Evening star., 1899-03-04


should be kept from those about them; but
that 1t was to be so kept was made very
evident to me; and, notwithstanding all
from to ns Mord to
away their secret. The money, which to
all appearance was the cause of her tragic
and untimely death, was interest money
which I was delegated to deliver her. 1
| took 1t to her day before yesterday, and It
was all in crisp, new notes, some of them
twfnties. but most of them tens and fves.
other roll of fresh money in town"
Warn all shopkeepers to keep a lookout
| of the money they receive" was DR.. Tai
| bots comment to the constable. Fresh
$10 and $40 bills are not any too common
| In this town. And now about her will. Did
| you draw that up, Harvey7'
mo. l did not know she had made one.
| often spoke to her about the advisability
of her doing so, but she always put me
| Off And now 1t seems that she had it
| drawn up In Boston. Could not trust her
| OLD friend with too many secrets, / sup
pose"
80 you don't know how her money has
| been left?"
| mo more than you do
| Here an Interruption occurred. The door
opened and slim young man, wearing
| spectacles, came in. At sight of him they
| all rose.
"Well?" eagerly inquired DIR. Talbot.
Nothing new answered the young man,
with consequential air. 1.-The elder wo-
| man died from loss of blood consequent
upon a blow given by small, three-sided,
| slender blade; the younger from a stroke
of apoplexy, induced by fright"
Good! 1 am glad to hear my instincts
were not at fault Loss of blood, eh?
Death, then, was not instantaneous?
Stranger fell from the lips of his two
| listeners. ''She lived yet gave no alarm
| None that was heard" suggested the
"Or, If heard, reached no ears but Phile-
| mons" observed the constable. Some
thing must have taken him up stairs"
| II am not so sure" said the coroner, that
| Philemon is not answerable for the whole
| crime, notwithstanding our failure to find
| the missing money anywhere in the house.
| How else account for the resignation with
| which she evidently met her death? Had
a stranger struck her. Agatha Webb would
have struggled. There is no sign Of strug-
| gle in the room"
She would have struggled against Phile-
| mon had she had strength to struggle. /
| think she was asleep when she was
| struck"
"Ah! and was not standing by the table.
| How about the blood there, then?'
| 'Shook from the murderer's fingers In
| fright disgust"
There was no blood on Philemons fin
gers. No; he wiped them on his sleeve"
| '1f he was the one to use the dagger
| against her where is the dagger? Should
we not be able to find it somewhere about
| the premises?"
"He may have buried it outside Crazy
| men are supernatural cunning"
| "When you can produce 1t from any place
inside that board fence. will consider
| your theory. At present limit my sus-
| picions of Philemon to the half-uncon-
| scions attentions which a man of disordered
| intellect might give wife bleeding and
| dying under his eyes. My idea on the sub
| ject is
| would you he so kind not to give ut
| terance to your ideas until I have been
able to form some for myself interrupted
| voice from the doorway.
AS this voice unexpected they all
| turned A small man with sleek dark hair
| and eXpressionless features stood before
| them Behind him was Abel, carrying a
handbag and umbrella
| 1.-The detective from Boston," announced
the latter. Coroner Talbot rose.
| "You are in good time" he remarked
eve have work of no ordinary nature for
you"
| The man failed to look interested but
| then his countenance was not one to show
| emotion.
| "My name is Knapp said he. "I have
had my supper, and am ready to go to
| work. I have read the newspapers; all
| want now are any additional facts that
have come to light since the telegraphfc
dispatches were sent to Boston. Facts,
| mind you, not theories. I never allow my
self to be hampered by other persons theo-
ries"
Not liking his manner which was brusoue
and too self-important for a man Of such
insignificant appearance, Coroner Talbot
referred him to Mr.. Fenton, who imme-
diately proceeded to give him the result of
| such Investigations as he and his men had
| been able to make; which done, Mr.. Knapp
| put on his hat and turned toward the door.
II will go to the house and see for my
self what there is to see there" said he.
May ask the privilege Of going alone?'
he added, as Mr.. Fenton moved. label
nere Will see that l am given admttance"
SHOW me your credentials" said the cor
oner. He did so. "They seem all right and
you should be man who understands his
business. Go alone, II you prefer but bring
your conclusions here. They may need
some correcting"
"Oh. will return Knapp nonchaiantlv
remarked, and went out, having made any
thing but favorable impression upon the
assembled gentlemen.
Il wish we had shown more grit and tried
to handle this thing ourselves" observed
Mr.. Fenton. II cannot bear to think of
that cold, bloodless creature lowering over
our beloved Agatha
Il wonder at Carson. Why should he send
US such man? Could he not see the mat
Ter demanded extraordinary skill and judg-
ment?' 'e
"oh, this fellow may have skill But he i
SO unpleasant. l hate to deal with folks of
such fish-lke characteristics But who ia
thls ne asked, as gentle tap was heard
o., on the door. Why, it's Lotion. What can
The man whose presence in the doorway
nad called out this exclamation started at
the sound of the doctors heavy voice and
came very hesitatingly forward. He was
oI I weak, irritable type, and seemed to be
IN state of great excitement
Il beg pardon" said he, "for showing
myself don't like to intrude into such
company, but I have something to tell Won
which may be of use, sirs, though 1t isn't
any great thing, either
something about the murder which has
taken placer" asked the coroner in a mild
er tone. He knew Lotion well, and realized
the advisabilty Of encouragement in his
case. ''-'
The murder! Oh, wouldn't presume ia
say anything about the murder I'm not
the man to stir up any such subject as
that It's about the money--or some money
more money than usually falls into INV
TIL lit was rather queer sirs, and +
nave felt the futter of it all day. Shall T
tell you about it? 1t happened last night
late last night, sirs, SO late that was In
bed with my wife, and had been snoring.
she said, four hours"
What money? New money? Crisn-
fresh bills. Loton?" eagerly questioned MI
Fenton.
Lotion, who was the keeper of a small
confectionery and bakery store on one of
the side streets leading up the hill. shifted
uneasily between his two interrogators. and
hnally addressed himself to the coroner:
1t was new money. I thought it felt so
at night, but was sure Of it in the morn
ing A hrand-Oayv cir