The sun., 1900-11-20

oUfb u otC uHDtfttft!I DuD GUIS IJOOT SJCCU-
ing man." he began.
glass of port, but that is all. The other
glasses have had no wine in them, nor
have the victuals been touched"
Seats for three and only one occu-
Pied" murmured Mr.. Sutherland.
Strange! Could he have expected
guests?"
"It looks like it. | don't know that
his wife allowed him such privileges.
But she was always too good to him
and l fear has paid for it with her
life"
NONSENSE! He never killed her.
Had his love been anything short of
the worship it was, he stood in too
much awe of her TO lift his hand
moments"
81 don't trust men of uncertain Wits"
returned the other. "You have not no.
ticed everything that is to be seen in
this ROOM"
Mr.. Sutherland, recalled to his duty
by these words, looked quickly about
him. With the exception Of the table
and what was ON and by it there was
nothing else in the room. Naturally
his glance returned to Philemon Webb.
II don't see anything but this poor
sleeping man." he began.
Look at his sleeve"
Mr.. Sutherland. with start, again
bent down. The arm Of his old friend
lay crooked upon the table, and on it's
blue cotton sleeve there was a smear
which might have been wine but which
waS-bl0od.
AS Mr.. Sutherland became assured of
this. lie turned Slightly pale ana looked
| inquirngly at the two men who We're
intcntiy watching him.
This is bad" said he. Amy other
marks Of blood below stairS?"
mo. That one smear is ALL"
"Oh. Philemon!" burst from Mr.
Sutherland in deep emotion. Then rs
lie looked long ana shudderingly at his
friend he added slowly:
Gle has been in the room where She
was killed. so much is evident But
that he understood what was done
there cannot believe or he would not
VIC olNNIJillsS uNtC llkG IL lOl. SOulc, lcl
us go upstairs"
Fenton. with an admonitory gesture
toward his subordinate, turned directly
toward the staircase MI Sutherland
followed him, and they at once pro-
ceeded to the upper hall and into the
large front room, which had been the
scene of the tragedy.
1t was the parlor or sitting room Of
this small and unpretcntious house. 4
rag carpet covered the floor, and the
furniture was of the plaincst kind, but
the woman who lay outStretchcd on the
stiff old fashioned lounge opposite the
door was far from being in accord with
the homely type Of her surroundings.
Though the victim of Il violent death,
her face and form. both of Il beauty
seldom to be found among women Of
any station, were 50 majestic in their
calm repoSe that MI Sutherland as
customed as he was 10 her noble APP
pearance, experienced ii shock Of SUI.
prise that found vent in these words:
Murdered! She? You have made
some mistake. my friends. Look at
her facet"
But even in the act of saving this his
eyes fell ON the blood which had dyed
her cotton dress. and he cried:
"Wherc was she struck and where is
the weapon which made this ghastly
wound:"
''She was struck while standing or
sitting at this table" returned He con
stable, pointing to two or three drops
Of blood on its smooth surface "Thp
weapon We have not found, hut the
wound shows that II was inflicted by a
three sided dagger"
~ three sided daggcr?"
"Yes."
81 didn't know there was such
thing in town. Philemon could have
had no dagger"
1T does not seem so, but one can
never tell. Simple cottages like these
often contain the most unlocked for ar
ticles.''
AIr. Sutherland thought of what this
rottage did contain and scrutiniZpd the
constable closely. But the latter show
ed no discomposure.
u caLlot imagine dagger being
among its effects" he pursued. "Where