Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-09-20

CHAPTER K.
YINNY had not been gone an hour
from the coroner's Office when
an opportunity was afforded for
me to approach that gentleman
myself.
With few apologies and no preamble
I Immediately entered upon my story,
which I made as concise and as much
to the point as possible. I did not ex-
pect praise from him, but I did look
for some slight show Of establishment
at the nature of my news. 1 was
therefore greatly disappointed when
after a moments quiet consideration
he carelessly remarked:
every good, very good! The one
point you make is excellent and may
prove Of use to us. We had reached
the same conclusion, Int by another
road. You ask, Who blew out the can
lle| We, Who tied the pistol to Mrs.
Jeffrey's arm?' It could not have been
tied by herself. Who was her access
sorry, then? All, you didn't think Of
that"
I flushed as If a pail Of hot water
had been dashed suddenly over me.
He was right. The conclusion he spoke
Of had failed to strike me. Why? It
was a 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 had completely overlooked 1t. 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.
II am a fool" I cried. II thought 1
had discovered something. l might
have known that there were keener
minds than mine in this Office
"Easy-easy," was the good natured
interruption. "You have done we'll. II
did not think so I would not keep you
here a minute. AS 1t Is, l am disposed
to let you see that in q 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. I only wonder
that we have not seen 1t openly dis.
cussed in the papers,"
Taking a box from his desk, he open.
ed 1t and held 1t out toward me. A col
Of white ribbon surmounted by a crisr
and dainty bow me my eyes.
"You recognize it?' he asked.
Indeed l did.
ut was cut from her wrist BY nv
deputy. Miss futile wished him to I'm.
tie 1t, but he preferred to leave the
bow intact. Now lift it out. Careful
man; don't soil It You will see why In
a minute" AS l held the ribbon up he
pointed to some spots on its frest
white surface. do you see those?" he
asked. "Those are dust marks, and
they were made as truly by some ones
fingers as the impressions you noted
on the mantelshelf in the upper cham.
Der. This pistol was tied to her wrist
after the deed; possibly by that same
hand"
1t was my own conclusion, but it did
not sound az welcome to me from his
lips as l had expected. Either my ma.
ture Is narrow or my inordinate jeal.
ousy lays me open to the most aston.
tsh1ng inconsistencies, for no sooner
had he spoken these words than l ex.
perienced a sudden %revulsion against
my W theory and the suspicious
which it threw upon the man whom ar
hour before I was eager to proclaim 9
criminal.
But Coroner q. gave me no chance
for making such a fool Of myself. Res
cuing the ribbon from my hands, which
no doubt were running a little too free
~ over Its snowy surface. he smiled
with the indulgence proper from such
a mar to a novice like myself and OBJ.
served quite frankly:
"You will consider these observations
as confidential. You know how to hole
your tongue; that you have proved
Hold 1t, then, a little longer. The case
is not yet ripe. Mr.. jeffrey is a mar
of high standing, with a hitherto un
blemished reputation. 1t won't do, my
boy, to throw the doubt Of SO hideous
q crime upon SO fine a gentleman with
out ample reason. That no such mis-
take may be made and that he maj
have every opportunity for clearing
himself am going to have a confden
tial talk with nim. Do you want to be
present"
I flushed again, but this time from
extreme satisfaction.
II am obliged for your confidence
said 1. Then, with a burst Of courage
born Of his good nature, I inquired
with due respect, If my little friend had
answered his expectations. "Was she
as clever as l said" I asked.
"Your little friend is a trump" was
his blunt reply. with what we have
learned through her, and now through
you, we can approach Mr.. Jeffrey t.
some purpose. 1t appears that before
The ribbon In the box
XXX