Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-02-11

space, still lingering her cheek
4 man with flushed face and dishev-
eled dress sprawled breathing mys-
! teriously ON the sofa. beside him a
half empty decanter, She listened in
tently; not soul was stirring; the
! clock on the mantelpiece pointed to
close ON 1880
The household were asleep up
/ above.
! She took a slender little dagger
from the writing table-a toy of high.
! " FURNISHED steel and jeweled handle,
/ intended for a paper cutter-on the
blade was engraved a single word
1 the Italian for Remembrance"
! She tried the point on her finger,
then crossing to the drunken man, she
struck sharply twice, and flung ii
away. A convulsive shudder ran
! through him: he moaned feebly once
! and then lay still, whilst She stood by
and watched with grave eyes.
! She glanced at her gloves-they
were not soiled. Then moving huy-
riedly but methodically. she arranged
! the room-a chair overturned here, a
! rug kicked up there With deIibera.
ton she took up the massive silver
! inkstand and laid it on its side, so
/ that n sluggish black stream trickled
across the polished satinwood and
! dripped slowly to the floor Finally
! she disturbed a few things on the man.
! telpiece. and. taking the clock turned
| the hands backwards till they pointed
! to 12;45, Then she dropped it heavily
! ON the thick bearskin rug. 1t made no
( noise, but the mechanism gave a
faint click and stopped, Then she left
! by the way she had eome-the gar.
= den gate swinging idly behind her
| Alter Walking hundred yards or
SO she saw a cab and called it. Just
! as she got i'll the first heavy drops of
! the thunder storm fell splashing ON
the pavement,
She entered Lady Mallison's ball
! room. looking radiant and charming,
within a few minutes of the half hour.
Her carriage was more erect than
ever, her laugh rang clearly and
sweetly her eyes. mclouded with
trouble, dazzled those she danced
| with
| Some little time afterwards the man
who had spoken to her earlier in the
! evening approached She beckoned to
| him. You see" she said, gayly, "a
was right when | said an revor A
dance? Yes you may have the next
! My headache has gone. After, You
must feed me; | am famished.
She was at supper when a servant
in livery came dashing up to the Nal
| lisons' in a furiously driven hanson
| Mrs. Prothero?" he asked the foot
man at the door. Il must see her at
! once, please Send message to her.
| It's of vital Importance.
| There was minutes colloquy with
the butler, an exclamation of surprise,
and a servant who knew her by sight
was dispatched to find her.
What is it? What on earth can the
man want?" she asked, as the servant,
having discovered her. delivered his
message incoherently. 81 suppose
must go and see what it is myself"
'No, don't do that" said her com.
| panion, rising; "let me speak to the
| fellow for you I'll be back in a min
ute"
He left her, as she nodded with a
smile of thanks, and lifted her glass
| to her lips with a steady hand
| In little he came hurrying back to
her, pale and excited, forcing his way
towards her through the crowded
room.
Come out, please-comc out of
here at once" She trembed slightly,
and did as he babe.
Il have news for you-bad news. .
he said, hoarsely. There has been
an accident; terrible thing has hap.
pened Your husband"
"Ah!" 1t was faint cry, but she
| steadied herself at once. so that the
man marveled at her control little
guessing the truth,
If you will let me. will come with
! you" said he. 81 can save you trouble.
! 1t will be easier for you"
She assented in silence, and let hin
| lead her to a carriage.
The murder was a seven days won.
der Openly. people sympathized with
! her When away from her. they
agreed amongst themselves that it
was the luckiest thing that could have
happened.
The police tried their utmost. but
not a clew of any sort could they OH,
tain 1t was generally put forward
! as a theory that some burglar or
tramp had found the garden gate ajar
lit was the intermittent banging of
! il that had reused one Of the men
servants from his sleep. and so led To
! the discovery of the crime-had slip
| ped in. there had been a struggle. as
evidenced by the disturbed state oi
the room, and that he had snatched
up the knife which lay ready to his
hand and struck got frightened and
hurried away. The hour Of the deed