Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-23
CHAPTER VII.
The Man short and His story,

AAAH SNOA
A light f~ootstep sounded behind me and
scarcely had l time to thrust the little
object back into my pocket when my we'll
beloved entered in search of me.
What do the police think, Ralph ?" she
asked, eagerly. Have they any clue? Do
tell me-"
They have no clue" 1 answered in a
voice which l fear sounded hard and some
what abrupt.
Then l turned from her, as though fully
occupied with the investigation at which
l was assisting, and went past her, leaving
her standing alone.
The police were busy examining the doors
and windows of the back premises, kitchens,
%scullery and pantry. but could find no evil
dence OF any lock or fastening having
been tapered with. The house was a large
detached red brick one, standing in a lawn
that was quite spacious for a sudden house,
and around 1t ran an asphalt path which
d~iverged from the right hand corner of the
building and ran in two parts to the road
one a semi-circular drive, which came up
to the portico from the road, and the other
a tradesmen's path, that ran to the OPP
posite extremity of the property.
From the back kitchen a door led out
upon this asphalted tradesmen's path, and
as l rejoined the searchers some discussion
was In progress as to whether the door in
question had been secured. The detective
sergeant had found 1t unbolted and un-
locked, but the cook most positively as
serted that she had both locked and bolted
It at 10 :30, when the under housemaid had
come in from her evening out" None Of
the servants, however, recollected having
undone the door, either before the alarm
or after. Perhaps Short had lone so, but
he was absent in search OF the dead mans
widow.
The police certainly spared no pains in
their search. They literally turned the
whole place upside down. One man on his
hands and knees. and carrying a candle.
carefully the stair carpet, to see
IL he could find the marks of unusual feet.
1t was wet outside, and II the intruder
had been there. there would probably re-
main marks Of muddy feet. He found
many, but they were those of the con-
stable and the two detectives. Hence the
point was beyond solution.
The drawing room, the dining room. the
morning room and the big conservatory
were all closely inspected, but without
any satisfactory result. My love followed
everywhere. white-faced and nervous, with
the cream chenille shawl still over her
shoulders. She had hastily put up her
wealth OF dark hair, and now wore the
shawl wrapped lightly about her.
The shawl attracted me. / managed to
speak with her alone for a moment, asking
her quite an unimportant question. but
nevertheless with a distinct object. AS We
stood there l placed my hand upon her
shoulder-and upon the shawl. 1t was for
that very reason-in order to feel the tex
ture Of the silk-that l returned to her.
The contact OF my hand with the silk
was convincing. turned from her once
again, and rejoined the shrewd men whose
object 1t was to fasten the guilt upon the
assassin.
Presently we heard the welcome sound
Of cab wheels outside, and a few minutes
later young Mrs. Courtenay, wild-eyed and
breathless, rushed up the stairs. l, how
ever, barred her passage.
Let me pass" she cried, wildly. short
has told me he is worse, and has asked
for me. Let me pass!"
mo, Mary, not so quickly. Let me tell
you something I answered grayely. plac-
ing my hand firmly upon her arm. The
police were again re-examining the back
premises below, and only Ethelwynn was
present at the top Of the stairs where 1
arrested her progress to the dead mans
room.
But is there danger?" she demanded
~anxiously. Tell me-"
THE crisis is over / responded. am
biguously. But is not your absence to-
night rather unusual?"
1T was entirely my own fault" she
admitted. IL shall never forgive myself
for this neglect. After the theater we had
supper at the Savoy and / lost my last
train. Dolly Henniker. Of course. asked me
to stay and l could not refuse" Then.
CHANGING from my face TO that of her sister,
she asked; Why do you both look so
strange? Tell me-" she shrieked. Tell
me the worst. Is he's he dead?"
l nodded in the Affirmative.
For q second she stood dumb. then gave
vent to a long vail and would have fallen
senseless II l had not caught her in my
arms and laid her back upon the long
settee placed in an alcove on the landing.
She, like all the others, had dressed
hurriedly. Her hair was disheveled be-
meath her hat, but her disordered evening
dress was concealed by her long ulster.
heavily lined with silver fox. a magnificent
garment which her doting husband had
purchased through a friend at Moscow and
presented TO her as a birthday gift.
From her manner A WAS only too plain