The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-28

prove a sight more difficult than either
of us guesses. This rooms rum one,
amt 1t? And that pack OF cards aren't
there for nothing. Then there is the
dead woman's dress, and the landlady's
queer conduct. Oh, you can bet. In
spector, there's jolly lot more in these
things than meets the eye, and I'm the
man to find out what they all mean"
You can blow your own trumpet,
see!" said Lakeland, dryly.
Gebb laughed. in nowise embarrassed.
my trumpeters dead from over-work."
he replied coolly. IF don't praise my
self no one else will. However, I'll see
tomorrow II the big-wigs will let me
run this show in my own way. Now
you go and look round the house. Lack
land, and leave me here to examine
the room."
What about the body?" asked the
inspector dominated by Gebb's strong
will.
Wen let 1t lie here. as 1t is, until
the doctor comes. / told that police
man who brought Mrs. Presk to the
station to knock up an NJ. ID.
BY George. sir. one would think you
were inspector here!" spluttered the
indignant Lakeland. Am nobody? p
You're good fellow: too good to get
your monkey up for nothing. You let me
look after this murder myself. I'll do
You a good turn some other time"
We'll, I'll let you have your own
way for once. You're no fool, / will
say" muttered Lakeland, and Withdrew
to look through the house. He knew
that Gebb was very clever, and In his
heart was not unwilling to avail himself
of the detectives assistance. There
fore he left him to his own devices and
set out to seek Mrs. Presk In the kit
chen. Having found her, he made her
show him the house, but judiciously re-
Trained from commenting on her late
conduct. He left the elucidatIon OF that
to Gebb.
Left to himself. the detective ex-
amined the dead woman and the room
with minute attention to detail, keep
ing up a running commentary the while
on his discoveries. He had u habit OF
talking aloud when alone. as to empha-
size his opinions. and. while examining
the boudoir. soliloquized with appro-
pirate actions like a stage player.
"The furniture Is quite in order.' he
mur'mured. his keen eyes rowing hither
and thither. Therefore there can have
been no struggle. The murderer was
no intruder. but was expected. a vlsi-
tor! perhaps a friends He--let me pre-
sumo the criminal to be mamie no
doubt entered and was kindly received
by the deceased. Here is a bottle. and
two were friendly enough to drink In
company. There Is n chair on either
side OF this table whereon the cards are
laid out. The dead body remains in tho
one nearest the wall; so I expect the
visitor sat in the other with his back
to the door. Were they playing cards.
/ think not. as 10 that case the whole
pack would MT be laid out In this
fashion, II have e." cred Gebb. smiting
his open palm with his fist. 'thc visitor
was telling Miss Ligram's fortune. lie
placed the cards in that position oi,d
told her TO draw one. She drew the ace
OF spades. which yet lies m her lap and
when face ~ face with the ONES %
death he killed her" W
Here the detective paused 10 con-
slider II he was correct In assuming the
assassin TO be a man.. Fortune-tciiing
especially by cards-is usually In
dulged I'm by the other sex. Hut would
a woman. however cruel have 30 brtl-
tally strangied her unsuspectinG host
ess. and-as II may be assumed-f friend
Gebb examined the chair on which the
visitor had sat. and found traces Of to-
bacco ASH. t
Gro be Continued in Tomorrow's Nswa)