The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-04-09

staggered for . moment. 1t was not
an easy matter to conceive an ex-
PLANTATION of the damning facts that
had been brought to light. AS for
Herbert Wright himself, he seemed
to be dazed by the chain of circum-
stantial evidence which had been
wrought around him. His face was
strong psychological study, and
upon it growing horror dcpitced it
self. Was it the despair of innocence
surrounded by network OF appar-
emily unanswerable accusations?
Every bit of testimony seemed to en-
body a charge. Or was it the stupor
Of guilt detected that appeared in his
face?
The coroner's jury made no at
terapt TO construct any theory of in
nocence, but brought in verdict
that the deceased had come to his
death from blows and wounds in
ficted by his son.
CHAPTER vi.
Irving Warde could not have ex-
planned the impulse which caused him
to seek an interview with Miriam
Wright when the coroner's jury had
finished it's investigation. 1t was
certainly not idle curiosity, nor the
mere professional instinct Of the
newsgatherer; but some occult sym
patty seemed to draw him to the
cold, emotionless young woman
whose beauty had been as great a
revelation 20 him as her personality
had been mystery.
Miriam Wright had had no expert
ence with newspaper people, and had
no horror of the interviewer. At that
time he had not attained t4le PIN
nacle of caustic opprobrium that has
since then been erected to his indus
try and his dicredit. So when Irving
Warde sent up his card she came
down immediately to the parlor to
see what was wanted Of her He had
the appearance and manners of q
gentleman-for he was one-and SO
Miss Wright's suspicious of prying
newspaper reporter were never
| aroused.
From her appearance it was evident
that she was the victim of nervous
relapse from s great mental strain.
Her behavior on the witness stand,
her marvellous self-possession until
she was led to testify in the dark,
had visibly been the result of an in
tense benumbing excitement. The
iciness had gone from her face, and
it was a helpless, feverish woman
who confronted him.
Warde found himself, strange to
say, endeavoring to allay her alarm.
Miss Wright" he said, 81 am one
Of those who believe that your
brothers innocence will eventually
be established, and I have come to
ask you whether l can be of any as
sistance whatever to you"
l. After he had said this it sounded
very foolish; but she evidently ap
preciated his good intentions, fol
she said att is very kind of you, Mr.
Warde. ] hardly know what to say
1t has come upon us so suddenly, sc
horribly that / cannot tell what W.
shall do. If, however, we should SEE
way in which you could assist
believe me, shall be only too
ready to do So"
Herbert and have been peculiar
Iy attached to each other since child
hood, and I need hardly say, Mr.
Warde. that his implication in tn
murder is to me more terrible ever
than my fathers death, and | canno
conceive how it would have been pos
sible for him to bring himself t.
commit such a crime. 1t is true tina
he was always high-strung and pas
sionate, but that he could have take
his fathers life, IL cannot believ
it,"
'T have become deeply intereste
in this case, Miss Wright, because
am satisfied that the mystery has no
vet been solved. 1t has taken hold o
me completely, and I have though
of making some Investigations in a
entirely new line. The police hav
taken up plausible theory, and hav
made out a strong case without
doubt; but it ia not a complete cas-
for the reason that there are severe
minor clews which they have ignore
entirely"
He then went on to give her a
account of his operations in tn
snow. and then continued: "The pt
ice dismiss this circumstance wit
the clumsy explanation that the ma
with the arctics stumbled across tn
corpse by accident, examined
through curiosity, then rambie
about the woods awhile, took tn
short way for town, met the con
pany following the coroner's jur'
and then went back with them to tn
} inquest. / have made number
inquiries and ascertained that tn
: unknown person was not out hun
ing, because there was no hunter
the crowd that went to see the bod
; Now on a bitterly cold day no OF
! would be apt TO go rambling arour