Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-12-22

ed to every eye on the discoloreo page
which Abel here turned uppermost.
Almost illegible," he said. lone car
lust make out these words: Forgive
me, Jumes-tried to use dagge--fCund
lying-but hand wouldn't-dying with
out-don't grieve-true men haven
disgraced ourselves-God bless That
is all"
"The effort must have overcome him.
resumed Sweetwater In voice from
which he carefully excluded ell signs
of secret triumph. land when ia 3es
returned. us be did few minutes +.
er, he was evidently unable to ans II
questions even if James was In In
dition to ask them. But the fallen dyg,
ger told its own story. for James pix.
ed 1t up and put it back on the table,
and 1t was ut this minute he saw. wth
John had not. the so bill lying there
with its promise of life and comfot,
Hope revives. He catches up this bfl
flies down to Lotions. procures lotf
Of bread aud comes frantically bad
gnawing it as he runs. for his own hu
ger is more than he can endure. II
entering his brothers presence, te
rushes forward with the bread. But
the relief has come too late. John las
died in his absence. and James. dizzy
with the shock. reels back and SIC.
cunbs to his own misery. Gentlemen,
have you anything to say In contrad,c,
ton Of these various Suppositions?
For a moment Dr. Talbot. Mr.. Fen.
ton and even Knapp stood silent; thell
the latter said. with pardonable drj
ness:
"All this is Ingenious; but. unfortl.
nately, it Is upset by a little fact whicp
you yourself have overlooked. Havl
you examined attentively the dagger Il
which you have so often spoken, ME-
Sweetwater?'
Not as would like to. but ! noticet
it had blood Oh its edge and was OF til.
shape and size necessary to inhict The
wound from which Mrs. Webb died"
VERY good. but there is something
else of interest to he observed Oh it
Fetch it. Abel"
Abel, hurrying from the room. sooh
brought back the weapon In question
Sweetwater. with vague sense OF dis
appointment disturbing him. took i,
eagerly and studied it very closely
But he only shook his head.
Bring it nearer 10 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 were u. H."
How did Amabel Page come by 6
dagger marked with the label ini
tials?" questioned Knapp. DO you
think her foresight went so far as tt
provide herself with dagger ostens
bly, belonging to one Of these brothers
And then have you forgotten that wheI
Mr.. Crane met the old man at Mrs
Webb's gateway he saw In his hand
something that gliStened? Now. what
was that il not this dagger?
Sweetwater was more disturbed than
be cared to acknowledge.
That just shows my lack Of expert
ence." he grumbled Il thought had
turned this subject so thoroughly over
In my mind that no one could bring al
objection against it,
Knapp shook bis head and smiled
Young enthusiasts like yourself are
great at forming theories which well
seasoned men like myself must regard
as fantustical However" he went on
there is no doubt that Miss Page was
witness to. even If she hos not profit
cd by. the murder we have been conSid
ering But with this palpable proof OF
the Zabels' direct connection with the
affair | would not recommend her ar
rest as yet"
"She should be under surveillance
though" iutimated the coroner.
Most certainly" acquiesced Knapp.
AS for Swretwater. he remained ST.
lent till the opportunity came FOR him
to whisper apart to DR.. Talbot, wher
he said:
"For all the palpable proof Of which
Mr. Knapp speaks-the j. T. on the
dagger and the possibility Of this being
the object Ir was seen carrying out oi
Philemon Wrbb's gate maintain thai
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 hel
had not been sufficient to prevent him
The coroner looked thoughtful
"You are right" said he. HE hadnt
strength enough. But don't expend too
! much energy in talk. Wait and SEE
what a few direct questions will elicit
| from Misc popn"