The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-05

examining the mark, turned and said. IT
can't find the bullet Davie. II has been
extracted"
1t was true. but why could not imag-
Inc. Jim shook his head sagely.
THE police have a way OF following up
slender clews." he said mo doubt the
person who extrated this bullet had a
very good reason"
The next morning at breakfast my
uncle. who was an Unsuitable reader OF
the newspapers, stopped suddenly In the
midst OF perusal Of his favorite Jour
nal Eve all have one) and looked mo
blankly in the face. "Davie," he NUT
tered below his breath. "the devils have
been at IL again!"
Ny heart seemed suddenly to turn cold.
for j knew TO whom he referred
What is st? What has happened now7"
For reply he handed me the paper.
pointing with his forefinger to a heading
In large type II ran thus; Tragedy in
a West End hotel Murder OF 6uicide7"
A mist seemed 10 swim before my eyes
l was almost afraid to read. Then
pulled myself together. my brain. with
strange insistance. assuring me OF the
fact that II could not refer TO any one
who was dear to me because. with the
exception Of my uncle, there was no ono
In the world I loved. Not that / was too
selfish to love. but my destiny had not
given me a choice OF friends.
Looking down the column / saw that
a man had been found dead in his room
at the Victoria hotel His breast had
been pierced by a dagger. and the wea-
pom itself curiously wrought piece Of
eastern workmanship. probably Malay or
Chinese. was now in the hands OF the po-
lice Tho gentleman. II seems, who had
registered in the visitors book as Mr..
Charles Hilbury of Melbourne had but
lately arrived In this country with his
wife and daughter. both of whom were
naturally Frustrated with grief. The re-
port went on 10 say: mo cause Is as-
signed for the deed-if II be one OF sui
eide. as the officials seem inclined 10 be-
leve-as the gentleman was supposed TO
be in comfortable circumstances. This
fact renders the mystery still more incom-
prehensible." Then followed a descrip-
ton OF the man and the manner In which
he was discovered. A couple OF lines In
connection with his personal appearance
burnt themselves into my BRAIN "On the
deceased gentIeman's forehead there Is
strange elliptical mark. which is evident
ly the result of some former accident"
dropped the paper with the one word.
1.-The Sign''
Yes"
Our further attempts at eating were
a hollow mockery. After few inef-
fectual efforts / abandoned even the
pretense. My uncle drank copiously OF
MS COIte anu tuIneQ once more 10 tne
news sheet The food lay untounched
before him. When he looked at me again.
the trouble had settled deeper on his
brow.
What do you make Of itY' / said.
more by way OF breaking the ominous
silence than the expectation of gaining
a new idea: for in mind / had already
sketched a vivid outline Of the unhappy
mans career. Needless to say we did
not entertain the thought Of suicide.
1T Is evident" was the reply. that
this unfortunate Mr.. Hilbury had. like
ourselves. run counter to the society.
How, or what way remains to be seen.
Perhaps he may even have been an asso-
ciate Of your father. We shall see later
on
He folded his paper preparatory TO ris-
ing,
"Did you notice.. said I. "the de-
scription OF tho wcapon?"
He opened the paper once more and
read aloud: THE weapon itself. curl