The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-02-01

!. :
did I find myself alone and in the I'm.
relieved darkness of this gravelike
room than became convinced that nc
woman, however frenzied, would make
her plunge into an unknown existence
from the midst of a darkness only too
suggestive of the tomb to which she
was fastening. 1t was not in nature
not in Woman's nature, at all events
Either she had committed the final act
before such daylight as could filter
through the shutters of this closed up
room had quite disappeared a by
pothesis instantly destroyed by the
warmth which still fingered in certain
portions of her body-or else the light
which had been burning when she
pulled the fatal trigger had since been
carried elsewhere or eXtinguished
Recalling the uncertain CLEANS which
we had seen flashing from one of the
upper windows, was inclined to give
some credence to the former theory,
but was disposed to be fair to both So
after relighting my lamp l turned on
one of the gas cocks of the massiv,
chandelier over my head and applied
match. The result was just what l
anticipated; no gas in the pipes. A
meter had not been put in for the we'd
ding. This the papers had repeatedly
stated in dwelling upon the garish eff
feet of the daylight on the elaborate
costumes Worn by the ladies. Candles
had not even been prcvided-ah can
dies! What, then, was it that l saw
glittering on small table at the other
end of the room? Surely a candlestick,
or, rather an old fashioned Candida
brum with half burned candle in one
of it's sockets. Hastily crossing to it,
| | felt of the candle wick. 1t was quite
stiff and hard But not considering
{ this a satisfactory proof that it had
wick soon dries after the flame is
blown out-I took out my penllnife and
attacked the wick at what might be
called its root; whereupon | found that
where the threads had been protected
by the wax they were comparatively
soft and penetrable.
The conclusion was obvious True
to my instinct in this matter. the wo
man had not lifted her weapon in dark
ness; this candle had been burning
But here my thoughts received q fresl
shock II burning, then by. whom hat
it since been blown out. Not by her
her wound was too fatally sure fcl
that. The steps taken between the
table where the candelabrum stood ant
the place where she lay We're taken
If taken at all by her, before that sho
was fired Some one else some ont
whose breath still fingered in the all
about me-had eXtinguished this candle
flame after she fell, and the death
looked down upon was not suicide
but a murder.
The excitement which this discovery
caused to Jingle through my every nerve
had it's birth in the ambitious feeling
referred to in the opening paragraph OF
this narrative. l believed that my long
sought for opportunity had come; thai
with the start given me by the con
viction just stated / should be Ell
abled to collect such clews and estab
lish such facts as would lead to the &C
ceptapce of this new theory instead OF
by Hubbard and about to be promul
gated at police headquarters. If so
what triumph would be mine ant
what a debt l should owe to the
Grabbed old gentleman whose seeming
ly fantastic fears had first drawn mt
to this place!
Realizing the value of the opportu
nifty afforded me by the few minutes
was likely to spend alone on this scene
of crime, l proceeded to my task will
that directness and method which
had always promised myself should
characterize my first success in detec
tive work.
First then, for another look at thu
fair young victim herself! What line
of misery on the brow! What darl
hollows disfguring cheeks otherwis,
as delicate as the petals of a rose! All
interesting if not absolutely beautiful
face, it told me something | coult
put IHlO sWOIuS, So luul IL WA
like leaving a fascinating but unsolve,
mystery when l finally turned from i
to study the hands, each of which pre-
scented separate problem. That of
fered by the right wrist you alread.
know-the long white ribbon connect
ing it with the discharged pistol.
But the secret concealed by the left
while less startling, was perhaps full.
as significant. All the rings We're gone
even the wedding ring which had beel
. placed there such short time before
Had she been robbed? There We're n
signs of violence visible nor even sue
disturbances as usually follow despoli
alton by criminals hand. The bo
Of delicate black net which encircle,
her neck rose fresh and intact to he
! chin; nor did the heavy folds of he
rich broadcloth gown betray that an