Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-06
I

then it becomes your duty to return "a
verdict to that effect and leave it to the
police to discover the assassin. To. com
ment at length on the many mysterious cir
cumstances surrounding the tragedy is, l
think, needless. The dispositions l nave
just read sufficiently full and explana-
tory, especially the evidence of Sir Bernard
Eyton and of DR.. Boyd, both of whom, be-
sides being well known in the profession,
were personal friends of the deceased. In
considering your verdict l would further
beg of you not to heed any theories you
may have read in the newspapers, but
adjudge the matter from a fair and and
| impartial standpoint, and give your verdict
as you honestly believe the truth to be-
The dead silence which had prevailed dur
ing the coroner's address was at once
broken by the uneasy moving of the crowd
1 glanced across at Ethelwynn, and saw
her sitting immovable, breathless, statu-
esque.
She watched the foreman of the jury
whispering to two or three of his colleagues
in the immediate vicinity. The twelve
tradesmen consulted together in an under
tone, while the reporters at the table con-
versed audibly. They, too, were disappoint-
ed at being unable to obtain any sensa-
tional copy"
IF you wish to retire in order to con-
slider your verdict, gentlemen, you are quite
at liberty to do So" remarked the coroner
THAT is unnecessary" replied the fore
man. I'VE are agreed unanimously"
Upon what?'
Our verdict Is that the deceased was
willfully murdered by some person or per-
sons unknown.
Every WELL gentlemen. OF course In my
position l am not permitted to give you adj
vice, but l think that you could have ar
rived at no other verdict The police will
use every endeavor to discover the iden-
tity of the assassin"
1 glanced at Ethelwynn, and at that in
slant she turned her head and her eyes
met mine She started quickly, her face
blanched to the lips, then she rose INSTEAD
lily, and with the crowd went slowly out.
Amber Jevons, who had been seated at
the opposite side of the room, got up and
rushed away, therefore l had no chance to
get a word with him. He had glanced at
me significantly, and 1 knew well what
passed through his mind. Like myself, he
was thinking of that strange letter we had
found among the dead mans effects and
had agreed to destroy.
About o'clock that same night 1 had
emerged from Sir Demands and was stroll
ing slowly round to my rooms when my
friends CHEEKY voice sounded behind me.
He was on his way round to have a smoke
with me, as usual, he explained. So We
entered together, and after l had turned
up the light and brought out the drinks he
| flung himself into his habitual chair, and,
stretching himself YEARLY, said:
1.-The affair becomes more mysterious
hourly"
"How?" I inquired quickly
1--WE been down to Kew this afternoon"
was his rather ambiguous response. 81 had
| to go to my office directly after the inquest,
| but returned at once"
| "And what have you discovered? Any
| thing fresh?"
| Eyes, he responded slowly "a fresh
fact or two-facts that still increase the
what are they? Tell me- I urged.
| mo, Ralph, old chap. When j am GER
| tain of their true Importance I'll explain
| them to you. At present desire to pursue
| my own methods until 1 arrive at a clear
| conclusion"
| This disinclination to tell me the truth
was annoying. He had always been quite
| frank and open, explaining all his theories
! and showing to me any weak points in the
| circumstantial evidence. Yet suddenly, as
| it seemed to me, he had become filled with
a strange mistrust. Why, could not con-
| ceive.
| "But surely you can tell me the nature
| of your discoyerfes?'' 1 said. There need
| be no secrets between us In this affair"
| mo, Ralph. But I'm superstitious enough
to believe that il-iuek follows premature
His excuse was a lame one-a very lame
| one I smiled-in order to show him that
| I read through the Transparent attempt to
mislead me.
| IT might have refused to show you that
letter of Ethelwynn's," protested. ''Yet
our interests being mutual 1 handed it to
| you"
.:Ms!, + is well that you did,
because knowledge Of 1t has changed
the whole course of my inquiries"
"Changed them from one direction to an
| other?'
He nodded.
"And you are now prosecuting them II
the direction Of Ethelwynn7"
mo-" he answered. MOT exactly"
looked at his face and saw upon 1t al
| expression of profound righteousness Hi
dark. well-marked countenance was q com
plex one always. but at that moment wal
utterly unable to discern whether he spoke
1 \, f,>,,t rr-x vhether he ontv wished to mis-
lead my suspicious into different channel
That he was the acme Of shrewdness, tina
his powers Of deduction were extraordi
nary. and that his patience in unravelins
secret was almost beyond comprehension
knew well. Even those great crackers o