The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-03-29

of bread and comes frantically back,
gnawing it as be runs, for his own hun
ger is more than he can endure. Re-
entering his brothers presence, he
rushes forward with the bread But
the relief has come too late. John has
died in his absence, and James, dizzy
with the shock, reels back and sue
cumbs to his own misery. Gentlemen,
have you anything to say in contradic-
ton of thes' various suppositions?'
For moment DR.. Talbot, Mr.. Fen
ton and even Knapp stood silent; then
the latter said, with pardonable dry
ness:
''All this is ingenious; but. unfortu-
nately, it is upset by little fact which
you yourself have overlooked. Have
you examined attentively the dagger of
which you have SO often spoken, Mr..
Sweetwater?"
Not as would like to, but noticed
it had blood on it's edge and was Of the
shape and size necessary to inf1ict the
wound from which Mrs. Webb died."
Very good, but there is something
else of interest to be observed on il.
Fetch it, Abel"
Abel. hurrying from the room, soon
brought back the weapon in question.
Sweetwater, with a vague sense of dis
appointment disturbing him, took it
eagerly and studied it very closely.
But he only shook his head.
Bring it nearer to 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
We're two very small but yet perfectly
| distinct letters. They were u. T."
i How did Amabel Page come. by g
I dagger marked with the label ini-
tials?" questioned Knapp. do you
think her foresight went so far as to
provide herself with dagger ostensi-
bly, belonging to one of these brothers?
And then have you forgotten that when
Mr.. Crane met the old man at Mrs.
Webb's gateway he saw in his hand
something that glistened? Now, what
was that if not this daggerg'
Sweetwater.was more disturbed than
he cared to acknowledge.
THAT just shows my lack Of expert
ence," he grumbled. II thought, had
turned this subject SO thoroughly over
in my mind that no one could bring an
objection against it.
Knapp shook his head and smiled
Young enthusiasts like yourself are
great at forming theories which well
seasoned men like myself must regard
as fantastical. However" lie went on.
there is no doubt that Miss Page was
a witness to, even if she has not profit
ed by, the murder we have been consid-
ering. But with this palpable proof Of
the labels direct connection with the
affair would not recommend her ar
rest as yet"
''She should be under surveillance,
though" intimated the coroner.
"Most certainly" acquiesced Knapp.
AS for Sweetwater, he remained ST.
lent till the opportunity came for him
to whisper apart to DR.. Talbot, when
he said:
"For all the palpable proof of which
Mr.. Knapp speaks-the j. r. on the
dagger and the possibility of this being
the object he was seen carrying out OF
Philemon Webb's gate-I 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 hadn'
strength enough. But don't expend to-
much energy in talk. Wait and SCI
what few direct questions will elici
from Miss Page"