The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-08-11


from the cOroner's office when
AZ an opportunity was afforded for
me to approach that gentleman
myself.
With few apologies and no preamble
Immediately entered upon my story,
which made us concise and as much
to the point as possible. ] did not ex-
pect praise from him. but l did look
for some slight show of astonishment
nt the nature Of my news. l was
therefore greatly disappointed when
after moments quiet consideration
he carclessly remarked:
every good. very good! The one
point you make is excellent and may
proyc OF use to us. We had reached
the same conclusion, but by another
road. You ask. Who blew out the can
die? We, Who tied the pistol to Mrs.
Jcffrey's arI;' II could not have been
tied by herself. Who was her acces-
sorry, then? All. you didn't think Of
that
I flushed as IL 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 a perfectly obvious one. as obvi-.
GUS ms that the candle had been blown
out by another breath than hers; yet.
absorbed In my own train OF thought.
I had completely overlooked 1t. The
coroner. observing my embarrassment.
smiled. and my humiliation was COM
plctc, or would have been had Durbin
been there. but fortunately he was
not.
II am fool cried 81 thought /
had discovered something. I might
have known that there were keener
minds than mine in this Office
"Easy-casy." was the good natured
interruption. "You have done well. II
did not think so would not keep you
here Il minute. AS IL is. | am disposed
TO let you see that in n case like this
one man must not expect TO monopoliZe
all the honors. This matter of the
bow of ribbon would strike any old and
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 II ont toward me. A coil
of white ribbon surmounted by crisp
and dainty bow met my eyes.
You recognize III" he asked.
Indeed did.
ut was cut from her wrist by my
deputy. Miss Tuttlc wished him to un-
tie It. but he preferred TO leave the
| e, nj
man: don't soil 1t. You will see why in
minute" As held the ribbon up he
pointed to sOmc spots on its fresh
white surface. DO you see thoseT he
asked. Those are dust marks. and
they were made as truly by some ones
fingers us the impressions you noted
on the mantelshelf in the upper cham
bcr. This pistol was tied TO her wrist
after the deed; possibly by tls.t same
hand"
1t was my own conclusion. but IL did
not sound as welcome TO me from his
lips as | had expected. Either my ma
turc Is narrow or my inordinate jeal-
ousy lays me open to the most aston
ishing Inconsistencies. for no sooner
had he spoken these words than eX-
perienced II sudden rcvulsion against
my own theory and the suspicious
which ii threw upon the man whom an
hour before l was eager TO proclaim a
criminal.
But Coroner z. 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
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 II, then. a little longer. The case
il not yet ripe Mr.. jeffrey Is a mar
Of high standing, with hitherto un
blemished reputation. 1t won't do, my
boy, to throw the doubt Of so hldeous
crime upon so tine 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 b'
present.
flushed again, but this time from
extreme satisfaction.
} ~ am obliged for your confidence,
: said I. Then, with burst Of courage
born of >hls good nature, inquired
with due respect, il my little friend hat
answered his expectations. Was sh'
as clever as said?" asked.
"Your little friend is trump" wa
his blunt reply with what we hav'
learned through her, and now through
{ you, we can approach Mr.. jeffrey I
! some purpose. II appears that befor
I The ribbon in the boK