Evening star., 1899-03-18

ger, with a curiously wrought handle, met
| his eye. 1t had blood dried on its point,
and was, as no one could doubt, the pom
with which Agatha Webb had been killed.
CHAPTER XIV.
Gentlemen, we have reached the conclu-
| sion of this business sooner than expect
ed" announced Knapp. "If you will give
me just ten minutes will endeavor to find
| that large remainder of money which we
have every reason to think is hidden away
| in this house"
Stop a minute" said the coroner. Let
me see what book John is holding so tight
ly. Why" he exclaimed drawing it out
and giving it one glance, ''it is a Bible!''
Laying it -everently down. he met the de-
| tective's astonished glance and seriously
remarked
There is some fncongruity between the
| presence of this book and the deed we be-
| leved to have been performed down yon-
der"
None at ALL" quoth the detective. at
was not the man in the chair, but the one
on the floor who made use of that dagger.
But 1 wish you had left it to me to remove
| that book, sir
You. and why? What difference would
! it have made?"
Il would have noticed between what
! pages his finger was inserted. Nothing like
| knowing the details, sir"
II.
| He would like to have known himself on
what especial passage his friends eyes had
| last rested.
II will stand aside" said he, ''and hear
| your report when you are done"
| The detective had already begun his In
vestigations.
Here is spot of blood" said he. "See!
| on the right trouser leg of the one you call
| James This connects him indisputably
| with the crime in which this dagger was
used. No signs Of violence on his body.
| She was the only one to receive blow
| The rest was the result of Gods provi-
| dence."
stable.
ets or on either wasted figure the detec-
| tive continued, after a few minutes of 81
| lent search. 1T must be hidden in the
! room or9ook through that Bible, sirs.''
The coroner glad of an opportunity to do
| something took up the book and ran hur-
riedly through it's leaves, then turned 1t
and shook it out over the table. Nothing
| fell out; the bills must be looked for else
| where.
THE furniture is scanty," Abel observed,
with an inquiring glance about him.
Very, very scanty.' assented the con-
stable. still with that biting remorse at
his heart. There is nothing in this cup
board" remarked the detective, swinging
open door in the wall, but set of old
| china more or less nicked.''
J Abel started. An old recollection had
| come up; some months ago he had been
present when James had tried to sell this
| sat. They were all in Warmers store, and
| James Zabel-he could see his easy atti-
| tude yet and hear the off-hand tones with
| which he tried to carry the thing off-had
| said, quite as if he had never thought of
| X before, by thu by, have set Of china
i that came over in the Mayflower. John
| likes 1t, but it's grown to be an eyesore to
! me. and If any of you hear of any one
| wanting such thing send him up to the
| cottage. ! will let the old thing go for a.
| song. Nobody answered, and James had
| soon disappeared. 1t was the last time
| Abel remembered, that he had been seen
about town.
! Il can't stand it," cried the lad. II can't
stand It, If they died of hunger 1 must
| know 1T. / am going to take a look at their
| larder.' And before any one could stop
| him he dashed to the rear of the house.
The constable would like to have fol-
| lowed him, but he looked about the walls
| of the room instead. John and James had
been fond Of pictures and had once indulg-
| ed their fancy to the verge Of extrava-
| gance, but there were no pictures on the
| walls now, nor was there so much as a
1 candiestiek on the empty and dust-covered
| mantel Only on bracket in one corner
| there was worthless trinket made out
or cloves and beads which had doubtless
| been givsn them by some country damsel
In their young bachelor days. But nothing
! Of any value anywhere, and Mr. Fenton
| felt that he now knew why they had made
so many visits to Boston at one time and
why they always returned with a thinner
YaIise than they took away. He was still
dwelling on the thought of the depths of
misery to which highly respectable folks
| can sink without the knowledge of the
nearest neighbors. when Abel came back
looking greatly troublsd.
| Its the saddest thing ever heard Of"
| SAID he. These men must have been tlriy-
en- wild Ry misery. This room is sumptuous