The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1904-12-08
disturbances as usually follow despo
The grsAt settle
In the room OF death

~
ntIon by criminals hand. The boa
of delicate black net which encircled
her neck rose fresh and intact to her
chin: nor dld the heavy folds Of her
rich broadcloth gown bctray that any
disturbance had taken place In her
figure after It's fall If jewel had
flashed ut her throat or earrings
adorned her ears, they had been re-
moved by careful, If not loving,
hand. But | was rather inclined to
think that she had entered upon the
scene of her death without ornaments,
such severe simplicity marked her
whole attire.
Her hat, which was MS plain and also
ns elegant as the rest of her clothing,
lay near her on the floor. 1t had been
taken off and thrown down, maniiestly
by an impatient hand. That this hand
was her own was evident from small
but very significant fact. The pin
which had held II to her hair had been
thrust agnn into the hat. No hand
but hers would have taken this precau'
ton A man would have flung 1t aside
just as he would have flung the hat.
Question:
Did this argue n natural expectation
on her part of resumlng her nat or
was the action the result of an uncon'
scOus habitI
Having thus noted all that was pos
sible concerning her without infringing
on the rights of the coroner | next pro
Cccdcd to east about for CLOVIS to the
identity of the person whom ] conSid-
cred responsible for the eXtnguished
candle. But here great diSappoint-
ment awaited me. could find moth
ing expressive of Il second persons
presence save n pile of cigar ashes
scattered near the legs of II common
kitchen chair which stood face to face
with the bookshelvcs in that part OF
the room where the candelabrum rested
on n small table. But these ashes look
ed old, nor could detect any evidence
Of tobacco smoke in the general musti'
ness pervadipg the place. Was the
, man who died here a fortnight since
accountable for these ashesf If so
his unfinished cigar must be within
+. sight. Should | search for itf No, rol
/ this would take me to the hearth anC
l TINT was quite too deadly place t
; be hecdlesSly approached.
r Besides, | was not yet finished viii
Z the spot where | then stood. II
Il could gather nothing satisfactory iron
| al, | intIll
t chair or the shelves before which
g had been placed Some one with an n
r terest in books had sat there; some on
g who expected to spend sufficient tim
] over these old tones to feel the nee
?. of n chair. Had this interest been
general one, or had 1t centered in pa
y tlculnr volume? | ran my eye over I'll
@ shelves within reach, possibly with a
x idea OF settling this question, an
If though my knowledge of books Is lin
* tied | could see that these were viii
It one might call rarlticS, Some OF thel
u contained specimens Of black letter. n
Il. moldy and SmOthered In dust; in othe
b | saw dates of publication whiC
O. placed them among volumes dear to
Of collectors heart. But none OF thel
I'd so far as | could see, gave any eN
II. dcnce Of having been lately handle
70, and. anxious to waste no time
I'd puerilc details, | hastily quilted II
he chair and was proceeding to turn Il
<. attention elsewhere when | motto
NJ on an upper shelf book projecti
slightly beyond the others. Instant
u. my foot was on the chair and tive DO
| in my hand Did | find It of intercs
ne Yes, but NOT on account of its &C
tn tents, for they were pure Greek
| me, but because ii lacked the dust
i'd its upper edge which had mark
co every other volume | had handl
This. then, was what had attracted
he unknown to these shelves, this-let
Inc see If | can remember its title-"Disq
,rk sition Upon Old Coast Lines" Psha
Use | was wasting my time. What l
An such u dry compendium as this to
full with the body lying in its blood I
ulG steps behind me, or with the hi
vas which had put out the candle upon
we'd dreadful deed? Nothing, repla
, II the book, but not so hastily as to p
ire. II one inch beyond the position
Of. which ! found it, For, If 1t had
ndy to tell, then was it my business
Get. leave that tale to be read by II
who understood books better tina
eft, did
ully My next move was toward the Il
1ne, table holding the candelabrum
zen the glittering pendants. This Il
ore. was one of nest standing again
, no nearby wall. Investigation pre-
4, AZ 80