Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-12-09

want to have no share. no hand. in bring
ing Atherton into trouble. / can't be-
lieve he would murder any one. 1t is not
ike him to strike a woman, either"
Il have told you all | know" said
Dunn, in a respectful but firm tone. Il
never permit my feelings to interfere
with my judgment"
Il believe you; but there is some terri
BILE mistake here. Don't-don't let us
biunder- 1t may cost man more than
life is worth; it may rob Anterior Of his
reputation
1T is Ike 10 end in somebody losing
hfe," said Dunn. There hasn't been any
hanging here for some time. The first
bad case win serve for an example,"
Mayberry shuddered. He imagined he
beheld Irene AthertOD's face looking at
him He behebd the reproachful book in
her sad eyes. Then he recovered his self
possession and decision.
Admitting it was mans deed. Ad-
hitting that Atherton was in the house
that evening, it does not follow that he
committed the murder
Not necessarily" said Dunn. I'll IL a
coincidence, and might be explained
away"
Nickerson looked from the detective to
bis friend, then said. slowly and with rare
elaboration:
Il see. We had better talk this matter
over very carefully and quietly We mdst
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS."
oxlw 7 ~
said Mayberry
''Mayberry, tell Dunn all you know"
Whereupon Mayberry briefly related
the facts as they fell under his own OR
servation, not emitting the marks on
GrippEs neck The detective paid due at
tention TO the narrative.
''What do yen think now?' the. lawyer
asked.
1T puts a different light on the matter,
but it only confuses. 1t DON'T help to
straighten things out. We are running
off on another track, that's ALL
1T may be the only track-tfe real
track" said the lawyer
How are we TO know which. is the
right trackT
why, by showing Grip had an, object
in view; that he pursued course Of ac-
ton warranting the belief that he had
wronged one person: that he is. q man
who would not seruple to eomp.i. crime
whereas Atherton has always borne a
good reputation 49,
"You can do this?
1--WE can" said Mayberry.
''Mayberry,7 said Nickerson, 1--WE. had
best tell Mr. Dunn the story of Ather-
toms patent"
Mayberry again related the facts in a
concise manner. The detective listened
with evident interest. When Mayberry
ended, the detective said suddenly:
This is the most important of all. It
will help US to get at the truth. You say
you beheld a woman accost Gripp in the
evening? Could you describe her general
appearance-dressY
She was dressed in black, or some
thing that looked almost black She i'm
pressed me somehow as a middle-aged
woman"
when Grip paused near the news
stand, he did not have any excuse for
standing thereY'
HE avoided observation, thought,
and made sure no one was near when he
entered the house,
you are sure he entered it?"
positive"
''Now-the shadows on the curtain
you felt there was something's
Il could not leave the spot; for some
minutes, suppose six, or maybe more, /
watched for the shadow"
Gentlemen" said the detective, slow
ly, Il think the murder was committed
then. I'll give you my reason The won-
an, it is now pretty certain, was killed in
the evening. The man whose hand Mr..
May berry saw raised maybe only intend
ed to strike her. Why? Because, if he
had meant murder at first, he would have
held something in his hand. After he
struck her. either her resistance made
him furious, or she might have endeavor-
ed to cry for help, and he choked her to
DEATH"
The matter-of-fact manner in which
Dunn spoke of the killing made his listen
ers shudder. They seemed to be looking
on the tragedy. 1t was reality, as Dunn
described it.
'Then you incline to the opinion that
Grip is the murderer
THAT is a thing none of us can deter
mine until we know more. l see what
you mean," said Dunn to Mayberry; you
think because the shadows were thrown
on the curtain so soon after Grip en-
tered the house, that he committed the
murder. That will not be deemed suff-
cient We must have something more.
Let us try the glass again. what sort
Of hair is Atherton's|
Brown" said Mayberry, promptly.
"And Grips. now. What color is his
harp
Black" said Mayberry.
Dunn pointed to the paper containing
the hairs he had found in the fireplace.
IF the color of these corresponds with
Gripp's he is the man. Let us determine
the color of the hair
Mayberry and the attorney awaited the
result of Dunn's examination with ex-
traordinary interest. He invited the 9TH
ers to look. The moment Nickerson's eye
was fixed on the glass, he exclaimed:
They ale Grips beyond a peradVen-
turer'
Then Mayberry looked at the hair.
1T is Grips hair"
"You are satisfied, gentlemen
There is no doubt about il" said May
berry.
''The next thing TO do" said Dunn, rs
to prove it in court"
(To be continued1
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