The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-09-08

uOlUS lHlS, sue s'iu' was tue Neiy
natural one of wishing him tC come
upon it by chance, but as she mad
placed 1t i'm the front of the book, in
stead of In the back where they were
reading. she was afraid that he would
fail to find 1t. Would be SO good as
to take it out for her and insert II
again somewhere near the end? She
was in hurry or she would return
and do IL herself. AS she and Mr..
Jeffrey had parted in anger, hailed
with joy this evidence of her desire
for reconciliation. and it was in
obedience to her request, the singular
ity of which did not strike me as
forcibly then as now, that / went to
the shelves i'm her room and took down
the book"
"And did you lind the note where
she said?'
Yes. and put 1t in toward the end
of the story
Nothing more? Did you read the
noteT'
1T was folded was Miss Tuttle's
quiet answer.
You did not remain before these
bookshelves longf" observed the cor
oncr
You have a witness who knows
more about that than l do she sug-
gested. and. doubtless aware of the
temerity of this reply, waited with un-
moved countenance. but with visibly
bounding breast, for what would
doubtless prove a fresh attack.
1t was violent one and of a char
acter she was least fitted TO meet. TAX.
ing up the box | have so often men
toned the coroner drew away the
ribbon lying on top and disclosed the
pistol. In "A moment her hands We're
over her ears.
"W'hy do you do that" he asked.
Did you think | was going to dis
charge it,"
She smiled pitifully as she let her
hands fall again.
Il have a dread of firearms" she cX-
planned. Il always have had Now
they are simply terrible TO me, and this
one
Il understand" said the coroner,
with a slight glance in the direction of
Durbin They had evidently planned
this test together on The strength of
an idea suggested TO Durbin by her for
mer action when the memory of this
shot was recalled to her.
Your horror seems TO lie in the di-
rectlon of the noise they make" con.
tlnued her ineXOrable interlocutor.
"One would say you had heard this
pistol discharged"
Instantly complete breaking up of
her hitherto well maintained compo.
sure altered her whole aspect, and she
vehemcntly cried:
Il did, | did. | was on Waverley
avenue that night. ana heard the shot
which in all probability ended my sis
ter's life. | walked farther than | in.
tended. | strolled into the street which
had such bitter memories for us, and
heard-no, / was not in search of my
sister. | had not associated my sisters
going out with any intention of visit
ing this house. | was merely troubled
in mind and anxious and-and''-
"And so under similar impulse you,
as well as Mr., jeffrey, chose this I'M
canny place to ramble in. To all ap-
pearance that old hearth acted much
more like loadstone upon members
of your family than you We're willing
at one time to acknowledge"
You say ramble through DO you
for moment think that entered that
old house?'
Miss Tuttle," was the grave, almost
sad, reply, did you not know that in
some earth, dropped from fowerpot
overturned at the time when hundred
guests flew In terror from this house,
there Is to be seen the mark OF foot
step-a fOotstep which you are at lib
erty to measure with your owni'
"Ah" she murmured, her hands go
ing up TO her face.
But in another moment she had
dropped them and looked directly at
the coroner.
II walked there-I never said that l
did not walk thcre-when I went later
to see my sister and in sight Of num-
Der OF detectives passed straight
through the halls and into the library"
"And that this footstep,' inexorably
the coroner, "is not in line
with the main thoroughfare extending
from the front to the back of the house,
but turned inward toward the wall. as
If she who made il had stopped TO lean
her head against the partitionr
Miss Tuttle's head dropped.
IF l went into the house." she said,
ut was not to enter that room. ! had
too great dread Of ii. II rested my
head against the wall 1t was i'm terror
Of that shot. 1t came so suddenly and
was 50 frightful, so much more fright
full than anything you can conceive"
'Then you did enter the house"
~ did"
"And 1t was while you were inside.
Instead of outside, that you heard the
shotY
Il must admit that too. was at
the library door"
You acknowledge thatT
II do"
"But you did not enter the library? 2"
"No, not then; not till WAS taken
back by the officer who told me of my
sisters DEATH"
I'VE are glad TO hear this precise
statement from you. II encourages me
to ask again the nature Of the freab