Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-06-14
CHAPTER XVII.

|
head and shoulders OF the body, but be-
meath trailcd n black dress; and with a
fearful, sickening hesitation l took up a
fold Of the fabric in my hand. as the POI
liccman. with the group Of men and
llnynes-Ilaviland, worked together at un.
fastening the knot.
The gown was Of silk. and attached by
a star of jet embroidery depended a sin.
gle rug OF faded gauxe. having a frayed
and chnrrcd appearance at the ends.
| AT this sight my heart tainted within
me. Could proof be more positive than
this! 1t was the dress which Paula had
worn that Sunday.
1T II her gown, ! am sure OF It,"
Haynes.Haviland was saying brOkenly;
and then, rs my eyes still fingered on the
poor shrcds Of tattcrcd fnery, l started
ut nn exclamation Of horror which Uncle
| Wilfrid gave.
! looked up and followed the direction
OF his gaze. There was no need to ask
what had called forth his exclamation.
! saw with my own eyes, which for
months had but to close their lids to be.
hold the same sight, repeated In every
dreadful detail.
The silkcn drapcry had fallen back.
u
shapelcss mass Of broken velvet and
| crushed feathers, which had once been a
| picture" hat, had expanded, when re-.
leased from pressure, out Of the rounded
bunch into which II had been piirpOsely
nodded. 1t fell away with the falling Of
the drapcry. bringing with 1t a dainty
pair OF high.hecled shoes which had been
forced inside the crown; and thus was re-
l.l lat
The body was without a head!
"Oh, for revenge" cried Haynes.Hav
land. deadly, horrible revenge upon the
one who has done this thing!'
As he spoke the door opened. We had
thought 1t locked, but II seemed that we
had been mistaken, and on the threshold
stood the last man whom any among us
might have expected to see. 1t was Jer.
One, my unclc's cx-secretary-Jeromc, OF
whose very existence had grown OBJ.
liviOus.
"They tell me- he said. In a curious.
constrained voice, shat the dead body Of
Miss Wynne has been found. l had to
come. She was the only human being on
earth for whom cared. 1t can not he
that she is dead. Is 1t true? Sir Wilfrid,
! beg OF You to answer me-"
THAT we. do not yet know" returned
my uncle stcrnly. "You can not remain
here, Jerome. In good time you shall
hear ALL"
But jerome, who in old days had been
humble to servility, now cut Sir Wilfrid
| short.
81 tell you I have a right to stay" he
said. "She was my only friend. loved
her. Aud can prove who did the mur.
der"
For an instant we stood cycling him In
incredulOus establishment. And he took
advantage of the pause to rush to the
place where. upon the cleared platform
placed for lookers.on when a game Of bill
lizards was being played, the body had
been laid down.
lie fell on his knees beside 1t, a lump,
dcspairing little figure, and raised a fold
of the draggled gown to his lips.
This was her Dress" he groaned. "She
had it on that last day. watched her as
she went out of the house."
what! you saw her on that day"
questioned Uncle Wilfrd. turning quickly
on him. "Where were you?"
II was at the cottage called The Nest.
Miss Wynne had asked Mrs. Anncsley to
invite me down over Sunday. You can
bear me out In that statement, Mr..
Haynes-Haviland."
"Yes," the other echoed; II can bear
you out In that"
II had a long talk with her after lunch
con. She seemed in low spirits, and re-
marked that prcsentiment OF some evil
was upon her. She was restless, and
told me she was going for walk, AMI
wished IN Ia nlnna She hold ont har