Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-05-06

CHAPTER X
vINNY had not been gone an hour
from the coroners Office when
A T. an opportunity was afforded for
me to approach that gentleman
myself
With few apologies>and no preamble
Immediately entered upon my story,
which | made as concise and as much
to the point as possible. | did not ex-
pect praise from him, but l did look
for some slight show Of establishment
at the nature Of my news l was
therefore greatly disappointed when
after moments quiet consideration
he carelessly remarked:
Very 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
dle?' We, who tied the pistol to Mrs.
Jeffrey's arm? 1t could not have been
tied by herself Who was her aces
sorry. then? All, you didn't think of
that"
I flushed as if pail Of hot water
had been dashed suddenly over me.
He was right. The conclusion he spoke
of had failed to strike me. Why? 1t
was n perfectly obvious one, as obvi-
GUS as that the candle had been blown
out by another breath than hers; yet,
absorbed in my own train OF thought,
had completely overlooked 1t. 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 fool" I cried. II thought l
had discovered something. ! might
have known that there were keener
minds than nine In this Office"
"Easy--easy," was the good natured
interruption. you have done we'll. II
/ did not think so would not keep you
ncre a frnnute As It is, am disposef
to let you see that in cnse like this
one man must not expect to monopolize
all the honors. This matter of the
bow of ribbon would strike any old and
that we have not seen it openly dis
cussed in the papers
Taking box from his desk, he OPEN
ed 1t and held it out toward me. coil
of white ribbon surmounted by a crisp
and dainty bow met my eyes.
"you recognize it?' he asked.
Irdeed did.
1T was cut from her wrist by my
deputy. Miss Tuttle wished him to un-
tie 1t. but he preferred to leave the
bow intact. Now lift it out. Careful,
man; don't soil it. You will see why In
minute As I held the ribbon up he
pointed to some spots on its 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
Der. This pistol was tied to her wrist
after the deed; possibly by that same
hand"
1t was my own conclusion, but 1t did
not sound as welcome to me from his
lips as had expected. Either my ma
ture is narrow or my inordinate Jeal-
ousy lays me open to the most aston
fishing Inconsistencies, for no sooner
had he spoken these words than l ex-
perienced sudden revulsion against
my own theory and the suspicious
which 1t threw upon the man whom an
hour before I was eager to proclaim
criminal.
But Coroner z. 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
ly over its snowy surface, he smiled
with the indulgence proper from such
man to novice like myself and OBJ
served quite frankly:
You will consider these observations
as confidential. You know how to hold
your tongue; that you have proved.
Hold 1t, then. little longer. The case
is not yet ripe. MIR. jeffrey is man
of high standing, with hitherto I'M
biemished reputation. It won't do, my
boy, to throw the doubt Of so hideous
crime upon so fine gentleman with
take may be made and that he may
have every opportunity for clearing
himself am going to have contiden-
tlal talk with him. Do you want to be
present.
/ flushed again, but this time from
extreme satisfaction.
II am obliged for your confidence"
said I. Then, with burst of courage
bornsof his good nature, I inquired,
with due respect, II my little friend had
answered his expectations. WAS she
as clever as sadly" asked.
"Your little friend is trump was
his blunt reply. with what we have
learned through her, and now through
you, we can approach Mr.. Jeffrey to
some purpose. 1t appears that before
The ribbon in the box
~