly loosening his grasp, dropped the
letter upon the floor.
After a sharp pause, during which
DIR. Campbell dabbed his forehead in an
attempt to regain his composure, ed
ward observed in a quiet tone:
| "The whole bundle will no doubt
consist of the same kind of correspond
ence, so / will just take them to the
library and destroy them.
Eyes, do so, please. But, pray, finish
your breakfast first Of all, ;" replied the
old gentleman, rising from the table