The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-10-17

it into ner DOuy, SelZeu ncf IN nlS
arms, rushed to the bottom of the
steps and laid her on the floor, kneel.
ing beside her. 1t all seemed the work
of an instant, and ere could realize
anything was over.
Mechanically I closed the slide oil
my apparatus, uttered loud cry and
ran forward The thrust had been
deadly sure, and the girl had ceased
to breathe The horror of it came
over me SO strongly that I had a faint
feeling and could hardly articulate,
but my cry had attracted attention,
and in a few moments the hall was
full of people, talking and gesticulat-
ing violently, telling some story. He
was much excited, but seemed calm be-
side the others as his soft, voluble
Italian flowed on.
My knowledge of the language was
very slight, but the scowling faces
soon turned upon me made me realize
that the wretch was laying the guilt
OF the murder at my door. I waf
young and inexperienced, stranger
In the place, and even remembered
that the official from whom 1 had got.
ten my permit was temporarily absen,
my sensations were far from pleas.
ant. as the officers of the law arrived
on the scene and took us both into
custody. To add to- my misfortune
was bound to admit that the stilettc
used exactly resembled the one had
SO recently purchased, as curiosity.
which was now missing from the
pocket of the overcoat where / had
put it.
The other man when questioned
made a plausible story, saying that we
both were admirers of the unfortu-
nate girl, but pledging faith to me, for
the purpose of extorting money from
Inc rich foreigner, her affections were
really his. A connection of the GUS
todlan of the palace, she succeeded in
obtaining entrance and made an ap-
polntment to meet him, he having
formerly been an employee That I had
obtained knowledge of the proposed
interview, purchased stiletto (the
shopman was produced, who swore to
having sold the dagger) and followed.
Further, that on some false pretext
also had obtained admission, and, COM
ing behind them as they were pass
ing through the hall, had fatally in
jured my victim. Corroborated in one
or two points by other witnesses, the
story seemed credible, the case looked
i'll for me, and repeated assurances
that l had never seen either of the
parties before were not understood or
credited. The purchase of the stiletto
could not deny, and that seemed the
clearest circumstantial evidence.
"a night spent in confinement did
not seem to raise my spirits, every
thing looked very black to me, and 1
was almost in despair, when, sudden
ly, a ray of light broke in on my dark
ness, and for the first time since the
| trouble began I bethought me of my
camera. If only it had not been stolen
and l could again secure it possibly it
might bear silent testimony in my
favor.
"By entreaties and brides. I sue
ceeded in getting hold of someone who
| spoke English and in interesting him
sufficiently to make diligent search for
| my apparatus, which was secured and
brought to me. With trembling fingers
| went through the necessary pro-
cesses of developing my picture, and
there, ghostly, but still visible, was
| the evidence 1 sought.
In the center of the stairway
| through which it could be plainly seen
was mere film of a group which the
sensitive plate had caught-the girl
as she ran, the man behind her with
the uplifted stiletto in his hand-un-
mistakable, damnatory! 1t has faded
now and you are near-sighted, but it
was clear enough then to be recog-
nized and to save me.
''The girl had made an appointment
with her lover, whose jealousy had
been wildly, and it seemed not I'M.
foundedly, excited by her acceptance
of the attentions of another man.
Coming to meet her, the first lover
had CHANGED to pass where my coat
was lying, and, finding the stiletto, had
possessed himself of it. His intention
had not been to murder her, as was
evident from his not bringing his own
weapon, but talk with her had excited
s95{E 5=z=l II