Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-04-26

he look ner at her WORD without
comment. They sat opposite each 9TH
er at one end OF the room, while the
| duenns remained at the other. industri-
, ously sewing or knitting or doing
drawnwork, Wyndham could not tell
which.
81 believe our talk was to be about
the duel" he began by way OF opening.
'I think" she replied slowly, that
the duel is only an incident among
many others we are likely to discuss.
told you this afternoon that was
a former friend OF Mr.. Pendleton.
That statement was quite true. though
somewhat misleading. was his friend,
but he did not know It 1t is possible
that be regarded me in a contrary light.
1t is strange. IL he mentioned the duel
to you, he did not speak OF me-"
''He might have done so. senorita.
had his life been spared few hours
more. We were to have discussed his
affairs the evening of his death, but
he was murdered before 1 arrived"
"Murderedw
She leaped to her feet with flashing
eyes and for support grasped the back
Va NAO NhaAA Nh BIC udu Do2n
seated. For q moment she stood gas
ing, wide eyed, at wyndhsm. and then
| slowly she reseated herself.
did you not know that he was muir
deredT' asked Wyndham calmly.
mo. / knew that he was dead, OF
course. Word came to me OF that in a
letter from this city. but there was
nothing said about violence"
"The papers were full OF the affair"
"Ah, yes But such news seldom
seaches US In Mexico. Murderedi Ny
6odl It Is awful! should have warn
ed him of his danger. / might have
done so, but did not regard it as nee
essary. Tell me about it. Mr.. Wynd-
ham"
'There is not much that / can tell.
The affair is a great mystery. believe
, the detectives are still at work upon
She case, but only in the effort to flnd
man whom 1 know to be innocent"
Tell me about It." she repeated.
| Tell me all you know about it"
She uttered the words In the tone OF
one who has the right to know, and
Wyndham, with sudden confidence
that was inexplicable to himself. COM
piled. He related in detail everything
that occurred from the moment when
he first met Perdleton after his return
from Mexico until the discovery of the
body and the sending away OF OLD
James In order that he might be sus-
pected. Two things only he omitted
he old not mention the fact that he
suspected Escudera of the crime. and
he said nothing about his belief that
an explanation OF the motive could be
found In the secret matter connected
with Pendleton's visit to Mexico. Nor
did he refer TO that brief instant when
= he stood before the dead body of his
friend and glanced back toward the
open door as IL TO measure the dis
) lance. He had thought then that the
weapon was thrown at it's victim from
the doorway, but he had never men,
toned that idea to anybody. Even
now he remained silent concerning IL.
She heard him through TO the end
without uttering a word In reply. but
when he had finished she said very
quietly:
Describe to me again the room
where you found him; or. better-have
you pencil?-draw me a diagram OF
it."
He did so, and she studied Il long
and earnestly. Presently she asked:
us there nothing between this
point'-she placed the point OF the
pencil on the spot which he had indi-
Gated as the position OF the chair
"and this?" She touched the place
marked doorway. 81 mean by that, IS
there no chandelier or table with n
tan object upon It directly on a line
drawn from here to herer' And she
indicated the two points again.
Nothing whatever not even a
chair" he replied.
Carmen rose from her chair and
crossed the floor twice. Then she re-
turned and resumed her seat.
"Mr. Wyndham," she said slowly
and impresslvely. did you ever hear
that a favorite pastime among Mex
leans is knife throwingg"
Eyes"
How far is il from the door to the
chair where you found himT'
About twenty feet"
my friend-you will permit me to SO
whatever IT was that took the life OF
Burr Pendleton was thrown from the
doorway, and he did not even see the
arm that hurled it. But, Ar. Wynd-
ham," and she leaped TO her feet in
considerable excitement 81 have seen
that arm and that hand many times,
and so have your
Possibly" replied Wyndham, un-
moved.
''You know, thenl You known" she
demanded.
mo, senorita, do not know; only
suspect. But 1 mean TO know some
time"
"Ah, but know now. I do not sus-
pect-I know"
J "Wen7"
Carmen buried her face in her hands.
but she did not weep. She was think
ing.
IL can see 1t ALL" she said finally.