The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-08-04

Nothing was 10 be seen there but the
marks left by the removal Of its base
from the blackened boards.
Disgusted with myself II not with
this object of my present disappoint-
ment, left that portion of the room
in which 1t stood and crossed to where
had found the little table on the night
of Mrs. Jeffrey's death. 1t was no
longer there. 1t had been set back
against the wall. where it properly be-
lOnged, and the candelabrum removed.
Nor was the kitchen chair any longer
to be seen near the book shelves. This
fact. small as it was, caused me an in
stant of chagrin. I had intended to
look again at the book which had ex-
amined with such unsatisfactory re-
suits the time before A glance showed
me that this book had been pushed
back level with the others. But | re-
membered It's title. and had the means
of reaching It Lnan ut hand | should
certainly have stolen another peep at
1t.
Upstairs I found the same signs of
police interference. The shutter had
been fastened In the southwest room
and the bouquet and wrap taken away
from the bed. The handkerchief also
was missing from the mnntel where
had left ii. and when opened the clos
ct door 1t was to find the floor bare and
the second candelabrum and candle re.
moved.
"All gone" thought leach and ev-
cry clew."
But ! was mistaken. In another mo-
mcnt | came upon the minute filings
had before observed scattered over a
smah stand. Concluding from this
that they had been passed over by Dur.
bin and his associates as valueless,
swept them. together with the dust In
which they lay. into an old envelope
happily found in my pocket. Then
crossed to the mantel and made close
inspection of its now empty shelf. The
scratches which | had made there We're
visible enough. but the impressions for
which they stood had vanished i'm the
handling which everything in the house
had undergone. Regarding with great
thankfulncss the result Of my own
foresight. made haste TO leave the
room. then proceeded to take my
first steps in the ticklish experiment
by which | hoped to determine wheth-
er Uncle David had had any share in
the fatal business which had rendered
the two rooms had just visited so
memorable.
First satisfying myself by a peep
through the front drawing room win
dow that he was positively at watch
behind the vines. went directly to the
Kitchen. procured Il chair and carried II
into the library. where put it to Il use
that 10 an onlooker's eye would have
appeared very peculiar. Planting 1t
squarely on the hearthstone--not with.
out some secret perturbation as to
what the results might be to myself
! mounted il and took down the en-
craving which have already described
as hanging over this mantcnince.
Setting it on end against one of the
jambs of the fireplace. mounted the
chair once more and carefully slfted
over the high shelf the contents of a
little package which had brought with
me for this purpose.
Then. leaving the chair where it was,
bctook myself out of the front door,
ostcntatiously stopping 10 lock it and
to put the key in my pocket.
Crossing Immediately to Mr.. Moore's
side of the street. | encountered him.
as | had expected to do, at his own
gateway.
We'll. what now?" he inquired, with
the same exaggerated courtesy had