Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1900-05-03
ConN1ued from, Iast week,

Continued from last week.
why, the lightning knocked that off
when it struck the building"
And did the lightning light the gas
which was found burning?"
NO; Miss Dodge lit it. 1t grew very
dark before it began TO rain, and she
couldn't see to work without it,"
you believe, then, that she was
quite busily at work up to the moment
when she shot herself?"
well" answered the city editor, a
little uneasily, "she had been examin-
ing the cashbook.''
Yes, but the cashbook was over by
the window on Mr.. Morse's desk. This
gas flame, ten feet away, wouldn't aid
her much in seeing that"
We'll. don't suppose" said the city
editor, little nettled, "that she work
ec right up to the time she shot herself.
She probably had some bad moments
before she did it. 1t was dreary
enough fate she was facing, heaven
knows. and with nature in a tempest
outside and a tempest in her own
breast it was natural enough for her to
light the gas and try to make things a
little brighter round her during her last
moments on EARTH"
Il quite agree with you," returned
the professor blandly, that it was nat
ural for her to light the gas under
those circumstances, provided those
were the circumstances existing
1--WE a notion" remarked broker
named Stewart, who was sitting over
by the city editors desk, "that when
the lightning struck the building it dis
charged the revolver, which was aimed
right at Martha's heart; killed her ac-
cldentaly. something after the way
that cat killed Colonel Cromwell, you
know" nodding toward the professor.
Professor Gilman made no reply, and
the theory didn't seem to meet much
approval The city editor remarked
that the revolver would probably have
shown some marks on it if the light
nlng mad come close enough to dis
charge it and that it bore no such evil
dence of having been hit by the light
ming when he examined it.
III tell you what think" said the
young reporter, who, with usual mod
esty, had waited till the others had ex-
pressed their opinions. 81 think that
fellow who tried to rob Miss Dodge
about year ago came back to have it
out with her. This time he got away
With her. He was the fellow seen 60
iS up the stairs. He'd learned some
Say she was up there alone. l think
ga clipped in quietly and got round be-
II ia the cashiers window before Miss
IsDdSe knew it. | think she was at
lga'ork at Morse's desk over by the Win
gov Morse always left the key in the
ssYdesk And it would have been the
yeaSlest thing in the world for the fell
low to get il without her knowing it
While the thunder was making all that
racket. He probably intended to rob
the place, but just then the lightning
struck, and he had to get out. He could
have got down stairs and in the crowd
that gathered to see the fire without
being noticed.
i think they may have had strug-
gle before he shot her. Perhaps he
didn't intend to kill her when he went
in, but found he had to. She was a
spunky girl-just the one to show fight.
During the struggle that glass globe
and the other things We're knocked off
on the floor probably. The robber lit
the gas after he'd shot her, so as to see
better"
The professor alone had not express
ed an opinion. and the city editor said:
'Well. we've each of us aired our little
theories. Now. won't you give us
yours, Professor Gilman?"
The professor began deliberately
THEORIES embracing suicide, accident
through agency of the lightning and
murder by one or another person have
each been advanced he said $50 far
as they have been explained to me,
none of these theories seems consistent
with the observed facts-that is, with
all the observed facts. To begin with,
let me go over these theories and ex-
pose some Of the objections to them.
You believe Mr.. Porter murdered
the girl" addressing the chief of DO
lice, for the reason that he was jeal-
Gus of the attentions paid her by Mr..
Morse. 1t is true, jealousy is power
full motive and the cause Of many
crimes. You attach some Importance
to the fact that he claims not to have
quarreled with Miss Dodge, which
statement letter from him to her.