Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-30

was assigned me by the captain which
| took me from the house, and l missed
the next scene-the arrival Of tbs cor
oner. But repaid myself for tins loss
in way l thought justified by the i'm
portance OF my own theory and the evil
dent necessity there was Of collecting
each and every point Of evidence which
could give coloring to the charge, i'll the
event of this crime coming to be looked
on at headquarters as enc of murder.
Observing that light was still burn
ingin Uncle David's domicile, crossed
to his door and rang the bell. ! was
answered by the deep and prolonged
howl Of dog, soon cut short by his
masters amiable greeting. This latter
was surprise to me. l had heard so
often of Mr. Moore's churlishness as
host that nad expected some rebuff.
But I encountered no such tokens OF
| hostility. His brow was smooth and his
smile cheerfully condescending. In
deed, he appeared anxious to have me
enter, and cast an indulgent look at
Nudge, whose irrepressible joy at this
break in the monotony Of his existence
was tinged with very evident dread
of offending his master. Interested
anew, I followed this man Of contra
dictory impulses into the room toward
which he led me.
The time has now come for more
careful description of this peculiar
man. Mr.. Moore was tall and of that
refined spareness Of shape which sug
gests the scholar Yet he had not the
scholars eye. On the contrary, his re-
gard was quick, if not alert, and while
it did not convey actual malice or Ill
will it reused in the spectator an UNI
comfortable feeling not altogether
easy to analyze. He wore his iron
gray locks quite long, and to this dis
tinguishing idiosyncrasy, as well as to
his invariable custom Of taking his
dog with him wherever he went. was
due the interest always shown In him
by street urchins On account of his
whimsicalities be had acquired the cpl
tibet Of Uncle David among them, de-
spite his, aristocratic connections and
his gentlemanlike bearing. His clothes
formed no exception to the general air
Of individuality which marked him.
They were of different cut from those
Of other men, and in this as in many
other ways he was law to himself;
notably SO in the following instance:
He kept one day Of the year religiously.
and kept it always in the same way.
Long years before he had been blessed
with wife who both understood and
loved him. He had never forgotten
this fact, and once year, presumably
on the anniversary of her death, 1t was
his custom to go to the cemetery where
she lay and to spend the whole day
ander the shadow Of the stone he had
raised to her memory. No matter what
the weather, no matter what the condi-
ton Of his Own health, he was always
to be seen in this spot, at the hour Of
Z, leaning against the shaft on which
the name of his wife was written, eat
ing his supper In the company Of his
dog.
So much for one Oddly which may
stand as sample of many others.
One glance at the room into which he
ushered me showed why he cherished
SO marked dislike for visitors. 1t
was bare to the point Of discomfort,
and had it not been for a certain
quaintness in the shape of the few ar
ticles to be seen there should have
experienced decided feeling Of repul-
sion, so pronounced was the contrast
between this poverty stricken interior
and the polished bearing Of its owner.
He, am sure, could lave shown no
more elevated manners if he had been
doing the honors Of palace. The or
gan. with the marks Of home con-
struction upon it, was the only object
visible which spoke Of luxury or even
comfort
But enough of these possibly uninter-
esting details. l did not dwell on them
myself except III vague way and
while waiting for him to open the con-
versation. This he did as soon Us he
saw that had no intention of speak
ing first.
"And did you find any one in the old
house?'', he asked.
Keeping him well under my eye re-
piled with intentional brusqueness:
'.She has gone there once too often"
The stare he gave me was that Of an
actor who feels that SORE expression
of surprise is expected from him.
"She?" he repeated. 'Whom can you
possibly mean by she?"
The surprise expressed at this bold
attempt at righteousness was better
simulated than his, hope.
..You don't knoww exclaimed. "Can
you live directly opposite place of
such remarkable associations and not
interest yourself in who goes in and
out of its deserted 6oors?'
II don't sit in my front window" he
peevishly returned.
/ let my eye roam toward chair
suspiciously near the. very
window he had designated.
but you saw the light?" ! sug-
gested.
II saw that from the doorstep when
I went out to give Ridge hissusual
five minutes breathing spell on the
stoop. But you have not answered my
do you mean by she?"
Veronica jeffrey" replied. "She
who was Veronica Moore. She has
visited this haunted house of hers for
Ahn 1oc CT fSYvoA