Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-22
excaiming, passing her hand across he

Does it pain your l inquired
1T seems as though band of iron were
around it. can't think. IL can't remem-
Der" And she glanced about her help
lessly, her eyes with a wild, strange look
in them her face so haggard and drawn
that II gave her look of premature age.
ing both her cold hands. why, what's the
matter? Calm yourself, dear" Then, turn
ing 10 me. she asked, Can nothing be done,
Ralph? See, she's not herself The shock
has unbalanced her brain"
Ralph Etheiwynn!' gasped the unfor-
tunate woman, looking at us with an ex-
preston of sudden wonder. What has
happened? Did l understand you Alright
my poor husband is dead?''
Unfortunately that is the TRUTH" l was
compelled to reply 1T is a sad affair
Mary, and you have all our sympathy. But
recoilect he was an invalid and long ago
his life was despaired of"
1 dared not yet tell her the terrible truth
that he had been the victim of foul play
1T is my fault!' she cried My place
was here-at home. But-but why was I
Where did 1 go?'
Don't you remember that you went to
London with the Hennikers?" 1 said.
'Ah, of course" she exclaimed. How
very stupid of me to forget. But, do you
know, I've never experienced such a strange
sensation before. My memory is perfect
blank. How did 1 return here?"
Short fetched you in a cab
Somebody knocked at my door and said 1
was wanted because my husband had been
taken worse, so l dressed and went down.
But after that 1 don't recolect anything"
Her mind is a trife affected by the
shock" l whispered to my love. BEST
take her downstairs into one of the rooms
and lock the door. Don't let her see the
police. She didn't notice the constable at
the door. She'll be better presently"
L uttered these words mechanically. but
truth to tell, these extraordinary symptoms
alarmed and puzzled me. She had tainted
at hearing of the death of her husband, just
as many other wives might have tainted;
but to me there seemed no reason whatso-'
ever why the swoon should be followed by
that curious lapse of memory. The ques-
lions she had put to me showed her mind
to be a blank. l could discern nothing to
account for the symptom, and the only
remedy 1 could suggest was perfect quiet.
| intended that as soon as daylight came
both women should be removed to the house
of some friend in the vicinity.
The scene of the tragedy was no place for
two delicate women.
Notwithstanding Mrs. Courtnay's deter
mination to enter her husbands room,
managed at last to get them both into the
morning room, and called the nurse and
cook to go in and assist in calming her, for
her lapse of memory had suddenly been fol-
lowed by fit of violence.
II must see him. she shrieked II will
see him! You can't prevent me! I am his
wife! My place is at his side'
MY love exchanged looks with me. her
sisters extraordinary manner utterly con-
founded us.
You shall see him later" I promised, en-
deavortng to calm her. "At present remain
quiet. No good can possibly be done by
this wild conduct"
where is Sir Bernardo" she inquired.
suddenly. Have you telegraphed for MIN?
l must see him"
"As soon as the office is open I shall
wire"
Eyes, telegraph at the earliest moment
Tell him of the awful blow that has fallen
upon u.s."
Presently, by dint of much persuasion, we
managed to quiet her. The nurse removed
her hat, helped her out of her fur-lined coat
and she sat hudded up in a big "grandfa-
ther chair, her handsome low-cut gown
crushed and tumbled, the flowers she mad
worn in her corsage on the previous night
dropping and withered
For some time she sat motionless, her
chin sunk upon her breast, the picture of
detection, until all Of a sudden she reused
herself, and before we were aware of her
intention she had torn off her marriage
ring and cast it across the room, crying
wildly
And she sank back again among the cush-
ions, as though exhausted by the effort.
What was passing through her brain at
that moment, l wondered. Why should a
repulsion of the marriage bond seize her so
suddenly, and cause her to tear off the gol-
den fetter under which she had SO long
doubt; but at present all was an enigma
all save one single point.
When 1 returned to the police to urge
them not to disturb Mrs. Courtnay I
found them assembled in the conservatory
discussing an open window, by which any
one might easily have entered and left. The
mystery of the kitchen door had been
cleared up by Short, who admitted that
after the discovery he had unlocked and
unbolted it, in order to go round the out
side of the house and see whether any one
was lurking in the garden.
When 1 was told this story I remarked
that ne had displayed some bravery in act
ing in such a manner. No man cares to
face an assassin unarmed.
The man looked across at me with a GU
rious apprehensive glance and replied:
II was armed. sir. l took down one of
the old Indian daggers from the hall"
Where is it now?" inquired the in
spector, quickly, for at such a moment the
admission that he had had a knife in his
possession was sufficient to arouse a strong
suspicion.
Il hung it up again. sir, before going out
to call the DOCTOR he replied quite calmly
''Show me which it was" 1 said; and he
accompanied me out to the hall and pointed
to a long, thin knife which formed part OF
a trophy of antique Indian weapons
In an instant 1 saw that such a knife
had undoubtedly inflicted the wound in the
dead mans breast.
so you armed yourself with ths?" I re-
marked, taking down the knife with affect
ed carelessness and examining it.
Yes. doctor. 1t was the first thing that
came to hand. It's sharp, for I cut myself
once when cleaning it,
I tried its edge, and found 1t almost as
keen as a razor. 1t was about ten inches
long, and not more than half an inch broad
with hilt of carved ivory, yellow with
age, and inlaid with fine lines of silver
Certainly a very dangerous weapon The
sheath was Of purple velvet, very worn
and faded.
I walked back to where the detectives
were standing, and examined the blade be-
meath the light 1t was bright and had ap-
parently been recently cleaned. 1t might
have been cleaned and oil smeared upon
1t after the commission of the crime Yet
as far as l could discern with the naked
eye there was no evidence that it had re-
Gently been used.
1t was the mans curious apprehensive
glance that had first aroused my suspicion
and the admissions that he had opened the
back door and that he had been armed
both increased my distrust. The detectives
too, were interested in the weapon. but
were soon satisfied that, although a dam
gerous knife. it bore no stain of blood
So | put 1t back in it's case and replaced
1t. But l experienced some difficulty in
getting the loop Of wire back upon the
brass-headed nail from which it was sus-
pended; and it then occurred to me that
Snort, In the excitement of the discovery
| and ordered by Ethelwynn to go at once
| in search of me, would scarcely remain