Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-08-08
CHAPTER VI.
The JcUcled StiIetto.

The JcucIed StiIetto.
The captain of police was first 10
place his hand upon the door knob.
"who has the key" h inquired.
Without a word of answer, Mrs. Mar
Tin placed 1t in his hand. He opened
the door and entered, followed b the
two police officers, the detective n
Mr.. Baldwin. who were in turn followed
by all who could force their way into
the room.
The mother and father of Clarice.
whose first intention had been to seek
their daughter, had been borne along
with the crowd. and now stood gazing
on the dead face OF him who had, by
the law Of God and man. been made
their son-their daughters husband
scarcely more han two short hours
ago.
Mrs. Mowbray gave n groan OF abso-
lutte suffering: her face became utterly
colorless, Inc she seemed in danger OF
fainting. Brian Mowbray turned sick
at the sight. and was glad TO occupy
himself in the care of his wife.
He drew her backward out of sight,
and would have carried her from the
IOOT1 III Jhe dy idu llOl pNClA
blocked up by a throng of people close
ly wedged together there. AS 1t was.
he kept her from another glimpse of the
dead man. and was equally careful him
self not to look in that direction.
Mrs. Martin had again entered the
room; but she withdrew to the window,
where she stood concealed by the heavy
velvet curtain, gazing out on the rear
af tha haarraC I'm fha fnvt hlpp1x. #a ..
Carl. the Swiss valet. was profoundly
affected. He gazed with streaming eyes
on the dead face, till. unable to pear it,
he buried his face in both hands. sob
hing and weeping.
."The kindest master-the kindest
master" he sobbed. "Ah, when will /
find another? %
Mr.. Baldwin had Immediately pro-
ceeded TO the duty for which he had
been summoned and, having sealed all
such private papers, drawers, escri-
torres, etc. as he deemed OF import
ance, he, too, came forw ard to look at
the still, white face of Philip Grayson.
1t was the face OF a man who had been
a kind friend to him. n the lawyer
had valued the friend.
He heaved a deep sigh and turned
away. Ii was a sight that no man
would like to dwell upon. and, hard
man OF business though he was, Mr..
Baldwin shuddered, and there was a
suspicious. dewy moisture in HIS keen,
gray eyes.
But here was one person in that room
whom no one seemed to notice particu-
larly, though. to IN observant eye n
was. of all there. the most profoundly
affected by the tragedy hat had been
enacted In that room. This was Mrs,
Grayson's new waiting maid-the
French girl, Leonce.
She was a remarkable looking girl
tall. slender. and eminently graceful
and ladylike in appearance. In COM
ple.ion she was a clear, pale brunette,
with eyes and hair of midnight dark
ness. delicate. clearly-cut features. a
full. red mouth, exquisitely-hne teeth,
as white and even as a row of pearls,
and the kin of hands and feet that are
considered a proof of good birth in Eu-
rope.
Naturally pale. as brunettes of her
type always are. she was now of a livid
pallor. and even her red mouth was pale
and ashen, and her lips thin and COM
pressed. as IL she feared some sound of
terror or grief might force its way be-
tween them.
Her dark eyes cleaned and glittered
like light on polished steel, and her gaze
never for a momen dwelt on the u
dered man, but royed wildly over the
apartment, with q curious intentness
tina evidently took a mental inventory
OF everything in ii. and seemed to seek
for something it did not find, yet feared
TO find, or feared still more. that some
other eyes than her own might fino
first.
But. apparently, no one noticed her
particularly, and her extreme pallor. the
terror and agitation so evidently held
under strong control. might easily have
passed for nothing more than signs OF
natural emotion under the circum-
stances. even If she had been specially
observed.
The captain OF police knelt down be
side the body and looked critically at
the face; then, raising the right arm,
let ii fall with a dull. heavy thudi
Il suppose the body has been exam
ined by a DOCTOR" he said. inquiringly.
DIR. Sprague at once stepped forward,
II was for some years physician to
the deceased. / have examined the
body. Death was caGsed by a wound
in the throat. made by some sharp and
pointed instrument-as / should judge,
something in the nature OF q small dag
ger or poniard. Death must have been
almost instantaneous, al you win OBJ
serve the carotid artery has been COM
pletely severed. Under such circum-
stances a man will die within three
minutes-possibly. sooner. 1t Is the
artery that leads directly from the
heart TO the BRAIN
Then you consider the case TO be
OF murder. not suicide?" the captain Of
police inquired.
mot suic.de--certainly not. No man
could deal himself snc a blow rs that.
Let me prove II to YOU" He gently