Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-28

best she could the ground she had lost and,
with trembling question OF her own. at
tempted to put the coroner in fault and re-
establish herself.
"You say 'ramble through Do you for
a moment think that / entered that old
house?'
Miss Tuttle." was the grave, almost sad
! reply did you not know that in some
earth. dropped from flower pot overturu-
ed at the time when a hundred guests flew
In terror from this house. there Is to be
seen the mark of footstep-a footstep
which you are at liberty to measure with
your OWN
Abr she murmured, her hands going up
to her face.
But in another moment she had dropped
them and looked directly at the coroner.
Il walked there-1 never said that / did
not walk there-when l went later to see
my sister and in sight OF a number of de-
tectiveS passed straight through the halls
and into the library"
'And that this footstep," inexorably pro-
ceeded the coroner. SIS not in a line with
| the main thoroughfare extending from the
inward toward the wall as II she who
made it had stopped to lean her head
against the PARTITION
Miss Tuttle's head dropped. Probably
| she realized at this moment, If not before,
| that the coroner and jury had ample ex-
cuse for mistrusting one who had been SO
Enthusiastically caught in a prevarication;
possibly her regret carried her far enough
vice from those who had so earnestly Of
| fered it. But though she showed alike her
shame and her disheartenment. she did not
give up the struggle.
IT went into the house." she said. 1t
was not to enter that room. 1 had too
great a dread of it. If rested my head
against the wall 1t was in terror of that
shot. 1t came so suddenly and was so
| frightful. so much more frightful than any
thing you can conceive"
Then you did enter the hOuse?'
And it was while you were inside, in
stead of outside. that you heard the shot?'
IT must admit that, too I was at the
library door,"
you acknowledge that?'
But you did not enter the library.
mo, not then; not till 1 was taken back
by the officer who told me of my sisters
DEATH"
1--WE are glad to hear this precise state
ment from you. 1t encourages me to ask
again the nature of the freak which took
you into this house. You say 1t was not
from any dread on your sisters account?
What, then, was It? No evasive answer
will satisfy US, Miss Tuttle.
She realized this as no one else could.
Mr.. Jeffrey's reason for his visit there
could not be her reason. yet what other had
she to give? Apparently none.
IT cannot answer" she said.
And the deep sigh which swept through
the room was but an echo of the despair
with which she saw herself brought to this
point.
I'VE will not oblige you to-" said the cor
oner with apparent consideration. But to
those who knew the law against forcing
witness to incrim1nate himself this was far
from an encouraging concession.
However" he now went on, with sud
denly assumed severity. you may answer
this. Was the house dark or light when
you entered 1t? And how did you get in?"
1.-The house was dark, and got in
through the front door. which found
ajar."
You are more courageous than most
women! fear there are few Of your sex
who could be induced to enter 1t In broad
daylight and under every suitable protec-
tion."
She raised her figure proudly.
Miss futile. you have heard Chloe say
that you were in the kitchen OF Mr.. JEFF
frey's house when the grocer boy delivered
the candles which had been left by your
brother-in-law on the counter Of the store
where he bought them. Is this true?"
Eyes, sir, 1t Is true"
ibid you zee those candlesf'