Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-11-11
ost NOT a detan Of thls scena-

But now, with Inspector Applebee
as his close companion. the library and
the adjoining room were examined
minutely.
The room had been used very recent
~. 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
heap Of tumbled papers. q drop light
Near By, a burnt match. Obviously
the windows had not been touched.
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 aud the library.
Il was plain that the master OF the
house must have passed through the
room. He had not slept there, for the
beu surface was unrufied. and not a
fold OF the pillows had been disturbed.
"One thing Is evident" said Thomas.
This man was not killed for money.
I saw the doctor take a well.fIied
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. ct is
evident that it went clear through
him. and il 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.
"Hallol" exclaimed Thomas. sud
denly, as he pointed 20 the wall.
what's that up there above that pic
turec"
Thomas was pointing 20 a slight
protuberance in the surface OF the
wall. directly opposite the bay-window.
near the ceiling
What. that?" exclaimed the in
| spector. Impossible Il 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 10 ascertain
! the distance OF the puncrure above the
| carpet
You are right. Inspector" he said
1T is nine feet eleven inches from
the floor and is driven in diagonalIy.
as If 20 had been fired from the corner
OF the bay-wiudow over there near the
writing-desk"
u cant understand that az all" said
| the Inspector. ct must have been de
Elected in its course somehow TO have
got there. The man was evidently
| shot in the breast His clothes en-
front are simply one mass of blood.
All! I see there was more than one
| shot fired. This is n stray ball"
The house was searched from top 10
bottom. Nowhere was any trace of in
| trusion.
II Mr. North slept here at all last
night" said the inspector. 1T must
have been in his chair in his library"
Dr. Jarrett assented. Sergt. Parr.
who had been notified from the fourth
| division 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 Ia charge of
| the division.
Il have sent for an ambulance" DR..
Jarrett explained 10 the group that
surrounded him in Paul North's cham
Der. The body will be taken TO the
morgue. and ! will hold an autopsy
at once. AS Mr.. North's partner is
here, / will waive the usual formalities
and state beforehand that there is lit
tie doubt that an inquest Will take
place though / would ask reporters
not 10 make any such direct announce
ment."
Mr.. Stackhouse bowed
Il quite understand sir" he said,
and whatever testimony I can give
| shall offer most willingly But now
l feel that I should take the terrible
news 70 the family-my wife. YOU
know, was Mr.. North's daughter"
AS Mr.. Stackhouse went his way up
the shady side Of Marlboro street an
initiated observer would hardly have
] failed 10 note that another man fol
lowed in his wake upon the opposite
| pavement
The quiet reporter meanwhile had
busted himself in making a diagram of
| the second story OF the North house,
which appeared the next morning in
his paper in substantially the follow
| ing form: