Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-11-07


too many secrets, l suppose"
$50 you don't know how her. money
has been left?"
NO more than you do"
Here an Interruption occurred. The
door opened, and q slim young man
wearing spectacles came In. At sight
of him they all rose.
"Well?" eagerly inquired Dr.. Tai
bot.
Nothing new" answered the young
man, with consequential air. 1.-THE
elder woman died from loss Of blood
consequent upon blow given by a
small. three sided, slender blade; the
younger from a stroke of apoplexy In
duced by fright"
Good! l am glad to hear nv in
stincts were not at fault. Loss Of
blood, eh? Death, then, was not in
stantaneousY'
mo"
"strange" fell from the lips Of his
two listeners. "she lived, yet gave no
alarm"
None that was heard" suggested
the young doctor, who was from an
other town.
"Or IL heard reached no ears hut
Philemon's," observed the constable.
Something must have taken him up
stairs"
Il am not SO sure" said the coro-
ner, that Philemon Is not answerable
for the whole crime. Notwithstanding
our failure to find the missing money
anywhere in the house. How else &C.
count for the resignation with which
she evidently met her death? Had a
stranger struck her Agatha Webb
would have struggled. There Is no
sign OF struggle in the ROOM"
"she would have struggled against
Philemon had she had strength to
struggle. think she was asleep when
she was struck"
"Ah, and was not standing by the tn.
Bile! How about the blood there, theny'
"Shook from the murderers fingers
In fright or disgust"
There was no blood on Philemon's
fingers. No. He wiped them on his
sleeve"
"lf he was the one to use the dagger
against her, where ia the dagger?
Should we not be able to find 1t some
where about the premisesr"
HE may have buried 1t outside.
Crazy men are supernaturally cum
ming"
when you can produce 1t from any
place inside that board fence, will
consider your theory. At present I
limit my suspicious of Philemon to the
half unconscious attentions which u
man Of disordered intellect might give
q wife bleeding and dying under his
eyes. My idca on the subject is"-
would you be 20 kind az not to give
utterance to your ideas until I have
been able to form some for myself?' In
terrupted voice from the doorway.
As this voice was unexpected they all
turned. A small man with sleek, dark
hair and. expressionless features stood
before them. Behind him was Abel,
carrying handbag and umbrella.
"The detective from Boston," an
nounced the latter. Coroner Talbot
rose.
You are in good time" he remark.
ed. 1--WE have work Of. no ordinary M
ture for you"
The man failed to look interested.
But then his countenance was not one
to show emotion.
my name Is Knapp" said he. II
have had my supper and am ready to
60 to work. have read the newspa-
pers. All want now are any addition
al facts that have come to light since
the telegraphic dispatches were sent to
Boston. Facts. mind you, not theories.
never allow myself to be hampered
by other persons theories."
Not liking his manner, which was
brusque and too self important for a
man Of such Insignificant appearance,
Coroner Talbot referred him to Mr..
Fenton, who Immediately proceeded to
give him the result of such investiga-
tons as he and his men had been able
to make, which done, Mr.. Knapp put
on his hat and turned toward the door.
II will go to the house and see for
myself what there is to see there" said
he. MAY ask the privilege of going
aloneT he added, as Mr.. Fenton NOV
ed. abel here viii see that am
given admittance."
"Show me your credentials" said the
coroner. He did SO. They seem an
right, and you should be a man who
understands his business. Go alone II
you prefer, but bring your conclusions
here. They may need some correct.
ing"
"oh, win return" Knapp non.
chalantly remarked and went out, hav-
ing made anything but favorable i'm.
preston upon the assembled gentle
men.
II wish we had shown more grit and
tried to handle this thing ourselves"
observed Mr.. Fenton. II cannot bear
to think Of that cold, bloodless creature
lowering over our beloved Agatha"
Il wonder at Carson. Why should
he send us such man? Could he not
see the matter demanded extrnordina-
~ skill and judgmentT'
"Oh, this fellow may have skill. But
he il 80 unpleasant. I hate to deal
with folks Of such flshlike characterize
tics. But who is this" he asked az a
gentle tap was heard on the door.
"Why, It's Lotion. What can he want
here?'
The man whose presence In the door
way had called out this exclamation
started at the sound Of the doctors
heavy voice and came very hesitating.
! " forward. He was Of weak, irrfta.
BILE type and seemed to be In state Of
great excitement.
II beg pardon" said ne, "for show
ing myself. 1don't like to intrude into
such company. but I have something to
tell you which may be Of use, sfrs.
though 1t isn't any great thing ether
Something about the murder which
has taken placer asked the coroner
In q milder tone. He knew Lotion well
and realized the advisabiiity OF encour.
! agement in his case.
'The murderi Oh. wouldn't pre-.
sumo to say anything about the muir.