Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-11-21

about the window lodges and at tie
base of the sunken and well nigh top
ping chimney. The moon flooding the
roof showed up all these imperfec-
tons with pitiless insistence, and the
torn edges Of the green paper shades
that half concealed the rooms within
were plainly to be seen n well ~ the
dismnntled knocker which hung BY
one nail to the old cracked door. The
vision of Knapp, with his ear hid
against this door, added to the fsrlorn
and sinister aspect Of the scene and
gave to the constable, who remembered
the brothers in their palmy days, when
they were the life and pride of the
town, by no means agreeable sensa-
ton as he advanced toward the de-
tective and asked him what they
should do now.
Break down the door," was the I'M
compromising reply. "Or wait! The
windows of country houses are seldom
fastened. Let me see II cannot en-
ter by some one of them"
"Better not" said the coroner, with
considerable feeling. LET us exhaust
all other means first" And he took
hold Of the knob of the door to shake
it, when to his surprise it turned, and
the door opened. It had not been
locked.
Rather taken aback by this, he hesi-
tated. But Knapp showed no such
scruples. Without waiting for any
mans permission he glided in and step
ped cautiously, but without any delay,
into room the door Of which stood
wide open before him. The constable
was about to follow when he saw
Knapp come stumbling back with q
face winter than his own.
"Devillsh work." he muttered and
drew the others in to sec.
Never will any of them forget that
sight. They had not as yet recovered
any more than the mass Of their towns
folk from the shock Of seeing Agatha
Webb lying In her blood on the old
horsehair sofa. But this-this was 20
unexpected and SO deplorabls that.
hardy men though they were, they sue
cumbed without being able to resist
the overpowering impression made up
on them.
On the floor near the entrance lay
one brother in streak Of moonlight
which showed every feature OF his
worn and lifeless face, and at q table
drawn up in the center Of the room sat
the other, rigid in death. with book
clutched in his hand.
Both had been dead some time, and
on the faces and in the aspect Of either
was visible misery that added its
own gloom to the pitiabls and grew
some scene and made the shining Of the
great white moon, which filled every
corner Of the bare room, seem mock
cry well nigh uncomfortable to those
who contemplated 1t. John dead in his
CHART James dead on the door! What
could be sadder and what more pite-
Gus?
Knapp, who Of them all would natar-
ally feel this least, was Of ceurss ths
person to speak first.
"Both wear long bearda" said he.
''but this one on the floor was doubt
less Loton's customer. Ahr' he cried,
pointing at the table, ~ he carefully
crossed the door. "Hsre Ii the bread.
and Even he had his moments Of
feeling. The appearance Of that Loaf
had stunned him; one corner Of 1t had
been gnawed OF.
"a light! Let us have lightr' cried
Mr.. Fenton, speaking for the nrst time
since his entrance. These moonbeams
are horrible. See how they cling to the
bodies as If they delighted in lighting
up these wasted and shrunken forms."
"Could 1t have been hungerY began
Abel, tremblingly following Knapp's
every movement as he struck match
and lit q lantern which he had brought
In his pocket.
God help us all II it was" said Fen
ton in a secret remorse no one but DIR.
Talbot understood. But who could
have believed 1t Of men who were once
prosperous. Are you sure that one Of
them has gnawed this breadl Could II
not have BEEN
"These are the marks Of human
teeth" observed Knapp. who was ex.
amining the loaf carefully. 81 declare
1t makes me very uncomfortable. not
withstandlng It's In the line of regular
experiences" And he laid the bread
down hurriedly.
Meantime Mr.. Fenton, who had beer
bending over another portion Of the
table, turned and walked away to the
/ window.
81 am glad they are dead" he NUT
tered. ''They have at least shared the
fate Of their victims. Take a looh
under that old handkerchief lying b.
side the newspaper. Knapp"
The detective did 30 A three edged
dagger. with curiously wrought han
die. met his eye. It had blood dried
on Its point and was. az no one could
doubt. the weapon with which Agatha
Webb had been killed.