The Cairo bulletin., 1904-04-14
The ereat settle
In the room Of death

*
alton by a criminals hand, The boa
of delicate black net which encircled
her neck rose fresh and intact to her
chm nor did the heavy folds of her
rich broadcloth gown betray that any
disturbance had taken place in her
| figure after its fall. If a jewel had
flashed at her throat, or earrings
adorned her ears, they had been re-
moved by a careful, If not q loving,
( hand But | was rather inclined to
| think that she had entered upon the
scene of her death without ornaments,
such severe simplicity marked her
whole attire
Her hat, which was as plain and also
| az elegant as the rest of her clothing.
lay near her on the floor. 1t had been
taken off and thrown down, manifeStly
by an impatient hand. That this hand
was her own was evident from small
but very significant fact. The pin
| which had held it to her hair had been
thrust again into the hat, No hand
but hers would have taken this precau-
ton. A man would have flung il aside
just as he would have flung the hat,
Question:
Did this argue natural expectation
on her part Of resuming her hat, or
was the action the result of an uncon-
sclous habit?
Having thus noted all that was pos
sible concerning her without infringing
on the rights of the coroner, next pro
cceded to cast about for clews TO the
identity Of the person whom | consid-
cred responsible for the extingushed
candle But here great disappointr
ment awaited me. | could find moth
ing expressive of second persons
presence save pile of cigar ashes
scattered near the legs of common
kitchen chair which stood face to face
with the bookshelveS In that part Of
the room whore the candelabrum rested
on small table, But these ashes look
ed old, nor could detect any evidence
Of tobacco smoke in the general musti-
ness pervading the place Was the
man who died here a fortnight since
accountable for these ashes? If so,
his unfinished cigar must be within
sight. Should search for 1t? No, for
this would take me TO the hearth and
that was quite too deadly q place to
be heedessly approached
Besides. | was not yet finished with
the spot whore ! then stood If !
could gather nothing satisfactory from
the ashes, perhaps | could from the
chair or the shelves before which it
had been placed. Some one with an in
terest in books had sat there; some one
who expected 70 spend sufficient time
over these old tones 10 feel the need
Of a chair Had this interest been a
general one. or had It ceutered in a par
ticular volume? | ran my eye over the
shelves within reach, possibly with an
idea of settling this question, and
though my knowledge Of books is linn
tied | could see that these were what
one might call rarities. Some Of them
contained specimens of black letter. all
moldy and smothered in dust; in others
saw dates of publication which
placed them among volumes dear to
collectors heart. But none Of them.
so far as | could see. gave any owl
Il NJ In yin az q MI
and. anxious TO waste no time on
puerie details. | hastily quilted my
chair and was proceeding to turn my
attention elsewhere when ] noticed
on an upper shelf book projecting
slightly beyond the others. Instantly
my foot was on the chair and the book
In my hand. Did find it Of interest.
Yes. but not on account OF its con
tents, for they were pure Greek to
me, but because it lacked the dust OH
its upper edge which had marked
every other velume~I had handled.
This. then, was what lad attracted the
see If can remember its title-"Disqui-
sition Upon Old Coast Lines pshaw!
| was wasting my time. What had
such dry compendium as this to do
with the body lying in its blood few
steps behind me. or with the hand
which had put out the candle upon this
dreadful deed? Nothing ! replaced
the book. but not SO hastily as to push
It one inch beyond the position in
which found it. For. if it had a tale
TO tell. then was it my business TO
/ leave that tale TO be read By those
who understood books better than
did.
Ny next move was toward the little
table holding the candelabFum witt,
/ The glittering pendants This table
was one of a nest standing against
nearhr wen Investigation nEDTla
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