The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-11

ana We Deen a COHStdDIe III titIS Sup-oA |
vision for eighteen years. I:
'The man--what's his name--Short
Do you know him?" r.. I
Eyes sir. I've often seen him in the
Star and Garter at Kew Bridge
'DrinkS?' .''.
mot much, sir. He was fined oyer at
Brentford- six months ago for letting a
dog go unmuzzled. His greatest friend is
one Of the gardeners at the Palace-a
man named Burford, most respectable
fellow Il
''Then there's no suspicion Of anyone.
as yet?" remarked the inspector. with
an air of dissatisfaction. In criminal
| mysteries the police often bungle from the
| 'outset, and to me it appeared as though,
| having no clue. they were bent on manu-
featuring one. -. .'...
! felt in my vest pocket and touched the
| little object with a feeling Of secret salts
| faction. How longed to be alone for five
minutes in order to investigate it!
The inspector having dismissed the con-
stable and sent him back to his post to
unlock the door for the detective to pass
| out, next turned his attention to the SER
wants and the remainder of the house. |
With that object we all descended to the
ldining room.
Ethelwynn met us at the foot of the
stairs still wearing the shawl about her
head and shoulders. She placed a trem
bling hand upon my arm as I passed,
asking in a low, anxious voice: '
Have you found anything, Ralph? Tell
me-" -"
mo, nothing I replied and then
passed into the dining room, where the
nurse and domestics had been assem-
bled.
The nurse, a plain, matter Of-fact wo-
man. was the first person to be ques-
7 toned She. explained to us how she had
given her patient his last dose of medicine
at half past IL, just after Miss Mivart had
oh hor joht nd 1-ofjr n6 RI hor
room. Previously she had been down In
the drawing-room chatting with the young
lady. The man Short was then upstairs
with his master. 1-.. H..
WAS the deceased gentleman aware Of
his wife's absence? the inspector asked,
, presently. .--....-
Eyes. He remarked to me that it was
time she returned. 1 presume that Short
had told him.
What time was this?' -'
;, ooh about half past TO- should think"
> }replied Nurse Kate. HE said something
= about 1t being a bad night to go out to a
~ theater,- and hoped she would not take
cold.'
HE was not angry?''
:. mot in the least He was never angry
= when she went to town. He used to say
to me: My wife's a young woman, nurse.
It She wants little amusement sometimes,
e and I'm sure don't begrudge it her."
= puzzled the detective. I had certainly
n been under the impression that husband
e and wife quarreled over the latter's fire.
quent absences from home. Indeed. in a
d household where the wife is young and the
| husband elderly, quarrels Of that character
,e are almost sure to occur sooner or later
lie. AS a doctor knew the causes Of domestic
le infelcity in good many homes. Men ir
es my profession a good DEAL and hear
I'd more Every doctor could unfold strange
"a tales Of queer menages, II he were not de-
of barred by the bond Of professional Sc
IN crecy.
n, you heard no noise during the night?'
ry inquired the inspector.
, None. I'm light sleeper rule
y, and wake at the slightest sound thu
woman replied, but I heard absolutel,
Us nothing"
n anyone in order to enter the dea,
mans room, must have passed your door
rs T think?'' ..- ~.
a Eyes. And what's more the light wa
", burning and my door was ajar; Away
az kept it so in order to hear If my patient
% wanted anything ,.s -'.. r-s@"
&C. ''Then the murderer could see you as h
= stood on the landing?' t.....-
mo. There's screen at the end G
my bed. He could not see far into tn
ROOM. But shudder to think that to
night I've had an assassin dozen fee
to from me while I slept" she added.
M Finding that she could throw no list
tea upon the mysterious affair the office
I've turned his attention to the four frightene
BILE domestics each in turn. =. az, s:,s-
ere All, save one, declared that they hear
by not a single sound The one except1o
uld was Alice. the under housemaid a your
n, fair haired GIRL who stated that durin
Ind the night she had distinctly heard
VS. sound like the low creaking of light shoe
the on the landing below where they slept.
ind This first aroused our interest but (
ing full reflection it seemed utterly in
esh probable that an assassin would we;
My pair Of creaking boots when on such {
as errand that we were inclined to disrega
ny the girls statement as q. piece of imai
US nation. The feminine mind is much gi
ind en- to fiction on occasions of tragic event
and But the girl over and over again a
An serted that she had heard it. She sic
mi alone in a small room at the top Of t
you second flight of stairs and had hea
mad the sound quite distinctly.
when you heard it what did you do
IN IT lay and listened
'eu- .''For how long?'
"e "Oh, quite a quarter, of an hour,
ont should think It was just before ha
II;s past one when heard the noise,
a115 the church clock struck almost INN
IN, diately afterwards. The sound of
in -, movement was such as I had never
title fore heard at night, and at first +
frightened. But always Jock my do
!, in therefore felt secure. !, The noise v
,ked just like someone creeping along Ye
II slowly. with one boot creaking."
n it But if it was SO loud that YOU COZ
utes1 hear 1t with your doof. cioseu, II Is slrdi
use that no one else heard it." the detect
~ 81 Il, I,,hi n.1- 1r,