The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-18
THE FILIGREE BALL
Being Full and True Account Of the Solution Of ss
the Mystery Concerning the Jeffrey Moore Affair.
By. ANNA KATHERINE GREEN.
Author The Leavenworth Case The Bbb ag Co

& = . 7 I + 1
''she has gone there, once too often!',
The stare he gave me was that. Of an
actor who feels that some expression Of
surprise is expected from. him.
''She?" he repeated Whom can you
possibly mean by she?" IA
The surprise expressed at this bold at
tempt at righteousness, was better sirnu-
lated than his, hope.
..You don't know" I exclaimed scan
you live directly opposite a place of such
remarkable associa lions and not interest
yourself in who goes In and out of It's
deserted doors?" EttSs fi
'1 don't SIT in. my front window he
peevisfly returned.
I let my eye roam toward a chair stand
ing suspiciously near the very window he
had designated. So Z - @
''But you saw the light suggested.
IT saw that from the doorstep when
went out to give Rudge- his usual five
minutes breathing spell on the stoop
But you have not answered my question;
whom do you mean by she?"
Veronica jeffrey" 7 replied. -.'She
who was Veronica Moore. She has Wis
tied this haunted house Of hers for the
last time"
Last time!''i Either he could not or
would not understand me.
What has happened TO my niece?' he
OlSDIaCed
the great dog and sent him. with hanging
head and trailing tail, to his own special
sleeping place under the table. HAS
she run upon a ghost in the dismal apart
ments? You interest me greatly. did
not think she would ever have the pluck
to visit this house again after what hap
pened at her wedding" - NJ
She has had the pluck assured
him; land what is more, she has had
enough Of it not only. to re-erter the
house, but to enter it alone. At least,
such Is the present inference. Had you
been blessed with more curiosity and made
more frequent use Of the chair SO con-
veniently placed for Viewing the opposite
house, you might have been in a position
to correct this Inference, It would help
the police materially to- know positively
that she had no companion In her fatal
VISIT ....fs "a III
"Fatal?' he repeated, running his finger
inside shis neckband, :. which suddenly
seemed to have grown too tight for COM
fort. Can it be that: my niece has been
frightened to death in that old place?
You alarm me-"
He did, not look alarmed, but then he
was not of an impossible nature. Yet
he was of the same human clay as the
rest Of u.s.. and, II he knew no more Of this
occurrence than he tried to make out,
could not be altogether impervious to
what had to say next. c.
: You have a right to be alarmed I
assented. "She was not frightened
to death, yet is she lying
dead on the library hoor.''s.s Then, with
a glance at the windows about me,
added lightly: II take It that a pistol-shot
in this ROOM: -
He sank rather; melodram atically into
his seat, yet his faceiand form did not lose
that sudden assumption: of dignity which
I had observed in hfrtf ever since my en-
trance into the house. -" !.
IT am overwhelmed BY this news. he:
remarked. "She has shot herself? Why 2"
Fl did not say that she had shot her
SELF" carefully repeated. "Yet the facts
point that way. and Mi: Jeffrey accepts
the suicide theory without question:, :
~ "Ah;~ Mr.: Jeffrey is~tlaere!" 49,.
Most certainly Ia was sent for at
once.'' :, = :
And Miss futile? She came with him
'shes came, but notswith him. She is
very fond of her sister, 80
[x & pAst 80 over at bnces.,,''@he cried, leap
ing afain2to his feet and looking about for
his hat 1T is my duty to make them feel
at honss in short TOTO put the house at
their disposal Here he found his hat
taad placed It on his head. "The property
Is mffe now, you know he politely ext
planned, turning, with a keen light in his
I gray&sye, full upon ME and Overwhelming
me With the grand air. Of a man who has
come unexpectedly into his own. Mrs.
fJenrsys father was my younger brother
the story is an old and long one-and the
property, which in all justice should have
;been divided between us, went entirely
to- him. But he was a good fellow in
the main and saw: the injustice of hts
fathers will as clearly as did, and years
ago made one on his own. account be-
| queathing me the whole estate in case he
left no issue, or that issue died. Veronica
was %his only child; Veronica has died;
therefore the old house is mine and all
that goes with it, all that goes with it's
Z EhereF was the miserts gloating In this
repetition of phrase. sufficiently express
siye In itself, or rather the gloating Of a
mani who sees himself suddenly rich after
a life of poverty, There was likewise a
callousness as regarded his niece's sur
prising death which + considered myself
to have some excuse for noticing.
You accept her death very calmly"
remarked: Probably you knew her to
be possessed Of an erratic mind
He was about to bestow an admonitory
kick on his dog: who had been indiscreet
enough to rise at his masters first move
but his foot stopped in mid air, in his
anxiety to concentrate all his attention
on his answer.
1 am man OF few" sentim lities,' -
he coldly averred. s"I have loved but one
person In my whole life. Why. then should
be expected to mourn over niece who
did not care enough for me to invite me to
her wedding? It would be an affectation
unworthy the man who has at last come
toS fill. his rightful position in this COM
| mun1ty as the owner Of the great Moore
estate. For great it shall be-" he en-
phatically continued: ! SIN three years you
Will not know the house over yomder. De-
spite its fancied ghosts and death-dealing
fireplace, it will stand IA Number One in
Washington. I, David Moore, promise you
this; and am notGa man to utter fatuous
prophecies. But I must be missed over
there" Here he gave the mastin the long,
delayed kick. t'Rudge, stay here The
vestibule opposite is icy. Besides, your
howls are not wanted In those old walls
| tonight even If youb!would go with me,
which I doubt. He has never been will
| Ing ITO cross to that side Of the street.
| the old gentleman went on to complain,
| with his first show Of irritation. ''But he'll
| have to overcome that prejudice soon,
even II have to tearrup the old hearth
stone and reconstruct the walls. i can't
live without Rudge, and will, not live in
any other PLACE than in the old home Of
my ancestors
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