The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-25
BOOK II
The Law and Its Victim.


on hearing her name called, evinced
great reluctance to come forward. But
after two or three words uttered in her
ear by the friendly jimmy, who had been
given seat next her, she stepped
into the place assigned her with
suddenly assumed air Of great
boldness, which sat upon her with scant
grace. She had need OF all the
boldness at her command, for the eyes
of all in the room were fixed on her, with
the exception Of the two persons mos.
interested in her testimony. Scrutiny OF
any kind did not appear to be acceptable
to her. if one could read the trepidation
visible in the short, quick upheaVals OF
the broad collar which covered her UNI
easy breast. Was this shrinking on her
part due to natural timidity, or had she
failings to avow which, while not V1tlat-
ing her testimony, would certainly cause
her shame In the presence OF so many
men and women? I was not able to de-
eide this question Immediately, for after
the coroner had elected her name and
the position she held in Mr.. Jeffrey's
household he asked whether her duties
took her into Mrs. Jeffreys room; upon
her replying that they did, he further
inquired if she knew Mrs. Jeffrey's rings,
and could say whether they were all to
be found on that ladys toilet table after
the police came in with news of her
death. The answer was decisive. They
were all there; her rings and all the other
ornaments she was in the daily habit
of wearing, with the exception of her
watch. That was not there.
did you take up those rings?'
did you see any one else take them
up?"s
mo. sir not till the officer did So
very we'll, Loretta, sit down again till
we hear what Durbin has to say about
these rings"
nd hen fho
ward, and tho shrank from acknowledge
ing it even to myself I could but OBJ
serve how strong and quiet and self
possessed he seemed and how decisive
was his. testimony.
But it was equally brief. He had taken
up the rings and he had looked at them;
and on one, the wedding ring, he had
detected slight stain of blood. He had
called Mr.. Jeffrey's attention to it, but
that gentleman had made no comment.
This remark had the effect Of con-
centrating general attention upon Mr..
jeffrey But he seemed quite oblivious
of it: his attitude remained unchanged
and only from the quick stretching out
and withdrawal Of Miss Tuttle's hand
could it be seen that anything had been
sad calculated to touch or arouse this
man. The coroner cast an uneasy glance
in his direction; then he motioned Dur
bin aside and recalled Loretta.
And now I began to be sorry for the
girl. It is hard to have ones weaknesses
exposed, especially If one is more foolish
than wicked. But there was no way of
letting this girl off without sacrificing
certain necessary points, and the coro-
ner went relentless1y to work
How long have you been In this house ?"
''Three weeks. Ever since Mrs. Jeffrey g
wedding day. SIR
Were you there when she first came as
q bride from the Moore house?"
II was. sir
And saw her then for the first timer"
Eyes, sir
Flow did she look and act that first
day?"
II thought her the gayest bride I had
ever seen, then I thought her the saddest,
and then did not know what think.
She was so merry one minute and so
frightened the next, so full of talk when
she came running up the steps and SO
struck with silence the minute she got
into the parlor, that I set her down as
queer one that she was suffering from a
dreadful shock; that i'll luck had attended
her marriage and much more about what
had happened from time to time at the
Moore house,
And you believed what was told you?''
Believed it we'll enough to keep a watch
on your young mistress to see If she were
happy or not?"
''Oh, sir!'
ut was but natural" the corone,
suavely observed. Every one felt inter
ested in this marriage. You watched her
Of course. Now what was the result
Did you consider her we'll and happy?
The girls voice sank and she cast q
glance at her master which he did not lift
his head to meet.
II did not think her happy. She
laughed and sang and was always in anc
out Of the rooms like a butterfly, but she
did not wear happy look, except now anc
then when she was seated with Mr.. Jeffrey
alone. Then I have seen her flush in 6
way to make the heart ache; it was sucl
a contrast. sir, to other times when she
was by herself Or"
'Or what?''
''Or just with her sister, SIR
The defiance with which this was sale
added point to what otherwise might hav,
been an unimportant admission. Those
who had already scrutinized Miss Tuttl,
with the curiosity of an ill-defned suspi
cion now scrutinized her with more pal
pable one, and those who had hilbert,
seen nothing in this heavily yelled woma,
but the bereaved sister of an irresponsible
suicide allowed their looks to dwell pier
cingly on that concealing veil, as if the,
would be glad to penetrate it's folds AM
read In those beautiful features the mean
ing Of a1usion uttered with such
sting in the tone.
you refer to Miss Tuttle?" observe,
the coroner.
Mrs. Jeffrey's sister? Yes, SIR TIL
menace was gone from the voice now, bu
no one could forget that it had beer
there.
Miss futile lived in the house with he
sister, did she not?"
Eyes. sir: till that sister died and wa
buried; then she went away.
The cornoer did not pursue this topic
preferring to return to the former one
80 you say that Mrs Jeffrey showe
uneasiness ever since her wedding day
Can you give me any instance of this
mention, mean, any conversations over
heard by you which would show US jus
what you mean?"
1T don't like to repeat things hear
But If you say that ! must, I can remem
her once passing Mr.. and Mrs. jeffrey il
the hall. just as he was saying: You tax
it too much to heart expected happ
honeymoon. Somehow, we have failed
That was all heard. sir. But what mad
me remember his words was that she wa
dressed for some afternoon reception an
looked so charming and so-and so, as
she ought to be happier
Just So Now, when was this? Ho,
long before her death?"
'Oh, a week or So 1t was very 500
after the wedding day."
.'And did matters seem to improve afte
that? Did she appear any better Statistic
or more composed?''
~ IL ,1a< 49, on q n.