Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-06
Synopsis of Previous Chapters.

HAPTERS T. to IVA young doctor. Ralph Boyd
confides to his friend his apparently groundless
suspicion concerning his personal welEbelns ana
safety. This friend, Amber Jevons, gives his
sympathy and promises his help In case OF med
He is In the tea trade. but his favorite hobby
is investigating crime and unravelng mysteries.
Boyd himself Is the of NJ. F., and assist
ant to Sir Bernard Eyton. He has an interview
with his chief, and they discuss the illness sf
old Mr.. Henry Courtney. who lives at Rich
mond road. Kew. Instantly the young doctor
concelves the idea that his mysterious PRESENT.
ment is connected with this family. His inter
est in that home Is centered on Ethelwynn Mlv
art, Henry Courtnay's sister-in-law, whose Ma
donna type of beauty exercises fascina tion
over him. He determines to spend the evening
at Richmond road. The domestic life of the
Courtnays instances the truth of the Shakes
pearean proverb that May cannot wed DeceIn-
utterly ont Of sympathy with the elderly. short
tempered. invalid husband, with whom she has
linked her fate for mercenary considerations.
Consequently she spends her evenings outside
her home. and leaves the care of her husband
very much to the nurse and her sister. Ethel
wynn. On this particular evening Ralph and
Ethelwynn discuss domestic matters In the
drawing room. As usual, Mrs. Courtnay Is out.
Ethelwynn surprises Ralph by evincing keen
interest in Henry Courtnay's apparent improve
ment in health After their tete- a-tete the low
ers separate. Ralph Boyd returning home. He
is reused from his slumbers early the following
morning by visit from Mr.. COurtnays foot
man, Short who tells him that his master has
been murdered.
CHAPTERS V and VI.-Short gives DIR. Boyd
the whole stcry as he knows 1t. The doctor
sees Ethelwynn who is In great terror. Ralph
comes to the conclusion that the man was muir
dered in his sleep by skilIful hand. Short Is
sent to the police station. and some detectives
arrive. Accidentally the doctor discovers clue,
which he has picked up at the bedside OF the
murdered man. He quietly transfers 1t to his
pocket. Then comes the examination of the
servants. and the premises are carefully gone
over. Ralph seizes the opportunity of being
alone few moments and. after glance at
his find is overwhelmed by the terrible truth
CHAPTERS VII and VIII.-Ralph notices that
and in order to convince himself of the truth
OF his suspicious, places his hand on 1t to feel
the texture. Immedatel after this Mrs. Court
nay arrives. in state of wild excitement.
When she knows her husband is dead she loses
her senses. and after the doctor has restored
her she appears to be suffering from a lapse of
memory. Finally she realizes the truth of her
widowhood and collapses. only once rousing
herself sufficiently to proclaim her freedom and
TO fling her wedding ring across the room. The
doctor thinks he has obtained another clue In
the shape of long. thin knife of Indian design,
which hangs In the hall. and which Short de-
elares he had armed himself with before max
ing his tour Of inspection around the grounds.
This knife. the doctor is convinced, has inflicted
the dead mans wound. At last Amber Jevons
whole story. pays visit to the dead mans
room, which he carefully examines. He makes
copious notes, and finally, struck with new
idea. he PUSHES upstairs again, leaving the doc
tor at liberty to re-examine his clue-a tiny bit
Of Whit t ehsnilIe with smear Of blood on 1t.
WINGED that his beloved. Ethelwynn Mivart. Is
assassin. but after carefully considering
the whole thing he determines to say nothing
Of bis suspicion to his friend Jevons until after
the inquest Ralph Boyd leaves the house in
the possession of the police and the reporters
and visits the two women. Mrs Courtney Is
full of selfreproach, but Ethelwynn has re-
gained her customary easy manner and innocent
expression. She does not appear to like Amber
Jevons. but breathes more freely when she
hears he has discovered nothing. Drs. Boyd
and Farmer examine the wound. Sir Bernard
arrives while the post-mortem is being made.
In the evening Amber Jevons calls his
friend at Harley Place. They discuss the muir
der but come nearer to its solution. At the
inquest Short gives evidence. his only lame
statement being that he rushed out to search
the grounds. Ethelwynn gives her testimony
succinctly. Sir Bernard states that the wound
which caused Henry Courtnays death is eight
times larger inside than the exterior inctsiOn.
After the inquest Boyd and Jevons depart to-
gether and dine at inn. In their conyerSa-
tion Jevons turns Boyd's attention to the safe,
which was in the deceased's room. and which
he wishes to examine. They 90 to Richmond
road find the key, unlock the safe and proceed
to search 1T. Among other documents Is small
pocket tied with pink tape. This Jevons passes
10 Boyd. who. after glancing at the signature
Of the first letter. utters a cry. He has OBJ
tanned another clue.