The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-12

path. that ran to the opposite extremity
of the property.
From the back kitchen a door led out
upon this asphalted tradesmen's pat and
as !, rejoined the searchers some discus
sion was in progress as to whether the
door in question had been secured. The
detective sergeant had found it unbolted
and unlocked. but the cook most positively
asserted that she had both locked and
bolted 1t at half past 10, when the under
housemaid had come in from her evening
out. None Of the servants, however,
recollected having undone the door, either
before the alarm or after Perhaps Short
had done SO, but he was absent in search
of the dead mans widow.
The police certainly spared no pains in
their search. They literally turned the
whole place upside down. One man on
his hands and knees, and carrying can
die, carefully examined the stair carpet,
to see If he could find the marks of un-
usual feet. 1t was wet outside, and if an
intruder had been there. there would
probably remain marks of muddy feet
He found many, but they were those of
the constable and the two. detectives
Hence the point beyond solution. --.-
Ihe draWing-room, the dining room the
| morning-roon and the big conservatory
were all closely inspected, but without
any satisfactory result. My love followed
US everywhere, .white-faced and nervous
with the cream chenille shawl still over
her shoulders She had hastily put up
her wealth Of dark hair and now wore the
shawl wrapped lightly about her. ~
That shawl attracted me. managed
to speak with her alone fora moment
asking her quite an unimportant question
but nevertheless with distinct object
AS we stood there placed my hand upon
her shoulder-and upon the shawl = 1t
was for that very reason-in order to feel
! the texture of the silk-that returned to
her. .--. -
The contact of my hand with the silk
was convincing. I turned from her once
again, and rejoined the shrewd men whose
object it was to fasten the guilt upon the
assassin. -.
Presently we heard the welcome sound
of cab wheels outside and few minutes
later young Mrs. Courtney, wild-eyed and
GREATNESS, rushed into the hail anil
dashed headlong up the stairs. 1, how
ever, barred her passage.
LET me pass she cried, wildly "Short
has told me he is worse, and has asked for
me. Let me pass" --~,~s -s- -.--.-.-,s
mo, Mary, not SO quickly. Let me tell
you something" I answered gravely, plac-
ing my hand firmly upon her arm The
police were again re-examining the back
premises below, and only Ethelwynn was
| present at the top of the stairs where
arrested her progress to the dead mans
room. .a-
But is there danger?" she demanded
anxiously. Tell me-
! The crisis is over I responded am
biguously. But is not your absence to-
night rather unusual?'
/ 1T was entirely my own fault she
admitted II shall never forgive myself
for this neglect. After the theater we
had supper at the Savoy, and I lost my
last train. Dolly Henniker, of course,
asked me to stay and could not refuse. >
| Then glancing from my face to that of
her sister she asked: '.Why do you both
look so strange? Tell me- she shrieked.
i Tell me the worst Is he's he dead ?''
! nodded in the affirmative
! For second she stood dumb, then ga We
vent to a long wall, and would have fall
! len senseless If I had not caught her In
my arms and laid her back upon the, long
settee placed in an alcove in the land
| ing She like all the others. had dressed
hurriedly Her hair was dishe seled be-
meath her hat, but her disordered evenin,
| dress was concealed by her long ulster
! heavily lined with silver fox,a magnificent
garment which her doting husband had
purchased through a friend at Moscow
and presented to her as birthday gift.
From her manner it was only too plain
l that she was filed with renorse I really
pitied her, for she was a light hearted
/ firty little woman who loved gaiety. and
i without an evil thought, had no doubt
allowed her friends to draw her into thai
round Of amusement. They sympathized
1 with her as every woman who marries an
i old man is sympathized with-and they
4 gave her what pleasures they could
Alas! that such a clanship between WON
/ en- SO often proves fatal to domestic hap
'piness. Judged from logical point OF