Mexico Missouri message., 1905-12-28

RAClOu " NlG Bhghltldn pfAAls
There was tremulous touch on his
shoulder, and he turned 70 meet the
eyes Of a man whom he did not know.
''What-what is that writing on the
wall down there by the door," asked q
shaking voice.
This is a friend of the family, doc
tor" interposed Inspector Applebee,
by way Of accounting for this unfa-
miliar presence therel "He was Mr..
North's partner. Naturally he is very
much overcome"
In tones that were a trihe steadier
Mr.. Stackhouse repeated his question.
Bending down to Beck an answer him
self, he started back, and would have
fallen but for tho opportune aid of the
newspaper man.
"a horrible sight! cannot look
at IT," he muftered, putting his hand
over his eyes. Tell me what you
make 1t outH
A glance yof intelligence passed be-
tween the inspector and the sergeant.
Each divfned perfectly what had
brought such a shock to the mind OF
Paul NoEth's partner. Each under
stood fully the mans unspoken fear.
Meanwhile DR.. Jarrett, applying GER
tain mysterious tests, seemed more in
tent upon determining the medium of
this Strange message than the message
itself.
written in blood" he said, even
tually, looking steadily at Stackhouse;
land the condition Of the forefinger
of the right hand seems to indicate
that the dead man wrote It." He
paused and Stackhouse sank into a
chair. but what odds? The writing
will endure, gentlemen. We have
other things to do"
He gave the inspector a meaning
Look and resumed his work. Thomas
lost not detail of this scene.
But now, with Inspector Applebee
a$ his close companion, the library and
the adjoining room were examined
infinitely.
The room had been used very recent
ly. Regarding that point, there was
no possibility of doubt.
Chairs had been moved from their
accustomed places. On the opened
desk, which Mr.. Stackhouse at once
identified as his partners, stood, amid
a heap Of tumbled papers, a drop light.
Near by, a burnt match. Obviously
the windows had not been touched.
I The adjoining room, vouched for as
Paul North's chamber by his partner,
soon recovering his self-control, bore
no traces of occupancy. AS the door
was open between it and the library,
it was plain that the master of the
house must have passed through the
room. He had not slept there, for the
beds surface was unruffled, and not a
fold of the pillows had been disturbed
zone thing is evident" said Thomas.
This man was not killed for money.
saw the doctor take q well-filled
pocketbook from his person, and not
thing in the house appears to have
been disturbed"
A call from DR.. Jarrett summoned
the two men back into the chamber of
death.
you had better look for the bullet,
gentlemen" he said, quietly. at is
evident that it went clear through
him, and it Is surely nowhere about
his clothing"
Instantly everybody was examining
the room, the furniture, the walls, the
carpet But for some time, it ap-
peared that the ball had been spirited
away as mysteriously as the fatal
weapon from which it had been fired.
"Hallo!" exclaimed Thomas, sud
denly, as he pointed to the wall.
what's that up there above that pic.
ture:"
Thomas was pointing to a slight
protuberance in the surface of the
wall, directly opposite the bay-window,
near the ceiling.
What, that?" exclaimed the in
spector. "Impossible! 1t is quite ten
feet away from the floor"
But it's a bullet, none the less, .
said Thomas, who had already mount.
ed on a chair and began to ascertain
the distance of the puncture above the
carpet.
you are right, Inspector" he said
ut is nine feet eleven inches from
the floor, and is driven in diagonally
as IL 1t had been fired from the corner
of the bay-window over there near the
, writing desk"
II can't understand that at all" said
} the inspector. at must have been de-
fiected in its course somehow to have
got there. Tho man was evidently
shot in the breast. His clothes IL
front are simply one mass of blood
All! l see there was more than one
shot fred. This Is a stray ball"
The house was searched from top tc
bottom. Nowhere was any trace of in
trusion.
IF Mr.. North slept here at all las
night" said the inspector, at mus
have been in his chair in his library
DR.. Jarrett assented. Sergt. Parr
} WHO had been notified from the fourth
di Cision that he need no longer re
, main ON duty in the place, willingly
, volunteered to take, as he went out
a message to the captain in charge o.
= the division.
II have sent for an ambulance" DR.
Jarrett explained to the group thai
surrounded him in Paul North's cham
/ ber THE body will be taken to the