Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1900-04-27
} THE GATOR TUE CoMEYY s

What was thats A confused noise
as OF shattering glass, a heavy fal
and then pistol shot. all at once.
Then Aunt Samyra tapped on the
door and called to me In excited tones
through the keyhole.
ALICIA Dean Alicia Dean, Get ur
ind dress, quick! There are burglars
upstairs"
fortunately was already dressed
having sat up later than usual that
night. waiting for my roommate, su.
san Ellen, to come back from the con-
cert.
60 opened the door Mt once, and as
did so Susan Ellen almost ran into
my arms. looking white and scared
ana almost ready to drop
Aunt Samyra appeared a moment
later, her hair done up in curl papers,
armed with lighted candle, a revol-
vcr and poker.
| got possession of the revolver i'm
medlately; not that l expected to do
any more good with 1t than she could,
but hoped to do less harm.
Susan Ellen" said L in stage
whisper, did you see anything of the
robbers as. you came in?"
But Susan Ellen seemed so pnro-
lyzed with fear that she was incapa-
bic of answering, and simply clung to
my left arm like a frightened child
shaking from head to foot.
Now, girls, follow me, and don't
speak wordw commanded Aunt Sam
yra, ascending the stairway, protect
ed by her helmet of cnrl papers. as n
were, and with the caAdle In one hand
and the poker in the other.
We followed at a safe distance, and
I confided to Susan Ellen on the way
that the pistol shot seemed to have
come from Uncle Ralph's room, and
was afraid the robbers had hurt him.
or he would have come to our rescue
In this time.
She opened her mouth to answer,
but her teeth chartered so that she
could not.
We now saw that Aunt Samyra had
stopped In front of Uncle Ralph's door
and was making Intellectual attempts
to rouse him.
BY accident l had the key Of my
room in my hand, having unconscious
ly taken 1t out after opening the door
to Aunt Samyra. The key l now ap-
piled to Uncle Ralph's lock. The door
opened readily, and Aunt Samyra
stepped in, but sprang back instantly
with cry Of horror, for Uncle Ralph
lay on the floor, under the window,
with pistol beside him.
1t did not take me many minutes to
decide that he was dead. with a bull
let through his heart.
Then noticed that a strong gale
was sweeping through the room, and
that the upper sash of the window was
out.
''Lookw l said. "No wonder we are
cold!'
But she paid no attention.
l had already decided in my owl
mind that Uncle Ralph had beer
murdered by burglar, but the frs
glance round the room, seemed to dis
prove this theory, for on the dressin;
case lay the watch and the purse O
the murdered man. Nor, after thor
ough search, could I find even PHI
missing.
OF course we had a coroner's inquest
already knew, that Ralph Mortol
met his death at the hands of part,
or parties unknown"
Aunt Samyra employed the finest dc
tcctivcs to clear up the mystery, bu
It remained q mystery still.
Alicia" said my aunt, about si
months after the murder, what /
your theory on this subject?'
Il have none" answered, ''unles
II was q case of suicide"
"Impossble" she calculated.
"what sort OF mood was he in whe
lie bade you good night?"
''very bright and cheerful"
How long was it. after he left yoV
before you retired?'
II hadn't retired Mt all, but was pu
ting up my hair In curl papers. whe
] heard the pistol shot and went aft,
you
Then you heard the report of Il
pistol shortly after he bade you goo
nightT
II did"
"And you say he was In brigl
cheerful frame Of mind"
"Yes; he went on with laugh abo
being in the top story, saying he cou
get better view OF the comet u