Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-07-20

a an opportunity was afforded for
me to approach that gentleman
myself.
With few apologies and no preamble
l Immediately entered upon my story,
which made as concise and as much
to the point as possible. l did not eX-
pect praise from him, but did look
for some slight show of establishment
at the nature of my news. l was
therefore greatly disappointed when
after moments quiet consideration
he carelessly remarked:
VERY good, very good! The one
point you make is excellent and may
prove Of use to us. We had reached
the same conclusion, but by another
road. You ask, who blew out the cnn-
dle| We, who tied the pistol to Mrs.
Jeffrey's armY 1t could not have been
tied by herself. Who was her access
sorry, then? All, you didn't think of
that"
I flushed us If pail Of hot water
had been dashed suddenly over me.
He was right. The conclusion he spoke
of had failed to strike me. Why? 1t
was n perfectly obvious one, as obvi-
GUS as that the candle had been blown
out by another breath than hers; yet,
absorbed in my own train Of thought,
I Ind completely overlooked it. The
coroner, observing my embarrassment,
smiled, and my humiliation was COM
plete, or would have been had Durbin
been there, but fortunately he was
not.
81 am FOOL" l cried. II thought 1
had discovered something. might
have known that there We're keener
minds than mine in this Office
Easss-raas:J;;. tie good nNt0redd
interruption. "You have done well. If
here minute. As 1t is, am disposed
to let you see that in case like this
one man must not expect to monopolizt
all the honors. This matter of the
bow Of ribbon would strike any old ant
experienced official. only wonder
that we have not seen it openly dis
cussed in the papers,"
Taking box from his desk, he open
ed 1t and held it out toward me. A col
of white ribbon surmountcd by q crisl
and dainty bow met my eyes.
"You recognize it?" he asked.
Indeed / did.
ut was cut from her wrist by m.
deputy. Miss Tuttle wished him to un
tie it, but lie preferred to leave til,
bow intact. Now lift it out. Careful
man; don't soil 1t. You will see why ii
minute" AS held the ribbon up Ii,
pointed to some spots on its fresl
white surface. "Do you see those?" III
asked. 'Those are dust marks, ant
they were made as truly by some one.
fingers as the impressions you notet
on the mantelshelf in the upper cham
Der. This pistol was tied to her wris
after the deed; possibly by that sam,
hand"
1t was my own conclusion, but 1t dit
not sound as welcome to me from hi
lips as l had expected. Either my ma
ture is narrow or my inordinate jeal
ousy lays me open to the most aston
1shing Inconsistencies, for no sooner
had he spoken these words than l ex
perienced sudden revulsion against
my own theory and the suspicious
which 1t threw upon the man whom M
hour before was eager to proclaim O
criminal.
But Coroner q. gave me no chance
for making such fool Of myself. Res.
cuing the ribbon from my hands, which
no doubt were running little too free.
ly over its snowy surface he smiled
with the indulgence proper from such
q man to novice like myself and OBJ.
served quite frankly:
"You will consider these observations
as confidential. You know how to hold
your tongue; that you have proved
Hold 1t, then, little longer The case
is not yet ripe. Mr.. jeffrey is man
Of high standing, with hitherto un
blemished reputation. 1t won't do, my
boy, to throw the doubt of so hideous
crime upon SO fine gentleman with
out ample reason. That no such mis-
take may be made and that he may
have every opportunity for clearing
himself am going to have confiden
tial talk with him. Do you want to bt
PRESENT."
flushed again, but this time from
extreme satisfaction.
II am obliged for your confidence
said I. Then, with burst Of courage
born of his good nature, I inquired
with due respect, If my little friend hat
answered his expectations. WAS she
as clever as said?" asked.
''Your little friend is trump" was
his blunt reply. with what we have
learned through her, and now through
you, We can approach Mr.. Jeffrey t.
Ecz.e purpose. 1t appears that before
The ribbon in the box
e z,s,ll