Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-05-04

/ piece OF DlOttinS paper. IL WAS Wulte
on one side and blue on the other. The
white side l had thickly chalked,
though this was not apparent. Laying
down this piece Of blotting paper,
chalked side up, on the end Of a large
table near which we were standing. I
took out an envelope from my pocket
and, shaking it gently to and fro, re-
! marked:
SIN an upper room Of the Moore
house-you remember the southwest
chamber. sir?'
All, didn't he! There was no mis-
doubling the quick emotion-the
shrink ing and the alarm with which
he heard this room mentioned.
| '.It was in that room that found
| these"
Tipping up the envelope, scattered
over the face of the blotter few Of
the glistening particles had collected
| from the place mentioned.
! He bent over them, astonished; then.
as was natural, brushed them together
| in heap with the tips of his fingers
and leaned to look again just as
breathed a heavy sigh which scattered
them far and wide.
Instincdvely he withdrew his hand,
whereupon embraced the opportunity
Of turning the blotter over, uttering
meanwhile the most profuse apologies.
| Then, as Ii anxious not to repeat my
misadventure, let the blotter lie
where 1t was, and, pouring out the few
| remaining particles into my palm,
! held them toward the light in such a
way that he was compelled to lean
across the table in order to see them.
Naturally. for I had planned the dis
tsrce well. his finger tips, white with
the chalk he had unconsciously han
died. touched the blue surface of the
blotter now lying uppermost and left
their marks there.
I could have shouted in my elauon
Mt the success of this risky maneuver,
but managed to suppress my emotion
and to stand quite still while he took
good look at the filings. They seemed
to have great and unusual interest for
him, and 1t was with no ordinary emo
ton that he finally asked:
What do you make out Of these, and
why do you bring them here?'
My answer was written under his
hand, but this it was far from my pol
icy to impart. So, putting on my friend
Hest air, returned, with suitable re-
spect:
l.v, r1o< On H4 -
They look like gold, but that is for you
to decide. DO you want them. STRIP
mo-" he replied, starting erect and
withdrawing his hand from the blot
ter. Its but trifle-not worth our
attention. But thank you just the
same for bringing it to my notice"
And again his manner became plain
dismissal.
This time accepted 1t as such with
out question. Carelessly restoring the
piece of blotting paper to the book
from which had taken it, / made
bow and withdrew toward the door.
He seemed to be thinking, and the deep
burrows which am sure had been
lacking from his brow week previous
became startlingly visible. Finally he
observed:
Mrs. jeffrey was not in her right
mind when she so unhappily took her
life. see now that the change in her
dates back to her wedding day; conse-
quently any little popularity she may
have shown at that time is not to be
wondered at"
Certainly not" boldly ventured.
''if such peculiarities were shown aft
er the fright given her by the catas-
trophe which took place in the library"
His eyes, which were fixed on mine.
flashed, and his hands closed convul-
sively.
I'VE will not consider the subject"
he muttered, reseating himself in the
chair from which he had risen.
bowed again and went out did
not dwell on the interview In my own
mind, nor did allow myself to draw
any conclusions from it till had car
ried the blotter into the southwest !
chamber OF the Moore house and care
fully compared the impressions made
on 1t with the marks had scratched
on the surface of the mantelshelf.
This I did by laying the one over the
other after having made holes where
his finger tips had touched the blotter.
The holes in the blotter and the
marks outlined upon the shelf coincid-
ed exactly
(To be Continued.)