The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-11-12

surreptitious intrusion, but, after pulling
it open and reaching for the curtain,
which hung completely across it, found
1t not so easy to proceed as / had i'm
agined. The stealthiness of my action
held back my hand; then the faint
she was not alone, and that she might
very readily regard with displeasure my
unexpected entrance by door of which
she was possibly ignorant. I tell you
all this for the reason that, If by any
chance I was seen hesitating in face Of
that curtain, doubts might have been
Here his eyes left my face for that Of
the inspector. &c It certainly had a bad
look-that I don't deny; but, I did not
think of appearances then. I was too
anxious to complete task which had
suddenly presented unexpected difficult
ties. That I listened before entering
voice, only something like great sigh,
[ ventured to lift the curtain and step
in. She was sitting, not where I had
left her, but on couch at the left of the
usual entrance, her face towards me,
and,-you know how, inspector. It was
her last sigh had heard. Horrifed, for
I had never looked on death before, much
I presume, to rush down the steps shout
ing for help, when, suddenly, something
fell splashing on my shirt front, and
saw myself marked with q stain Of
blood. This both frightened and bewil-
dered me, and it was minute or two be-
fore had the courage to look up. When
I did SO, I saw whence this drop had
come. N OF from her, tho the red stream
was pouring down the rich folds Of her
dress, but, from sharp, needle-Eke In
strument which had been thrust, point
downwards, in the open work Of an
antique lantern hanging near the door
way. What had happened to me might
CHANGED to be in that spot at that special
moment, but did not realize this then.
Covering the splash with my hands, T
edged myself back to the door by which
I had entered, watching those deathfun
eyes and crushing under my feet the
which the carpet was bestrewn. I had
no thoughts of her, hardly any Of my
self. To cross the room was ALI to
escape as secretly as [ came, before the
portiere 30 nearly drawn between me
and the main hall should stir under the
hand of some curious person entering It
was my first sight Of blood; my first
I did, fed"
The last word was uttered with
gasp. Evidently he was more affected
, In the relation of this horrible expert
| ence than he had been while undergo
} ing<it -,
!, fact. I slid from the presence Of this
murdered woman as tho she had been
: the victim of my own rage or cupidity;
} and, being fortunate enough to reach
{ the dressing-room before the alarm had
, spread beyond the immediate vicinity
, Of the alcove, found and put on the
handkerchief, which made 1t possible for
/ me to rush down and find Miss Van AIS,
, dale, who, somebody told me, had
J tainted. Not till I stood over her in
, that remote corner beyond the supper
! room did T again think Of the gloves.
! What did when I happened to think Of
. them, you alrea dy know. [ could have
), shown no greater cowardice If [ had
> known that the murdered woman IS dia-
: mond was hidden inside them. Yet, L
. did not know this, or even suspect it.
Nor do I understand now, her reason
for placing it there. Why should Mrs.
:, Fairbrother risk such an Invaluable gem
> to the custody of one she knew so lit
: tle9 An unconscious custody, toos Was
+ she afraid of being murdered if she re-
= tanned this jewelq'
o The Inspector thought moment, and
then said:
u entering by the one door before you
could escape by the other, Do you al
Sde to the en fFsRd you left sitting
EMO, my friend had left that seat.
The portiere was sufficiently drawn for
! me TO detect that much. If had waited
minute longer" he bitterly added, ~
would have found my way open to the
regular entrance, and SO escaped all
+ this:n ,u
Of
;, YOU wish, you may tell me whether, at
this moment of apprehension, you
:, thought of the danger you ran Of being
seen from outside by some one Of the
many coachmen passing by on the drive
wayY -, .,,.,, -. ~.
u window don't know why; but, if
. any one passing by did see me, hope
thew saw enough to substantiate my
t ste story ,nsneetor made no reply. He
> seemed to be thinking. L heard after
= wards that the curtains, Topped back IN
~ the early evening, had been found hang
mo at full length over this window, by
. those who first rushed in upon the scene
q of death. Had he hoped to entrap Mr.:
% Durand into some damaging admission 7
. Or. was he merely testing his truthi His
expression afforded no clue to his
thoughts, and Mr.. Durand, noting this,
!. remarked WIN some u1SulIy.
10 TT do not expect strangers to accept
T these explanations, which must sound
! strange and inadequate IN face OF the
- proof [ carry of having been with that
- woman after the fatal weapon struck her
- heart. But, to one who knows me, and
10 knows me well, can surely appeal for
=, credence to tale which [ here declare
:. to be as true as # I had sworn, to it IN
J, uAnson!u T passionately cried out
- loosening my clutch upon my uncle 4
90 arm. Ny confidence in him had re-
10 turned.
~ And then, as I noted the Inspector 8
~ business-like air, and my uncle 8 Wav,
- ering look and unconVlnced manner,
", ~ felt nv heart swell. and iinging discre,
- ton to the wind, bounded eagerly for,
IL ward, and, laying my hands In those Oh
- Mr.. Durand IS, cried fervently:
y az believe in you. Nothing but your
q, own words shall ever shake my conf
- dence in your innocence
~ The sweet, glad look [ received, wa.
~ my best reply. could leave the room
i after that.
o. But not the house. Another expert
u, ence awaited me, and others collected
20 under this roof, before this full, event
~ ~ full evening, came to close.
ST (To Be Continued Next Sunday.)
~ Schoolmaster's Thoughts
y Illustrated Magazine.
o. Tell the truth and save time.