Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-11-22

The attic? Why, you"
Il merely wish to see whether there is
iny evidence that it was tenanted prior
10 the murder"
"Oh, l am sure it was not. l have tn,
key in my room. l visited the attic Oh
the eighteenth and rummaged two trunks
searching for old letters. But come. Jen-
ale. will get the key on the aoo. above"
Five minutes later Miss Hattie unlocked
the attic door and the party entered.
The rays of the sun streamed in through
the low windows, lighting up the place
sufficiently for the detectives purpose.
IF you recognize the slightest change in
the location Of any article in this attic.
Miss DeRosette, from the position it occu
pied when you were last here, please note
it."
Il merely examined the contents Of
hese two trunks, Mr.. Sellars."
well, please do so again." said the de
tective a she raised the trunk lids.
1T would be impossible to note any
change in the contents Of the trunks, Mr.
Sellars. As you see. there is little else but
letters, papers, and odds ana ends, cast in
n a miscellaneous tumble, and everything
else seems as it was. 1t almost seems a.
though there was a tobacco smell pervad-
.ng the garret. That was not here be
fore"
There certainly is now," said Jennie.
Some one must have been smoking ci-
gars here, and quite recently"
The windows are all closed" observed
the detective. ut may have been some
lays ago. You notice no changes on the
top of the contents Of the trunks, Miss
DeRosette?"
"None. Mr.. Sellars. Stay! That leath-
sr one left Last, I remember. and my last
act was to cast In bundle of letters tied
with a yellow ribbon. It should lie 0n
:op. Why, see nothing Of it!'
Careful, Miss DeRosette! Careful!'
'Yes, but"
Miss Hattie had half Of the contents re-
moved from the trunk.
Here 10 the packagew she suddenly
exclaimed. "Why, 1t Is buried in this cor
aer, and am certain left 1t on top Of all
else. The trunk has been emptied and
rifled. There is no doubt of it,
SIS the package tied as you left itT'
why, no. l left it tied in a bow knot"
"Indeedv'
''Oh. Mr.. sellars, the letters are not all
aerer'
Are you sureT
Certainly, I am! This IL a package OF
etters that my father received from Her
man Craven's mother after her elopemen
with Stephen Craven. I read enough t.
ascertain that some of them were yer.
sad The outside one here ! let II the e.
|se1up1{ no fG6o1 skSuf4 0afsis;s
and In vIek. It II no longer here"
Let us empty the trunk entirely" said
the detective.
They did SO, but found naught in it save
letters and old papers.
Now this other one," said Sellars.
The contents was soon removed, but
, nothing of a startling nature was revealed.
Replace these articles, Hannah" said
Sellars, while we make the rounds Of the
rttic."
, Every nook and corner was examined
out nothing unusual was discovered.
IF cigars have been smoked here" OBJ
| served the detective, as the party neared
the stairway again, neither the stubs nor
matches have been left behind. Has Her
man ever visited the attic to your knowl-
edge, Miss DeRosette?"
! He has not. There is but one key, and
it has never been in his possession. In
| fact, there il nothing in the attic of inter
est to him, unless indeed, it be his moth.
er's letters, and he knows not Of them"
His father. believe, has bssn dead
some yearsf Where did he dier'
when Herman came to my father, bu.
| little more than two years ago, he stated
| hat his father fell a victim to yellow fever
New Orleans the year previous
"Yes; well, let US descend, and reques
you all to maintain silence in regard tc
our visit to the attic"
Il wish 1 might visit Robert in jail, and
assure him of my continued faith in hi,
integrity" said Hattie, as the party de.
scended the stairs.
"You must content yourself in writin.
| him, Miss DeRosette. On no account
| would l have you visit the Jail. Miss
Campbell can bear your missives."
"Oh, have already borne several" said
Miss Jennie, land a great comfort they
were to my poor brother"
II shall visit him this evening"" observ
| ed the detective; but 1 would not have
him appear too hopeful. And now good
| by. You may not see me again for somt
days; but remember, you have my pledge
! that no harm shall come to the one you
/ both love-"
! An hour later, seated in the private of.
fee of the recorder, Sellars was intently
going over the last will and testament OF
! :he deceased banker, word by word.
At seven o'clock in the evening he en-
tered the office Of Jailer Filyaw and was
conducted by that individual to the debt
ors' room, where an anxious prisoner, who
| had been informed by his loving sister OF
his contemplated visit, awaited him.