Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-09-21


inscrutable way had In so
short time led to her own-was IN
Overwhelming surprise to every one
Of us.
The superintendent as was natural,
recovered first.
'oThis throws quite a new light upon
the matter" said he. "Now we can
understand why Mr.. jeffrey uttered
that extraordinary avowal overheard
on the bridge: She must die! She
had come to him with blood on her
hands,"
Addressing the major, the district ut
torney asked when he expected to hear
from Denver, adding that it had now
become Of the first importance to ascer.
tain the exact relations existing be.
tween the persons under suspicion and
the latest victim OF this deadly
mechanism.
He had hardly ceased speaking when
IN officer appeared with telegram in
his hand. This the major eagerly took,
and. noting TINT 1t was in cipher, read
1t by means of the code he carried in
his pocket. Translated. 1t ran thus:
"Result of open inquiry in Denver:
'Three brothers Pfeifrer, all well
thought of, but plain in their ways and
eccentric. One doing business in Den
yer; died June, '07. One persisted in
Klondike, October, same year; and
one, by name Wallace, died suddenly
three months since in Washington.
Nothing further gained by secret In
quiry in this place"
Result Of open inquiry in Owosso:
"a man named Pfeifter kept store
in Owosso during the time v. NJ. at
tended school there. He was one Of
three brothers. home Denver, name
Wallace. simultaneously with v. Ms
leaving school P. broke up business
and ut instigation Of his brother Will
liam. who accompanied him, went to
the Klondike. No especial relation be-
tween lady and this same P. ever not
ed. v. NJ. once heard to laugh at his
awkward ways"
"Result Of secret inquiry in Owosso:
Nv. NJ very intimate with schoolmate
who has since died. Often rode to-
gether; once gone long time. This
was just before v. n. left school for
good. Date same as that on which a
marriage occurred In town twenty
miles distant. Bride, Antoinette Moore;
groom, w. Pfeifrer Of Denver; witness,
young girl with red hair. schoolmate
had red hair. Had v. NJ. middle in
itial, and was that initial AT"
We all looked at each other. This
Inst question was one none of us could
answer.
go for Mr.. jeffrey at once" ordered
the major. land let another one of you
bring Miss Tuttle. No word to either
Of what has occurred and no hint Of
their possible meeting here"
1t fell to me to fetch Miss Tuttle. I
was glad Of this, as 1t gave me few
minutes by myself in which to COM
pose my mind ind adjust my thoughts
to the new conditions opened up by
the amazing facts which had Just come
to light But beyond the fact that Mrs.
jeffrey had been answerable for the
death which had occurred in the libra
~ at the time Of her marriage-that In
the words Of the district attorney, she
had come to her husband with blood on
her hands-my thoughts would not 20.
Confusion followed the least attempt
to settle the vital question of how far
Miss futile and Mr.. jeffrey had been
involved in the earlier crime and what
the coming interview with these two
would add to our present knowledge.
In my anxiety to have this question an
swered hastened my steps and was
soon ut the door of Miss Tuttle's pres-
ent dwelling place.
doubt II she noticed my agitation.
She was too much swayed by her own.
Advancing upon me In all the uncon-
scious pride Of her great beauty, she
tremulously remarked:
"You have message for me. Is It
from headquarters, or has the district
attorney still more questions to askT
~ have much more trying errand
than that" hastened to say, with
some idea of preparing her for IN ex-
periencc that could not fail to be one
of exceptional trial. "For reasons
which will be explained to you by
those in greater authority than myself
you are wanted at the house where
where could not help stammering
under the light of her melancholy eyes
-"where saw you once before"
lamely concluded.
1.-THE house In Waverley avenueY,
she objected wildly. with the first signs
of positive terror I had ever beheld In
her.
l nodded. dropping my eyes. What
call had to penetrate the conscience of
this woman?
Are they there-all thereY she pres
emily asked again. 1.-The police and
and Mr.. Jeffrey1"
Madam" respectfully protested,
my duty is limited to conducting you
to the place named. A carriage Is wait
Ing. May beg that you will prepare
yourself to go at once to Wnverley ave-
nuew
For answer she subjected me to q
long and earnest look which I found II
impossible to evade. Then she hasten
ed from the room. but with very un.
steady steps.
When she returned ready for her ride
this change in her spirits WINS less OBJ
seryablc, and by the time we had
reached the house in Waverley avenue
she had so far regnined her old courage
as to move and speak with the calm
ness Of despair IL not of mental seren-
ity.
The major was awaiting us at the
door and bowed gravely before her
heavily yelled figure.
Miss Tuttle," he asked, without my
preamble, the moment she was well in
side the house, may inquire of you
here, and before show you what will
excuse us for subjecting you to the dis
tress Of entering these doors, whether
your sister, Mrs. jeffrey, had any other