Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-09-23
CHAPTER NJ lCOntinued.

rative and cOnciSely told, the coroner
had not interrupted her. When at this
point a.little gasp escaped Miss Tuttle
and groan broke from Francis JEFF
frey's hitherto sealed lips the feelings
Of the whole assemblage seemed to
find utterance. A young wife's misery
eliminating in death on the very spot
where she had been SO lately married!
What could be more thrilling or ap-
peal more closely to the general heart
Of humanity? But the cause Of that
misery. This was what every one pres
ent was eager to have explained. This
is what we now expected the coroner
to bring out. But instead of continu-
ing on the line he had opened up he
proceeded to ask:
"Where were you when this officer
brought the news you mention"
In the hall, sir. opened the door
for him."
And to whom did he first mention
his errand?"
ITO Miss futile. She had come in
just before him and was standing ut
the foot Of the STAIRS
What! Was Miss futile out that
EVENING""
Yes: she went out very soon after
Mrs. Jeffrey left. When she came in
she said that she had been around the
block. but she must have gone around
it more than once, for she was absent
two hours
did you let her INF"
Eyes, sir"
"And she said she had been around
the block?"
Yes, SIR
Ibid she say anything elsey
"She asked if Mr.. Jeffrey had come
in"
Anything else?'
"Then if Mrs. jeffrey had returned"
ITO both OF which questions you an
swered"-
"A plain No."
"Now tell us about the officer"
HE rang the bell almost immediate
want to slip upstairs before admitted
any one. waited a minute for her to
go, but she did not do so, and when the
officer stepped in she"-
"WenY
''She shrieked."
What. Before he spoken
Eyes, sir"
'Just at sight Of himT'
Eyes, SIR
ibid he wear his badge in plain
tieww
Eyes; on his breast"
$50 that you knew him to be police
Sficery'
"Yes."
"And Miss futile shrieked at seeing
a police officerT'
"Yes, and sprang forward"
did she say anythingY
Not then"
What did she do?'
Waited for him to speak"
(Which he didy
"At once and very brutally. He ask
ed If she was Mrs. Jeffrey's sister. and
when she nodded and gasped Yes he
blurted out that Mrs. jeffrey was dead;
that he had just come from the old
house in Waverley avenue, where she
had just been found"
And Miss Tuttle"
Didn't know what to say; Just hid
her face. She was leaning against the
newell post, SO 1t was easy for her to
do SO. l remember that the man stared
at her for taking it SO quietly and ask
ing no questions"
And did she speak at all?"
"Oh, yes, afterward. Her face was
wrapped in the folds Of her cloak, but
l heard her whisper as If to herself:
NO, no! That old hearth is not a
lodestone. She cannot have fallen
there And then she looked up quite
wildly and cried: There is something
more! Something which you have not
told me" She shot herself, If that's
what you mean Miss Tuttle's arms
went straight up over her head. 1t
was awful to see her. Shot herself? 2
she gasped. oh, Veronica, Veronica
With pistol he went OIL suppose
he was going to say, tied to her wrist,
but he never got it out, for Miss Tut
tie at the word pistol clapped her
hands to her ears and for a moment
looked quite distracted, so that he
thought better Of worrying her any
more and only demanded TO know If
Mr.. jeffrey kept any such weapon.
Miss Tuttle's face grew very strange
at this Mr.. Jeffrey. Was he there 2
she asked. The man looked surprised.
They are searching for Mr.. Jeffrey,
he replied. Isn't he here?' No. came
both from her lips and mine. The man
acted very impertinently. You haven't
told me whether pistol was kept here
or not said he. Miss futile tried to
compose herself. but l saw that l
should have to speak if any one did, SO
told him that Mr.. jeffrey did have a
pistol. which he kept in one Of his bu-