Morris tribune., 1904-06-11


CHAPTER x.
wINNY had not been gone an hour
from the corOner's Office when
"A an opportunity was afforded FOR
me to approach that gentleman
myself.
With few apologies and no preamble
1 Immediately entered upon my story
which | made as concise and as much
to the point as possible. l did not eX-
pect praise from him, but L did look
for some slight show of astonishment
at the nature of my news. was
therefore greatly disappointed when
after q moments quiet consideration
he carelessly remarked:
every good, very good! The one
point YOU make is excellent and may
prove of use to us. We had reached
the same conclusion, but by another
road. You ask. Who blew out the can
Lle?' We, who tied the pistol to Mrs.
Jeffrey's arm?' 1t could not have been
tied by herself. Who was her acces-
sory, then? All. you didn't think of
that"
I flushed as if pail Of hot water
had been dashed suddenly over me.
lie was right The conclusion he spoke
of had failed to strike me. Why? 1t
was a perfectly obvious one. as Obv1-
ous as that the candle had been blown
CIT by another breath than hers; yet,
absorbed in my own train of thought.
] had completely overlooked it. The
coroner, observing my embarrassment,
smiled. and my humiliation was COM
plete. or would have been had Durbin
been there, but fortunately he was
not
81 am q fool" I cried. 81 thought I
had discovered something. I might
a,ave known that there were keener
minds than mine in this Office
"Easy-easy," was the good natured
interruption. "You have done we'll. If
Il lid not think so would not keep you
Aeae a minute. AS 1t IS, [ am disposed
to let you see that in a case like this
Dne man must not expect to mOnopOlize
aaN the hoDors. This matter Of the
bow of ribbon would strike any old and
experienced official. l only wonder
that we have not seen it openly dis
eussed in the papers"
Taking a box from his desk, he open
I'd 1t and held it out toward me. A coil
of white ribbon surmounted by crisp
and dainty bow met my eyes.
tYou recognize it?' he asked
Indeed did.
1T was cut from her wrist by my
deputy. Miss Tuttle wished him to I'M
tie it, but he preferred to leave the
bow Intact. Now lift it out. Careful,
man; don't soil it. You will see why in
O. minute" AS l held the ribbon up he
pointed to some spots On it's fresh
white surface. "Do you see those" he
asked. '"Those are dust marks, and
they were made as truly by some ones
fingers as the impressions you noted
ON the mantelshelf in the upper cham
ber- This pistol was tied to her wrist
after the deed: possibly by that same
hand"
1t was my own conclusion, but it did
not sound as welcome to me from his
lips as 1 had expected. Either my ma
ture Is narrow or my inordinate jeal-
Ousy lays me open to the most aston
ishing Inconsistencies, for no sooner
had he spoken these words than l eX-
perienced a sudden revulsion against
my own theory and the suspicious
which it threw upon the man whom an
hour before l was eager to proclaim a
criminal.
But Coroner q. gave me no chance
for making such fool Of myself Res
cuing the ribbon from my hands, which
no doubt were running little too free
1y over its snowy surface, he smiled
with the indulgence proper from such
a man to a novice like myself and OBJ
served quite frankly:
'sYou will consider these observations
as confidential You know how to hold
your tongue; that you have proved.
Hold it, then, little longer. The case
ds not yet ripe. Mr.. Jeffrey is a man
of high standing, with hitherto un-
$blemished reputation. 1t won't do, my
,+boy, to throw the doubt of so hideous
"a crime upon so fine gentleman with
put ample reason. That no such mis-
1oAC may UC IudL uC IllU
have every opportunity for clearing
himself | am going to have a confiden-
fial talk with him. Do you want to, be
epresent"
flushed again, but this time from
extreme satisfaction.
81 am obliged for your confidence"
said 1. Then, with q burst Of courage
1born Of his good nature, l inquired,
r with due respect. if my little friend had
answered his expectations. "Was she
as clever as l said" asked.
'Your little friend is trump" was
This blunt reply. with what we have
: learned through her. and now through
you, we can approach Mr.. Jeffrey to
IDome purpose. 1t appears that before
The ribbon in tho box