Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-07-01


that it should be held in his house.
The important witnesses TO be laler
We're Uncle Wiifrid. Haynes Hayiiand.
Jerome, the Annesleys. the policeman
who had superintendent the dragging Of
the moat, Miss Hope and myself.
There was no use in Disgusting the fact
from ourselves that. taking the already
known evidence into consideration. sus-
picien would point towards the Woman
in Gray.
The coroner's inquest was set for Il
oilloek on the second day after the dis
covery of the body in the moat. The
jury sat in the great library, and
throughout the house there seemed to- be
solemn hush when it was known that,
one by one, the twelve men were view
ing the thing which lay ID grim state n
the billiard room.
1t was Jerome's evidence which l
dreaded most, as ss.,Ared that his yindie-
tive feeling aga INST Miss Hope might
lead him to misrepresent words or actual
occurrences. Never did time pass SO
slowly; but at last he came out, and
Miss Hope was called in his place.
Suddenly my meditations We're broken
in upon by knock at the door. which
opened, and found Miss Trail, flushed,
excited, sparkling-eyed
Here is something for you," she said.
Read tit will explain itself. You
may thank me another time
She was gone before | could reply, and
/ opened the paper and began reading.
1t was a strange document-strange as
the writer herself.
Notes taken during the progress OF
the coroner's inquest at Lorn Abbey =
the screed began-..in the book-cupboard
between the library and Sir Nilfrid's
smoking room. A woman circumyents
the coroner and his men. Miss Naomi
Trail, anxious to inform herself, and
willing because OF her gratitude to Mr..
Terence Darkmore for certain fayors G.
received, to satisfy his curiosity. estab-
fishes herself at the keyhole, having first
concealed herself from observation in the
said book-cupboard. When all is safe she
lights a small night lamp, brought for the
purpose, which will assist her to write.
This she win do from time TO time, dur
ing the questioning of less important wit
nesses, or pauses for whispered consulta-
ton among the jurymen.
Ten minutes later Evidence has been
given regarding the finding of the body.
Nothing discriminating for G. H.
All here is Mr.. Haynes Hayiland. de
has told of his engagement to Miss
Wynne. Has said that she feared and
disliked Consuelo. Believed Consuelo
had a secret, which Mis- Wynne wished
to find cunt, and save her uncle from an
impostor. Sir Wilfrid called.
He is the first to suggest that the body
may not be that of his niece.
"Ah, hal now comes the test. Here
is little Jeromel Swears he has identi-
fed the corpse. Noticed the rings on
Miss Wynnes hand just before she west
out on Sunday. She invariably wore five
on the left hand, four on the third finger.
including the ring of her betrothal to Mr..
Terence Darkmore-which she had not
removed, though he, Jerome, was aware
she was no longer engaged to her cousin
and a small one on the little finger.
HE had often noticed the pearl glove
on the left hand of Miss Hope, and his
curiosity had been excited by it. He had
never seen Miss Hope when the glove
was absent. To the best of his belief she
wore it continually. He would swear
that the torn fragment Of pearl beads
and threads found in the bosom of the
gown worn by the dead woman had been
a portion of this glove.
This is the worst piece of evidence yet
for G. H. Things are looking very black
for her.
jerome gone. Consuelo called.
"Consuelo telling her story. She adj
mits the quarrel. She admits everything.
| cannot wait here longer, but already l
see the verdict in those twelve pairs of
solemn eyes"
Hardly had my eyes devoured the last
line when my own call came to stand
where Consuelo had lately stood.
l knew that what | had to say might
mean life or death for the woman | low
ed. SO thinking, l scarcely heard the
first question put to me by the coroner
after l had kissed the sacred book. With
an effort, | pulled myself together.
Have you seen the body found two
days ago in the moat belonging to this
estate" the coroner asked.
Il have" l answered firmly.
did you recognize it as that of your
cousin. Miss Paula WynneY
Il did not so recognize it."
DO you intend the jury to understand
that you are not able to swear to the
identity. or that you have reasons for be-
leving it to be the body of some one
else?'
Il mean that 1 am sure it is not that
of my cousin"
''Please give your reasons for making
such a statement"
Ito be continued)