Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-30
b~ 49,. :.
MN, Il il SOU -lEsI1,
1orrp7C1r iooe. by T. c. MCCLURE G-1a1

CHAPTERS l. TO IVA young doc
tor Ralph Boyd. conldes to his friend
his apparently groundless suspicion
concerning his personal well-hcing and
safety. This friend. Amber Jevons.
gives his sympathy and promises his
help in case OF need. He is In the tea
trade but his famous hobby Is lnvesu-
r..ing crime and unravelling mysteries.
BOYD himself is the son Of an NJ. r. ana
assistant TO Sir Bernard Eyton. lie has
an interview with his chief. and they
discuss the Illness OF old Mr.. Henry
Courtcnay. who lives at FGchmond-road,
Kew. Instantly the young doctor con-
ccires the IDEA that his mysterious pre-
sentiment is connected with this family
His interest in that home is centered on
Ethelwynn Mivart, Henry Courtenay
s,ster-in-law, whose Madonna type OF
beauty exercises a fascination over n1m
He determines to spend the evening ar
Richmond-road. The domestic life or the
Courtcnays instances the truth OF the
Shakcspearean proverb that May cannon
wed December. Mrs Courtenay. young.
CAV pretty, IS utterly out OF sympathy
with the elderly, short tempered, inTald
husband, with whom she has linked ner
fate for nercerary considerations con
seouently she spends her evenings out
side her home, and leaves the care OF
her husband very much to the nurse and
her sister Ethclwynn. On this particular
evening Ralph and Ethelwynn discuss
domestic matters In the drawing room
AS usual. Mrs. Courtenay is out Ethel
wynn surprises Ralph by evincins keen
interest in Henry Courtenay's apparent
Improvement in health. After their tete-
tote the lovers separate. Ralph Boyd re-
turning home. He is reused from his
slurnbers early the following morning by
a visit from Mr.. Courtenayss footman,
Short, who tells him that his master has
been murdered.
CHAPTERS Y. and vII.-Short gives
Dr. Boyd the whole story as he knows
It The doctor sees Ethelwynn, who is
In great terror. Ralph comes TO the con-
clusion that the man was murdered If
his sleep by a skilful hand. Short is
sent TO the police station, and some de-
1ecttyes arrive. Accidentally the doctor
discovers 4 clue. which he has picked up
at the bedside OF the murdered man. he
quietly transfers to his pocket. Then
comes the examination OF the servants
and the premises are carefully gone
over. Ralph scizes the opportunity or
being alone q few moments. and, AFTER
q glance at mis- find. is overwhelmed by
The terrible truth.
CHAPTERS VII. and EIl1.-Ralph no
tees that Ethelwynn is wearing cream
chenille shawl. and in order to convince
himself of the truth of his suspicious,
places his hand on it to feel the tex
.ure. Immediately after this Mrs. Courte-
nav arrives. in a state Of wild excitement
When she knows her husband is dead
she loses her senses. and after the doc
tor has restored her she appears to be
suffering from a lapse of memory. FL
nafly she realizes the truth of her widow
hood and colLapses, only once rouslng her-
self sufficiently to proclaim her freedom
and to fling her wedding ring across the
room. Tho doctor thinks he has optainea
another clue il the shape OF long, thl1t
knife, Of Indian design, which hangs IN
the hall and which Short declares he
had armed himself with before making
his tour Of inspection round the grounds
This knife. the doctor is convinced, ma"
inflicted the dead mans wound. at iast
Amber Jevons turns up and, after list
ening patiently to the whole story. rays
n visit to the dead mans room, which he
carefully examines. He makes coplous
notes. and finally. struck with new
idea. ne rushes upstairs again, leaving
the doctor at liberty to examine his clue
a tiny hi, of white chenille, with smear
of blood en- it.