The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-28
CHAPTER XII.

For the first few moments after
making this fearful discovery Bea-
trice stood still, unable to think. So
bewildered was she by the events of
the evening, by the quarrel in the
drawing-roonl, the exciting interview
she had had with the housekeeper,
and finally by her own rapid flight
from the house and the knowledge
that some unseen person had passed
her at the door of the chalet, that it
was not for some moments that she
was able to collect her thoughts and
to ask herself how the bloodstain had
got on her hand.
Inside the lower room Of the chalet
she had felt her way cautiously, and
had come in contact with nothing
whatever after the swift passing,
either in or out, Of the unseen figure
whom she could not identify.
Yet there, on her hand, was the
tell-tale stain, which showed that
some accident had happened, or that
some deed Of violence had been COM
mitted within the walls Of the chalet.
She wanted to go back, but nerv-
GUS dread paralyzed her. And what
could she do without light? Yet, if
she were to return to the house, MAX
ing her way alone thru the wood and
across the grass, what might not hap
pen while she was away?
Overmastering her fears and her
weakness came the thought that it
lying wounded In the dark room she
had just left, that he might be bleed
ing to death as result Of wound
dealt by the revengeful Burnet
These conflicting feelings had had
possession of her for a few moments
only when she conquered her own fee
bleness Of will and of mind and bold
" a nf
once more.
Keeping the door open with stone
which she found outside, she peered
into the great bare room, discerning
at last, when her eyes became accus-
toned to the darkness, the faint out
lines Of the objects she knew-the
rustic sofa and the chairs, the rough
table, the bench at one end. Now
sure that there was no one in the room
besides herself, she carefully made a
tour Of 1t, finding nothing out of it's
place, nothing new, nothing missing.
Then she stood, in a state, Of stupe-
faction, in the middle Of the floor
had fallen on her hand?
Once more she put herself as near
~ as possible in the same position as
that in which she stood when she felt
1t fall upon her, and as she did SO,
the same thing happened again; she
Ielt something on ner hand and drew
back, shuddering.
| Raising her eyes to the ceiling she
fancied she could discern stain on
the plaster: and an exclamation broke
from her lips as she told herself that
it was not in the room below, but in
the one above that she must look
for the solution Of the terrible mys-
terry.
There was blood coming thru the
ceiling.
She rushed out Of the room and as
cended the outer staircase. The door
of the roof above was ajar. Before
she had thrown it open she caught
sight Of something lying on the floor
near the fireplace; where the glowing
Goals gave light enough for her to see
that it was here indeed that the trag-
Iedy had taken place, the fear Of which
had been hanging upon her soul.
For the huddled up something on
the floor was the body of man.
| With a cry she rushed In, knelt
| down, and raised his head from the
floor. 1t was Lord Catherington. white