Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-30
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Yes / responded. II Is making an
independent inquiry"
"And what has he found?" she inquired
breathlessly.
Nothing"
Then l watched her closely, 1 saw that
she breathed again more freely. BY the
manner in which she uttered Ambler's
name l detected that she was not at all
well-dlsposed towards him. Indeed, she
spoke as though she feared that he might
discover the truth.
After half an hour l left, and more pug
zled than ever, returned to the house in
Richmond Road. Some times felt en-
tlrely convinced that my love was author
ess Of the foul deed; but at others there
seemed something wanting in the connrma-
ton OF my suspicious. Regarding the lat
ter l could not overlook the fact that Short
had told a story which was false on the
face Of 1t, while the utter absence of any
motive on my loves part in numbering the
old gentleman seemed to point in an en-
tire opposite direction.
DR.. Diplock, the coroner, had Fixed the
inquest for IL o'clock on the morrow; there
fore l assisted DR.. Farmer of Kew, the
police surgeon, to make. the post-mortem.
We made the examination in the aft
ernoon, before the light faded, and II the
circumstances Of the crime were mysterious.
the means by which the unfortunate man
was murdered we're, we found, doubly 30.
Outwardly the wound was an ordinary
one, one inch in breadth, inflicted by a
blow delivered from left to right. The
weapon had entered between the fourth
and fifth ribs, and the heart had been
completely transfixed by some sharp-cut-
ting instrument. The injuries we discov-
cred within. however, increased the mys-
terry t%enfold, for we found two extraordi-
nary lateral incisions which almost COM
pletely divided the heart from side to side,
the only remaining attachment Of the upper
portion to the lower being a small por-
tion Of the interior wall Of the heart be-
hind the sternum.
Such a wound was absolutely beyond ex-
PLANTATION.
The instrument with which the crime
had been committed by striking between
the ribs had penetrated to the heart with
an unerring precision, making a terrible
wound eight times the size within, as
compared with the exterior puncture. And
yet the weapon had been withdrawn, and
was missing.
We were about to conclude our examina-
tion in despair, utterly unable to account
for the extraordinary wound, when the door
opened and Sir Bernard entered.
He looked upon the body of his old friend,
not a pleasing spectacle indeed, and then
grasped my hand without a word.
l showed my chief the wound, explained
its extraordinary features, and asked his
opinion. He removed his coat, turned I'D
his shirt cuffs, adjusted his big spectacles
and, bending beside the board upon which
the body lay. made a long and careful in
spection of the injury.
Extraordinary" he calculated. eve
never known Of such a wound before. One
would almost suspect an explosive bullet
IL IL were not for the clean incised wound
on the exterior. The ribs seem grazed, yet
the manner in which such a hurt has been
inflicted is utterly u~naccountable."
I'VE have been unable to solve the
enigma" DR.. Farmer observed. II was an
army surgeon before l entered private prac-
tice, but l have never seen a similar case"
Nor have l." responded Sir Bernard. 1T
is most puzzling."
do you think that this knife could have
been used?" l asked, handing my chief the
weapon.
He looked at 1t. raised 1t in his hand as
though to strike, felt it's edge and then
shook his head, saying:
mo, l think not. The instrument used
only sharp on one edge. This has both
sharpened."
1t was a point we had not overlooked,
but in a moment we agreed with him, and
at once abandoned our half formed theory
that the Indian dagger had caused the
wound.
With Sir Bernard we made an amina
ton OF the tongue and other organs, in
order to ascertain the progress of the dis
ease from which the deceased had been
suffering, but a detailed account OF our
can have no interest for the lay
In a word. our conclusions were that the
man could easily have lived an
other year or more. The disease was not
30 advanced as we had believed. Sir Ber-
nard had a patient to see in Grosvenor
therefore, he left at about 4 o'clock.
regretting that he had not time to call
round at the neighbor's and express his
sympathy with the widow.
Give her all my sympathies, poor young
he said to me. And tell her that
| will call upon her tomorrow" Then,
after promising to attend the inquest and
give evidence regarding the post- norton, |
he shook hands with us both and left.
At 8 o'clock that evening was back in
my W rooms in Harley Place, eating my
Inner alone, when Amber Jevons entered.
He was not as CHEEKY as usual. He did
not eEclaim, as was his habit, well, my
boy, how goes It? Whom have you killed
or some such grim pleasantly.
On the contrary. he came In with scarcely
a word, threw his hat upon a side table.
and sank into his usual arm chair with
scarcely a word. save the question uttered
In almost a growl:
May / smoker"
"Of course" / said, continuing my meal.
Where have you been?"
Il left while you we're cutting I'D the
he said. I've been about a lot
since then, and I'm tired"
You look 1t. Have a drink"
NO" he responded, shaking his head.
4 don't drink when I'm bothered. This
case is an absolute mystery" And strik-
.ng a match he lit his rather foul pipe
md pulled away vigorously, staring straight
INTO the fire the while.
WELL" l asked. after a long silence.
What's your opinion now?"
"Ive none." he answered. gloomily.
What's yours?"
Mine is that the mystery increases
lourly.'
What did you find at the post
In a few words / explained the unac-
nature OF the wound, drawing
or him a rough diagram m the hack ~