Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-02-10
Chapter XyIM.-;Conttnucdo


Chapter XVIII.-;Continucd)
-'tlcre mas been no silent assassina-
ton. She was not murdered in her
sleep. nor even in her bed. You al per-
,ccivc that that has not been disturbed!
She was evidently first struck while sit
ting i'll that easy chair. previous to re-
firing! She must have been struck from
behind. and. in starting up violently.
overturned her chair! And observe how
we can track her steps ~ the blood. as
she fled for life from the chair to that
door. from the door to the dressing ia
hle, from the dressing table to the Win
dow! See the prints of her small fin
gers on the curtains rs she grasped
them! Oh! here must have been Il fear
full struggle. before life was Yielded
here must have been heavy falls and
piercing shrieks that We're heard all
over the house. Did no one hear
them?" inquired the young magistrate,
in conclusion.
mo. sir: l did not answered each
one that was present.
Miss Powers. did you hear no dis
turbance in the night?"
''None. but Il very slight noise in
front Of the house below my windows.
which might have been made by Il cat
passing"
''Yet. Judging by these signs the con-
1lict must have been loud and alarming!
Where do YOU sleep. Miss Powers:"
In the room above this
do YOU sleep soundly?'
81 usually do: but last night I was
nervous and wakeful. or l should not
have heard the slight sound that I did.
1 am sure if there had been such 4
struggle us you speak Of I should have
heard it. for l did not get to sleep until
nearly sunrise
docs any one sleep in the rooms be-
low these?"
''No. sir; they are the drawing
rooms
''Who sleeps on this t1oor?"
t'No one but Col Greville and his
wife. that waS." andswcred Miss Hit.
with Il burst of weeping. for her nerves
had been quite overtasked.
"And you tell us. sir said the mag
istrate, turning and addressing himself
to the colonel. that you did not pass
tho night in Your wife's chamber last
nisht:''
Il did net" moaned Fulke Grcville.
"Will you tell us where you did pass
it," significantly inquired Erlingford.
I'm my own dressing ROOM"
present the singularity Of the circum
stance of your doing so. allow me to
ask-does your dressing room commune
cate with this chanlber:"
Certainly. though there is one inter-
veniny apartmcnt-my wife'S dressing
room: but all communicate by doors.
my chamber being the back one Of the
suite
''And you say that. with one room in
tervening between you. you heard no
unusual noise that night:'
''Not the slightest
"Humph! Look around upon these
signs of struggle and violence. and tell
me if you think such a desperate con-
fiict could have gone on without your
hearing it-without every one in the
house being aroused by it:''
NO: certainly not! The Eoise that
must have attended such struggle
must have been loud enough to have
aroused the heaviest sleeper in the IT,
mctest part of the building
Then how do you account for the
fact that neither yourself, who was re-
moved but one room off. nor any other
person in the house. seems to have
heard any unusual sound:'
II cannot account in any manner for
anything that has occurred in this faral
event. replied the colonel. in despair
Let Mrs. Greville's maid be called
up" said Mr.. Erlingford.
A messenger started in search Of her.
But here the elder magistrate spoke
up:
ut seems to mo. Erlingford. that we
are proceeding very irresularly in the
investigation Of this affair. There has
been a most heinous and atrCcous muir
der perpetratad, and we are proceeding
to examine the servants of the house,
by taking their mere statements, olnsup-
ported by oath. This should not be-"
81 beg your pardon, sir: you have had
more experience on the bench than my
self Pray take the direction OF the in
vestigation AID conduct it as you see
fit will give you all the assistance III
my power replied Erlingford.
Major Burns picked up the overturned
easy chair, drew it to writing table
and seated himself, saying to olc of the
.constables:
mix, You can play the clerk upon
this occasion. Take pen and ink and
make notes Of the present condition of
this chamber apd it's furniture.'
Mix seated himself pen in hand, and
began carefully to glance around and
carefully to take notes.
The magistrate. turning 1c the other
constable. said:
Hudson. clear this room of every in
lividual except my assistants and Colo
mel Greville. Then assemble all the
household in the next room. from
whence l cen send for each witness as
I may want him or her. Let no one
leave this house upon any prctcnsc
whatever
CHAPTER XZI
Hudson Immediately obeyed the COM
gNand of Major Burns, as given at th1.