Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-02-09
CHAPTER VIII

The inquest is to be held at the Mervyn
Arms, and jury has been hastily sum-
moned
"Such a clever man, Buddr' the farmers
and friendly tradesmen murmur over
their glasses at the bar. He's always
got his eyes in the right place. Trust
Budd to ferret out this mystery; he's the
man."
But they look graver and more doubtful
as the hours creep by and a strange whis-
per circulates, no one quite knows how,
among them.
"a lovers quarrel'-''Th last person
who saw anything of the unfortunate
man"-'Fragments of dress found near
the place where the body was discovered"
strange silence all this long while
sudden illness, when she'd been we'll and
strong enough on the day of the-disap-
pearance." SO the rumors run from
mouth to mouth whispered with bated
breath, and as the night advances they in
crease and grow wilder and stranger.
The process of Identification is we'll
nigh impossible; for not a feature of the
body is recognizable. In that horrible pool
the work Of corruption has been rapid;
and no clew, even in clothing or linen, is
Forthcoming. But then there is no doubt
in the mind of any that this body is the
body of the missing man, and the finding
of the hat near the pool, and the fact Of
Mr.. Charters having been seen in the
neighborhood of the spot being clearly
proved, the coroner declares himself salts
fed that this is no other than the long
sought for man.
Now come the evidence Of witnesses.
First and foremost appears Budd him
self, whose pale face and swollen lips
make his benign physiognomy less pleas
ing than usual. But his voice is as oily,
his smile as sweet as ever.
He relates the fact of tracing the miss
ing man to the almost unknown spot by
means of Lance Stapleton's retriever, he
the inspector-having furnished the ami
NAL with glove belonging to the deceas-
ed; then came the finding of the hat, the
persistence of the dog in keeping to the
pool, the dragging of the water, and SUBJ
sequent finding of the body. These facts
Lance Stapleton is called upon to corrob-
crate, which he does.
But at the conclusion Of his CURLY given
evidence, he observes that he has re-
mark to make-namely, that DR.. Dsane,
who is we'll known in the village, and per-
fectly acquainted with the missing man,
has expressed an opinion that the body
found is of shorter stature than that OF
Mr.. Charters.
Upon this DR.. Deane is summoned. He
repeats the statement he has made to
Lance. and with it another to the effect
that the evidences of decomposition IN the
discovered corpse are surprisingly great
for the lapse of time since Denzl Char
teris has been missed
ut looks as if it had been six months,
instead of six weeks in the water" he
says in conclusion.
Gould you swear that this body has
been in the water longer than six weeks"
asks the coroner.
The worthy doctor hesitates, fdgets,
and then says doubtfully:
II could not swear to it; but give it as
nv opinion. 1t is difficult to speak with
absolute certainty in case Of this kind"
'"Taking into consideration the state of
the water and the abundance of vegeta-
BILE and animal substance contained In it,
would you give it as your opinion that this
body could not have been reduced to such
an ,unrecognizable condition in the space
of six weeks?" persists the coroner
Il could not absolutely say it is imDossi-
ble," answers DR.. Deane.
Il beg your PARDON, SIT, Says the po-
lice inspector, "but a fact has escaped my
memory that is very important indeed.
In drawing the unfortunate gentleman out
of the water | seized one of the hands to
help. AS took hold Of it something slip
ped from the fingers. [ looked at it land
found it was a ring. l put it hastily into
nv waistcoat pocket, intending, of course,
to produce it at the inquest. Strange to
saw, it never occurred to me till this mo-
ment."
produce the ring" orders the coroner
eagerly.
ut is here. sir-in my pocket, just as
put it,; and Mr.. Budd hands it UP as he
speaks.
"Gentlemen,' says the coroner you
have heard Inspector Budd's evidence.
Are any of you acquainted with the seal
and motto on that ring"
One or two declare they are; the others
maintain a discreet silence.
''Then it is my duty to inform you, Mr..
Buod that this is indeed the most impor-
tane evidence you could have supplied.
The ring bears the seal and motto of the
Charters family"
CTo be continued)
The Lost Chord, Without Music.