Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-03-12
pleasant. But how did the man get

pleasant. But how did the man get
there"
II don't know" said Blair.
las to the MOTIVE" continued the de.
tective, that's pretty clear now. Miss
Miller hns told about her marriage.
She hasn't named the man, but you
know him."
"Yes," said Blair; ~ know him.
He took up very little bottle from
the table and began to turn 1t idly in
his hands.
"Now, them" said Elmendorf, "let's
recapitulate. The murderer was man
who knew of that scar"
Anybody might have seen that" re-
Joined Blair.
He knew what it was" continued
Elmendorf. He also was a man who
at the first glance believed that wound
which he had inflicted to be fatal. We
conclude that he was n DOCTOR"
"Nery pretty" said Blair.
"The individual subsequently tried to
poison Miss Miller" said the detective,
land his way of doing 1t also bears
out the theory that he was one who
had n knowledge of medicine. He
knew just what poison to employ, and
he guessed that there would be some
sort of food substance in the room into
which the poison could be put. Now,
besides being doctor, what was hep
"A scoundrel, should say" replied
Blair.
He was man who could go in and
out of Mrs. Simmons house when he
pleased" said Elmendorf. HE was
not one who depended upon any i'm
perfect catch Of door. Perhaps he
had lived in the house and had never
given up his key. Anyhow 1t is certain
that he went to see Miss Miller at 9
o'clock in the morning, an hour when
most men would not think they had q
right to call, but one who claimed to be
her husband might. He saw that letter
sticking out from under the door. He
stole it, and he said after reading 1t, II
not mine, then no MANS He was q
murderer in his heart, then"
"You mean to imply" said Blair,
that he had been accustomed to go in
and out of that house without ringing
the bell; that he was her husband,
though she would not see him except
when he presented himself at her door
to plead and to be sent away, with his
heart on fire. Well, l think that may
be true"
Undoubtedly" said Elmendorf, "but
who was the man"
There was rap at the door, and
Blair said Excuse me" quite conven-
tionally as he crossed the room to open
it. He exchanged some words with
servant and for few seconds stood
outside, but his left hand was always
visible upon the door, as Elmendorf
carefully noted. When he returned to
his seat, he set down the very small
bottle upon the table.
II had reasoned SO far early in the
case" continued Elmendorf, land had
even made an experiment with a per-
son whom l had suspected. l cut my
hand and let him bandage 1t, though
that proved not to be necessary, for the
man acquitted himself instantly by
saying that had cut AN artery when
there was plainly no nrterial bleeding,
to say nothing of the location Of the in
jury. So he surely wasn't a doctor"
You seem to be quite an educated
man." said Blair dreamily. "Have you
learned anything in this life that
would help you lead another II you had
one"
Every little, I'm afraid" said Elmen-
dorf; but let us proceed. l had proved
that the man was a doctor, and then
came the Philadelphia story. You
know what happened over there. The
husband ran out for doctor. That
floored me at first, and had to think 1t
out"
II was afraid she was poisoned"
said Blair calmly, land dared not be
alone with her IL she should die"
"You! exclaimed Elmendorf, rising.
"You! Well"-and he sat down again
cit doesn't surprise me!'
"You came here to get me-" respond
ed Blair. II knew it as soon as you
sat down there. had no chance,
though she promised to shield me in re-
turn for my clearing Miss Maclane.
Shed have done it anyway, of course.
That she had already proved. She was
ashamed, ashamed, deadly ashamed,
and sick to the soul Of her for having
ever loved me Well, it's all over. II
you know what happened in Philadel-
phia, 1t only remained for you to find
the New York doctor. He's in Europe,
however; left a week or more ago.
His name is Osborne. Any more In