The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-01
BOOK II
The Law and It's Victim. !

THAT 1t was kept in their apartment"
Yes"
''In the upper drawer of a certain bu-
reau?"
Yes"
Now, Miss futile, will you tell us why |
you went to that drawer--if you did go to
that drawer-immediately after Mrs. JET
frey left the house?"
She had probably felt this question COM
ing, not only since the coroner began to
speak but ever since the evidence elected
from Loretta proved that her visit to this
drawer had been secretly observed. Yet
she had no answer ready.
II did not go for the pistol" she finally
declared. But she did not say what she
had gone for. and the coroner did not
press her.
Again the tide swung back.
She seemed to feel the change but did
not show 1t in the way naturally looked
for. Instead of growing perturbed or
openly depressed she bloomed into greater
beauty and confronted with steadier eye,
not us, but the men she instinctively faced
as the tide of her fortunes began to lower
Did the coroner perceive this and recog-
nize at last both the measure of her at
fractions and the power they were likely
to carry with them? Perhaps for hts
voice took an acrid note as he declared:
You had another errand in that room?"
She let her head droop just a trif1e.
Alas" she murmured
you went to the bookshelves and took
out a book with peculiar cover, a cover
which Mr.. Jeffrey has already recognized
as that Of the book In which he found O.
certain note
You have said it," she faltered.
Did you take such book out?'
II did"
For what purpose Miss Tuttle?'
She had meant to answer quickly. But
some consideration made her hesitate
ana the words were long In coming; when
she did speak, it was to say:
My sister asked another favor OF me
after had tied the ribbon. Pausing In
ner passage to the door, she in
formed me In tone quite In keepinp
with her whole manner, that she had left
note Tor her husband in the book thew
were reading together. Her reason for
ooins this, she said. was the very natura
one OF wishing him to come upon Il hv
chance, but as she had placed it in the
front OF the book instead Of in the back
where they We're reading, she was afra Id
that he would fail to find it. Would be
80 good as to take 1t out for her and in
sert 1t again somewhere near the end
she was In hurry or she would return
and do 1t herself. AS she and Mr.. Jeff
rey mad parted In anger, hailed with toy
this evidence Of her desire for a reconcil.
lation, and it was in obedience to he,
request the singularity Of which did not
w.
went to the shelves in her room and tool
down the book : =
said?" "'e'7 SIN
Yes, and put it in toward the end O.
the story" H. y
Nothing more? Did you read tn,
note?' "
ut was folded" was Miss Tuttle's quie
answer.
Certainly this woman was a thorobre,
4 or else she, was an adept in deception
such as few Of us had ever encountered
The gentleness Of her manner, the cas-,
@ tone, the quiet eyes, eyes In whose darl
ueptns great passions were visible, blu
passions that were under the control of a.,
equally forcible will, made her puzzl
70 all mems minds; but it was fascinat
Ing puzzle that awoke a species of awe Il
those who attempted to understand hel
" 10 all appearances she was the unliklies
woman possible to cherish criminal in
tents, yet her answers were rather cleve
than convincing, unless you allowed YOUR
IT self to be swayed by the look Of her beau
tiful face or the music Of her rich, sa
voice.
You did not remain before these book
shelves long?" observed the coroner.
You have witness who knows NOR
about that than do" she suggested: an
doubtless aware Of the temerity Of tn
reply, waited with unmoyed countenanc
but with visibly bounding breast, +,
what would doubtless prove a fresh a
tack.
1t was a violent one and of a charact,
she was least fitted to meet Taking i
the box have so often mentioned, tt
coroner drew away the ribbon lying {
top and disclosed the pistol. In a m,
ment her hands were over her ears
Why do you do that?" he asked I'D
you think was going to discharge it;
She smiles pitifully as she let her han,
gs fall AGAIN.
II have}a dread Of firearms" she e:
planned i always have had. Now thu
s understand said the corone
with slight glance in the directi,
Of Durbin. They had evidently plannt
this ties. together on the streng
OF an idea suggested to Durbin by h,
former action when the memory Of tn
shot was recalled to her.
Your horror seems to lie in the dire,
@ ton OF the noise they make" continue
her memorable interlocutor. Zone wou
say you had heard this pistol di
charged"
Instantly complete breaking-up Of h
hitherto we'll maintained composure a
tered her whole aspect and she vehemen
~ cried: 3
Il did, did. was on waverly ayen,
that night, and heard the shot which
all proba bility ended my sisters life
sjs walked farther than intended; I stroll,
into the street which had such bitt
memories for US. and heard-No, W
not In search Of my sister. I had not a
ISOLATED my sisters going out with al
intention of visiting this house; I w
merely troubled In mind and anxious al
and
She had overrated her strength or h
cleverness. She found herself unable
finish the sentence, and so did not II
She had been led by the impulse of t
moment farther than she had intende
and, aghast at her own imprudence, paus
with her first perceptible loss Of coura
4 before the yawning gull opening befc
her.
felt myself seized by very unco,
Portable dread lest her concealments a
unfinished sentences hid guiltier know
edge OF this crime than was yet ready
4g admit.
The coroner, who is an older man tn
myself, betrayed certain satisfacti
but no dread. Never did the uncti
which underlies his sharpest speech
show more plainly than when he auie
remarked:
"Ard 50 under similar impulse YOU
well as Mr.. Jeffrey chose this uncan
place to ramble in. To all appearance II
old hearth acted much more like lof
stone upon the members OF your fam
than you were willing at one time to 8
3 Knowledge a-
This reference to words she had hers
been heard to use seemed to overwhe
her. Her calmness fled and she ca s,
feeting look OF anguish at Mr.. Jeffr
But his face was turned from sight, a
meeting with no help there, or anywhe
indeed. save In her own powerful natu
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