The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-04-05
That is, / have no doubt they were
made by my hand" Here, uncon-
sciously, his eyes few to the member

uciously, his eyes flew to the member
thus referred to, as if conscious that
In some way it had proved traitor
to him; after which his gaze Travelled
slowly my way, With an indescribable
question in it which reused my con-
science and made the trick by which
had got the impression of his hand
heretofore considered it. The next
minute he was answering the coroner
under oath, very much as he had an
swered him in the unofficial interview
at which had been present
II acknowledge having been in the
Moore house and even having been in
Its southwest chamber, but not at the
time supposed. 1t was on the previous
night He went on to relate how.
being in nervous condition and hav-
ing the key to this old dwelling in his
pocket, he had amused himself by go
ing through it's dilapidated interior.
ALI of this made doubtful impression
which was greatly emphasized when,
in reply to the inquiry as to where he
got the light to see by, he admitted
that he had come upon candle in an
upstairs room and made use of that;
though he could not remember what he
had done with this candle afterward.
and looked daZed and quite at sea, till
the coroner suggested that he might
have carried it into the closet of the
room where his fingers had left their
impression in the dust of the mantel-
shelf
Then he broke down like man from
whom some prop is suddenly snatched
and looked around for seat. This
was given him, while a silence, the
most dreadful ever experienced, held
every one there in check. But he
speedily rallied and, with the remark
that he was a little confused in regard
TO the incidents of that night waited
with wild look in his averted eye for
the coroner's next question.
Unhappily for him, it was in continu-
alton of the same subject. Had he
bought candles or not at the grocer's
around the corner? Yes, he had. Be
fore visiting the house? Yes. Had he
also bought matches? Yes. What
kind? Common safety matches. Had
he noticed when he got home that the
box he had just bought was half emp
ty? No. Nevertheless he had used
many matches in going through this
old house, had he not? Possibly. To
| light his way upstairs, perhaps? 1t
might be-, Had he not so used them?
Yes. Why had he done so If he had
candles in his pocket, which were so
much easier to hold and so much more
| lasting than lighted match? All, he
could not say; he did not know; his
mind was confused. He was awake
when he should have been asleep. 1t
was all dream to him.
The coroner became still more per-
sistent
"Did you enter the library on your
solitary visit to this old house?"
II believe So"
"What did you do there?'
"Pottered around I don't remem
ber."
"What light did you use?"
"a candle, l think"
"You must know"
"Well, had candle. 1t was in 8
candelabrum.'
"What candle and what Candida
brum?"
"The same l used upstairs, Of
course"
"And you cannot remember where
you left this candle and candelabrun
when you finally quilted the house?"
"No. I wasn't thinking about can
dies"
what were you thinking about?"
1.-THE rupture with my wife and tn,
bad name Of the house was in"
ooh! And this was on Tuesda,
night?"
Eyes, sir"
"How can you prove this to us?"
II cannot"
"But you swear
81 swear that it was Tuesday night
the night Immediately preceding tn
one when-when my wife's death rob
bed me of all earthly happiness"
1t was feelingly uttered. and severa
faces lightened; but the coroner re
peating, us there no way you cal
prove this to our satisfaction" tn
shadow settled again, and on no hea,
more perceptibly than on that Of tn
unfortunate witness.
1t was now late in the day and the at
mosphere Of the room had becom
sitting, but no one seemed to be con
scious Of any discomfort, and a genera
gasp of excitement passed through tn
room when the coroner, taking out
box from under pile Of papers, dis
closed to the general gaze the famou
white ribbon with it's dainty bow, ly
Ing on top of the fatal pistol
That this special feature, the mos
interesting one of all connected wit
! this tragedy, should have been KEEP
SO long in reserve and brought out jus
at this time, struck many Of Mr. JET
frey's closest friends as unnecessary
dramatic; but when the coroner, lift
| ing out the ribbon, remarked tentative
| ly, you know this ribbon?' we wer
more struck by the involuntary cry G
surprise which rose from some one Il