The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-08-11

WOulO nave uStOnlsIeu uiiu. Dus VN
pectation does not preclude dread--in-
deed. Il tends to foster it-and dread
was in his heart. This he had no pow
er to conceal.
"To what am I indebted for this sec
ond visit from your he asked Of Coro-
ner H., with an admirable presence OF
mind. "Are you not yet satisfied with
what we have been able to tell you OF
my poor wife's unhappy end?"
I'VE are not" was the plain re-
sponse. '"rhere are some things you
imve not attempted to explain, Mr..
Jeffrey-for instance. why you went
to the Moore house previous to your
being called there by the death of your
Wife"
1t was shot that told, an arrow
which found its mark. Mr.. jeffrey
flushed. then turned pale. rallied and
again lost himself in maze OF con-
fictlng emotions, from which he only
emerged tc say:
How do you know that was there?
Have | said so. or do those old walls
babble in their slecp?"
"Old walls have been known to do
| this" was tho grave reply. whether
| they had anything to say in this case
| il at present quite immaterial. That
you We're where ! charge you with be-
ing is evident from your own manner.
May I then ask IL you have anything
to say about this visit? When per-
son has died under such peculiar cir.
cumstances as Mrs. Jeffrey, everything
bearing upon the case is Of interest to
the coroner
"NIrs. Jeffrey's death was strange
one" her husband admitted, with tar.
dy self control. ~ and myself as much
ut q loss to undetsta it as you do
and am therefore quite ready to an
swer the question you have so openly
broached: not that my answer has any
bearing upon the point you wish to
make, but because 1t is your due and
my pleasure did visit the Moore
house, as I certainly had every right
to do. The property was my wife's,
and it was for my interest to learn II
could the secret of its many crimes"
"Ahw
Mr.. Jeffrey looked quickly up. "You
think that an odd thing for me to do!"
"At night-yes.'
might is the time for such work. |
did not care to be seen pOtterins
around there in daylight
mo? Yet IL would have been so
much easier. You would not have had
TO buy candles or carry pistol orr
Il did not carry a pistol. The only
pistol carried there was the one with
which my domented wife chose to take
her life. do not understand this allu.
sion"
"lt grew out OF misunderstanding
of the situation. Mr.. Jeffrey. Excuse
me If l supposed you would be likely
TO provide yourself with some means
of defense in venturing alone upon the
scene Of so many mysterious Deaths"
Il took no precaution."
And needed none. suppose"
"And needed none.'
"When was this visit paid, Mr.. JET.
frey-before or after your wife pulled
the trigger which ended her life? You
need not hesitate 10 answer"
Il do not" The elegant gentleman
before us had acquired certain fierce
ness. "Why should I? Certainly YOU
don't think that | was there at the
same time size was. 1t was not on the
same night even. SO much the walls
should have told you and probably did
or my wifc's uncle. Mr.. David Moore
Was he not your informantT
| g., 70 lnI tn
our attention 10 this fact. Did you NEE
Mr.. Moore during the course of youi
visit to II ncighborhood over which
he seems to hold absolute swayY'
Not to my knowledge. But hi
house Is directly opposite, and as III
has little TO do but amusc himself will
what he can see from his front win
, dow I concluded that he might hav'
observed me going in"
"You entered by the front door
them
"IIow else!"
"And ON what nlghtr'
Mr.. Jeffrey made an effort Thes
questions were visibly harassing him.
, The night before the one-the on
which-ended all my earthly happi
ness" he added in a low voice.
, Coroner u. cast glance ut me. l re
/ membered the lack OF dust on the mes
Of little tables from which the uppe
7 one had been drawn forward TO hol
) the candelabrum and gently shook m
: head. The cOroner's eyebrows wen
: up, but none of his disbelief crept int
7 his voice as he made this additions
! statement:
"The night on which you failed t
. return 10 your own house"
Instantly Mr.. Jeffrey betrayed by
nervous action, which was quite II
voluntary, that his outward calm wa
slowly giving way under fire Of ques
g tions for which he had no ready repl.
!, 1T was odd your not going HON
! that night" the coroner coldly pu
e sued. 'The misunderstanding you ha
with your wife Immediately afte
> breakfast must have been very ser
e Gus one, more serious than you hav
D hitherto acknowledged
0 II had rather not discuss the sui
ject," protested Mr.. Jeffrey. Then q
If he suddenly recognized the ofiici;
character Of his interlocutor he hastil
added, Unless you positively reques
me to do so. in which case ! must"
II am afraid that must insist upo
It," returned the other. You will lin
that ii will be insisted upon at the il
quest, and II you do not wish to sui