Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-13


Greatly startled by the discovery, but
quite convinced that this was but the
dreadful sequel of already sufficiently
dark tragedy, L proceeded TO take such
steps as are common in these cases. Hav-
ing sent the too willing Hubbard to notify
headquarters, 1 was on the point of making
a memorandum of such details as seemed
| important, when my lantern suddenly went
out, leaving me in total darkness.
This was far from pleasant, but the effect
1t produced upon my mind was not without
its result. For no sooner did find myself
| alone and in the unrelieved darkness of this
grave-like room than L became convinced
that no woman, however frenzied, would
make her plunge into an unknown exist
ence from the midst of a darkness only too
suggestive of the tomb to which she was
Fastening. 1t was not in nature. not In
woman's nature. at all events Either she
, had committed the final act before such
| daylight as could filter through the shut
tiers of this closedup room had quite dlsap-
peared-an hypothesis instantly destroyed
by the warmth which stin fingered in
tain portions OF her body-or else the light
which had been burning when she pulled
the fatal trigger had since been carried
elsewhere or extinguished
Recalling the uncertain CLEANS which we
had seen flashing from one of the upper
windows. I was inclined to give some
| credence to the former theory, but was
disposed to be fair to both. So after re-
lighting my lamp I turned on one of the
gas cocks of the massive chandelier over
my head and applied a match The result
was just what 1 anticipated: no gas In the
n mos A ha1
the wedding. This the papers had repeat
eddy stated in dwelling upon the garish
effect of the daylight on the elaborate cos
tunes worn by the ladies. Candles had not
even been provided-ah candles! What
then was 1t that l saw glittering on a
small table at the other end of the room?
Surely a candlestick, or rather an old
fashioned candelabrum with a half-burned
candle in one of Its sockets. Hastily cross
ing to it, 1 felt of the candle wick. 1t was
quite stiff and hard. But not considering
this a satisfactory proof that 1t had not
been lately burning-the tip of a wick soon
dries after the fame is blown out-I took
out my penknife and attacked the wick at
wnat might be called its root; whereupon
l found that where the threads had been
protected by the wax they were compare
lively soft and penetrable.
The conclusion was obvious True to my
instinct in this matter, the woman had not
lifted her weapon In darkness; this candle
had been burning. But here my thoughts
received a fresh shock. If burning. then
by whom had 1t since been blown out? Not
by her. her wound was too fatally sure for
that. The steps taken between the table
where the candelabrum stood and the place
where she lay were taken, if taken at ALI
by her. before that shot was fired. Some
| one else-some one whose breath still lin
gered in the air about me-had extinguished
this candle flame after she fell, and the
death looked down upon was not a sui
eide, but murder!
The excitement which this discovery
caused to Jingle through my every nerve had
its birth in the ambitious feeling referred
to in the opening paragraph of this narra-
tive. L believed that my long sought for
opportunity had come; that with the start
given me by the conviction just stated I
should be enabled to collect such clues and
establish such facts as would lead to the
acceptance of this new theory instead of
the apparent one of suicide embraced by
Hubbard and about to be promulgated at
police headquarters. II so. what a triumph
would be mine: and what debt 1 should
owe to the Grabbed old gentleman whose
seemingly fantastic fears had first drawn
me to this place!
Realizing the value of the opportunity az
forded me by the few minutes was likely
to spend alone on this scene Of crime I
proceeded to my task with that directness
and method which had always promised
myself should characterize my first sue
cess in detective work.
First, then, for another look at the fair
young victim herself! What a line of misery
on the brow! What dark holIows disfigur-
ing cheeks otherwise as delicate the
petals of rose! An interesting. If not abb
solutely beautiful face. IL told me some
thing could hardly put into words; so that
1t was like leaving fascinating but I'M
solved mystery when / finally turned from
1t to study the hands. each of which pre-
sented separate problem. That offered
by the right wrist you already know-the
long white ribbon connecting 1t with the
discharged pistol. But the secret con-
cealed by the left. while less startling, was
perhaps fully as significant. All the rings
were gone, even the wedding ring which
had been placed there such a short time
before. Had she been robbed? There were
no signs of violence visible nor even such
by criminals hand. The boa of delicate
black net which encircled her neck rose
fresh and intact to her chin; nor did the
heavy folds of her rich broadcloth gown
betray that any disturbance had taken
place in her figure after its fall. If jewel
had flashed at her throat, or earrings
adorned her ears they had been removed
by a careful, If not a loving. hand. But
was rather inclined to think that she had
entered upon the scene of her death with
ont ornaments-such severe simplicity
marked her whole attire.
Her hat which was as plain and also as
elegant as the rest of her clothing lay
near her on the floor 1t had been taken
of and thrown down. manifestly by an im-
patient hand That this hand was her own
was evident from small but very signif-
can't fact. The pin which had held 1t to
her hair had been thrust again into the hat
No hand but hers would have taken this
precaution. man would have flung Ii
aside just as he would have flung the hat.
Question:
Did this argue q natural expectation ON
her part of resuming her hatf Or was the
action the result of an unconscious habitf
ITO be continued Monday Tune lS.l