Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-05

will amply satisfy you that this one at
least of my conclusions is correct Open
the Bible, Abel; open 1t not to shake 1t
for what will never fall out from be-
tween its leaves, but to find in the 81
BILE itself the lines have declared to
you he wrote rs a dying legacy with
that tightly clutched pencil. Have you
found them?'
mo" was Abels perple3ed retort.
Il cannot see any sign of writing OH
fly leaf or margin
Are those the only blank places in
the sacred book? Search the leaves
devoted to the family record. Now,
what do you find thereY'
Knapp, who was losing some of his
Indifference, drew nearer and read for
himself the scrawl which now appear
ed to every eye on the discolored page
which Abel here turned uppermost.
almost illegible," he said. zone can
Just make out these words: Forgive
me, James tried to use dagger-found
lying-but hand wouldn't-dying with
Out-don't grieye true men-haven't
disgraced ourselves-God bless That
is all.p
1.-THE effort must have overcome him."
resumed Sweetwater in voice from
which he carefully excluded all signs
of secret triumph, "and when James
returned, as he did few minutes lat
err, he was evidently unable to answer
questions even il James was in a con-
dition to ask them. But the fallen dag
ger told its own story, for James pick
I'd it up and put 1t back on the table,
and 1t was at this minute he saw, what
John had not, the $40 bill lying there
with Its promise of life and comfort.
Hope reyiyes. He catches up this bill,
dies down to Loton's, procures loaf
Of bread and comes frantically back,
gnawing 1t as he runs, for his own hun
ger Is more than he can endure. Re
entering his brothers presence, he
rushes forward with the bread. But,
the relief has come too late. John has
died in his absence, and James, dizzy
3 with the shock, reels back and sue
cumbs to his own misery. Gentlemen,
have you anything to say in contradic-
tion Of these various suppositions?'
For moment DR.. Talbot, Mr.. Fen
ton and even Knapp stood silent; then
the latter said, with pardonable dry
ness:
"All this is ingenious; but, unfortu-
nately, 1t is upset by little fact which
you yourself have overlooked. Have
you examined attentively the dagger of
which you have 80 often spoken, Mr..
Sweetwater?"
mot as would like to, but noticed
It had blood on its edge and was of the
shape and size necessary to inflict the
wound from which Mrs. Webb died.
very good, but there is something
else Of interest to be observed on it.
Fetch 1t, Abel"
Abel, hurrying from the room, soon
brought back the weapon in question.
Sweetwater, with vague sense Of dis
appointment disturbing him, took it
I eagerly and studied it very closely.
But he only shook his head.
Bring it nearer to the light" sug-
gested Knapp, land examine the little
scroll near the top of the handle"
Sweetwater did SO and at once chang
ed color. In the midst Of the scroll
were two very small but yet perfectly
distinct letters. They We're 81. a."
How did Amabel Page come by a
dagger marked with the label mi
tialsp questioned Knapp. do you
think her foresight went so far as to
provide herself with dagger ostensi-
bly, belonging to one of these brothers?
And then have you forgotten that when
Mr.. Crane met the old man at Mrs.
Webb's gateway he saw in his hand
something that glistened? Now, what
was that If not this dagger?'
Sweetwater was more disturbed than
he cared to acknowledge.
THAT just shows my lack Of expert
ence," he grumbled. ~ thought had
turned this subject so thoroughly over
In my mind that no one could bring an
objection against it."
Knapp shook his head and smiled.
young enthusiasts like yourself are
great at forming theories which well
seasoned men like myself must regard
as fantastical. However" he went on,
there is no doubt that Miss Page was
) witness to-. even il she has not profit
ed by, the murder we have been consid-
ering. But with this palpable proof of
the labels direct connection with the
affair would not recommend her ar
rest as yet"
"She should be under surveillance,
though" intimated the coroner.
"Most certainly" acquiesced Knapp.
AS for Sweetwater, he remained 81
lent till the opportunity came for him
to whisper apart to DR.. Talbot, when
he said:
For all the palpable proof of which
Mr.. Knapp speaks-the .. a. on the
dagger and the possibility of this being
'the object he was seen carrying out of
Philemon Webb's gate-I maintain that
this old man in his moribund condition
never struck the blow that killed
Agatha Webb. He hadn't strength
enough even If his lifelong love for her
had not been sufficient to prevent him"
The coroner looked thoughtful.
"You are right" said he. HE hadn't
strength enough. But don't expend too
much energy in talk. Wait and see
what a few direct questions will elicit
from Miss Page"