Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-09-30

away by her sister.
The temerity which had made 1t pos
sible to associate the name Of such a
man as Francis Jeffrey with an out
rageouS crime having been thus in n
measure explained, the coroner recall
cd that gentleman and again thorough
ly surprised the gaping public.
Had the witness accompanied his
wife TO the Moore house?
No"
Had he met her there by any ap-
pointment he had made with her or
which had been made for them both
by some third person?
No.
Had he been at the Moore house on
the night of the 18th ut any time pre-
vious to the hour when he was brought
there by the officials?
NO"
Would he glance at this impression
of certain finger tips which had been
left in the dust Of the southwest cham
Der mantel?
lie had already noted them.
Now would he place his left hand on
the paper and see
1T Is not necessary" he burst forth.
In great heat II own TO those marks.
That is. I have no doubt they were
made by my hand" Here. uncon-
sciously. his eyes few to the member
In some way it had proved a traitor
to him; after which his gaze Travelled
slowly my way, with an 1ndescribable
question in it which reused my con-
science and made the trick by which
l had got the impression of his hand
seem less of triumph than l had
heretofore considered 1t. The next
minute he was answering the coroner
under oath, very much as ne had an
swered him In the unofficial interview
at which had been present.
Il acknowledge having been In the
Moore house and even having been In
Its southwest chamber, but not at the
time supposed. 1t was OH the previous
night" He went OH to relate how,
being in nervous condition and hav-
ing the key to this old dwelling In his
pocket. he had amused himself by GO
ing through its dllapidated interior.
All Of this made a doubtful impression
which was greatly emphasized when,
in reply to the inquiry as to where he
got the light to see by, he admitted
that he had come upon candle in an
upstairs room and made use Of that;
though he could not remember what he
had done with this candle afterward.
rnd looked dazed and quite at sea, till
the coroner suggested that he might
have carried it into the closet Of the
room where his fingers had left their
impression in the dust Of the mantel-
| shelf.
Then he broke down like man from
whom some prop Is suddenly snatched
and looked around for a seat. This
was given him. while silence, the
most dreadful l ever experienced, held
every one there in check. But he
speedily rallied and, with the remark
that he was little confused in regard
TO the incidents Of that night. waited
with wild look In his averted eye for
the corOners next question.
Unhappily for him. It was in continu-
alton Of the same subject. Had he
bought candles or not at the grocers
around the corner? Yes, he had. Be
fore visiting the house? Yes. Had he
also bought matches? Yes. What
kind? Common safety matches. Had
he noticed when he got home that the
box he had just bought was half emp
ty? No. Nevertheless he had used
many matches In going through this
old house. had he not? Possibly. To
light his way upstairs, perhaps? 1t
might be. Had he not SO used them?
Yes. Why had he done SO II he had
candles in his pocket. which were SO
much easier to hold and so much more
lasting than a lighted match? All, he
could not say; he did not know; his
mind was confused. He was awake
when he should have been asleep. 1t
was all dream to him.
The coroner became still more per-
sistent.
did you enter the library on your
solitary visit to this old house7"
Il believe So"
'What did you do thereT
'Pottered around. I don't remem.
ber."
"What light did you user
"a candle, think"
"You must know"
swell, had q candle. It was In a
candelabrum."
What candle and what Candida.
brumY'
1.-THE same I used upstairs, Of
course"
"And you cannot remember where
you left this candle and candelabrum
when you finally quilted the houseT
mo. wasn't thinking about can
dies"
What were you thinking aboutT
"The rupture with my wife and the
bad name Of the house I was In"
"Oh! And this was on Tuesday
nightT'
Eyes, SIR"
How can you prove this to usr'
II cannot"
But you swear
Il swear that it was Tuesday night,
the night Immediately preceding the
one when-when my wife's death rob-
bed me Of all earthly happiness"
1t was feelingly uttered. and several
faces Nghtened: but the coroner re-
peating. rs there no way you can
prove this to our satisfactionY' the
shadow settled again, and on no head
more perceptibly than on that Of the
unfortunate witness.
1t was now late in the day and the at
mosphere Of the room had become
sitting. but no one seemed to be con-
scious Of any discomfort, and q general
gasp Of excitement passed through the
room when the coroner, taking out a
box from under a pile Of papers, dis.
closed to the general gaze the famous
white ribbon with its dainty bow, ly-
Ing on top Of the fatal pistol.
That this special feature, the most
interesting one of all connected with
The teIltAis ribbon