Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-07

Star and Garter at Kew, and the public,
eager as ever for sensational details. over
flowed through the bar and out into the
street until the police were compelled TO
dispense the crowd. The evening papers had
worked up all kinds of theories. some
worthy Of attention and others ridiculous:
hence the excitement and interest had be-
come intense.
The extraordinary nature Of the wound
which caused Mr.. Courtenay's death was
the chief element of mystery. Our medical
evidence had produced a sensation, for we
had been agreed that to inhlct such a
wound with any instrument which could
pass through the exterior orifce was an alb
solute impossibility. Sir Bernard and nv
self were still both bewildered. In the con-
sulting room at Harley street we had dis
cussed 1t a dozen times, but could arrive at
no definite conclusion. as to how such a
terrible wound could possibly have been
caused.
/ noticed a change in Sir Bernard. He
seemed mopish, thoughtful and somewhat
respondent. Usually he was a busy. bus
Ting man, whose manner with his patients
was rather brusque and who, unlike the
majority OF my own profession, went to
the point at once. There Is no profession
in which one is compelled to exercise so
much affected patience and courtesy as in
the profession of medicine. Patients will
bore you to death with long and tedious
histories of all their ailments since the
days when they chewed a guttapercha
teething ring, and to appear impatient is to
court a reputation for nippancy and want
of attention. Great men may hold up their
hands and cry Enough" But small men
must sit with pencil poised, apparently in
tensely interested, and listen through until
the patient has exhausted his long-winded
recollection of all his ills.
Contrary to his usual custom, Sir Bernard
did not return to Hove each evening, but
remained at Harley ~street-dining alone
of a chop or a steak and going out after
ward, probably to his club. His change Of
manner surprised me. l noticed in hin
distinct signs of nervous disorder and OF
several afternoons he sent round to me a
the hospital, saying that he could not SCI
his patients and asking me to run bacl
to Harley street and take his place.
On the evening before the adjourned in
quest l remarked to him that he did no
appear very we'll and his reply, in
strained, respondent voice, was:
Poor Courtenay has gone. He was m,
best friend"
Yes, 1t was as l expected; he was sorrow
ing over his friend.
When we had reassembled at the Sta
and Garter he entered quietly and took
seat beside me, just before the commence
ment of the proceedings.
The coroner, having read over all III
dispositions taken on the first occasion
asked the police IL they had any furthe
evidence to offer, whereupon the local in
spector of the T division answered, wit
an air of mystery:
1--WE have nothing, sir, which we ca
! make public. Active inquiries are still /
, progress"
N further medical evidence?" asked tn
coroner.
/ turned towards Sir Bernard inquiringll
and as l aid so my eye caught a face hid
den by a black veil, seated among the put
d lie at the far side Of the room. 1t wa
E%thelwynn herself-come there to waite
I the proceedings and hear with her ow
I ears whether the police had obtaine
traces Of the assassin!
I Her anxious countenance shone throuR
her veil haggard and white; her eyes wei
fixed upon the coroner. She hung breath
l. Iessly upon his every word.
w have no further evidence" reptile
the inspector.
d There was a pause. The public who wei
there in search OF some solution OF the b
wildering mystery which had been pul
lished in every paper through the land we
disappointed. They had expected at lea
to hear some expert evidenee-which. IL n
always reliable, is always interesting. b
there seemed an inclination on the part
the police to maintain a silence which Il
creased rather than lessened the mystery.
We'll. gentlemen" exclaimed DR.. Di
a lcck, turning at last to the twelve loo
tradesmen who formed the jury, "you ha.
Sc heard the evidence in this curious case. a
your duty is to decide In what manner h
II deceased came by his ~death-whether by a
v cldental means or by foul play. l think
In the circumstances you will have very lit
~ difficulty In deciding. The case Is a NV
e. ferrous one-a very mysterious one. T
m deceased was a gentleman of means vi
was suffering from a malignant disease. a
that disease must have proved fatal with