The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-05-19

IN ~ MuM NNA uEEM kWllN AI MONL
from the coroner's office when
al an opportunity was afforded for
me TO approach that gentleman
myself.
With few apologies and no pre-, mble
] Immediately entered upon my story,
which ] made as concise and as much
TO the point as possible. / did not ex-
pect praise from him. but / did look
FOR some slight show OF astOuishment
at the nature Of my news. was
therefore grently disappointed when
after a moments quiet consideration
he carelessly remarked
VERY good, very good The one
point you make is excellent and may
prove Of use 10 u.s. We had reached
the same conclusion. but by another
road. You ask who blew out the cam
dlcT We who tied the pistol to Mrs
Jeffrey's armT Ii could not have been
tied by herself Who was her acces-
sory, then7 Ah, you didn't think Of
that"
flushed as II n pail Of hot water
had been dashed suddenly over me.
He was right The conclusion be spoke
Of had failed to strike me. why? 1t
was perfectly obvious one. as obvi-
GUS as that the candle had been blown
out by another breath than hers; yet.
absorbed In my own train Of thought.
] had completely overlooked IT, The
coroner. observing my embarrassment.
smiled. and my humiliation was com
plete, or would have been had Durbin
been there, but fortunately he was
not.
Il am a fool," cried. Il thought l
had discovered something might
have known that there were keener
minds than iaine in this Office
"Easy-easy," was the good latured
interruption. you have done we'll II
/ did not think so l would not keep you
here a minute. AS It is, am disposed
TO let you see that in a case like this
one man must not expect to monopolize
all the honors. This matter of the
bow of ribbon would strike any cid and
experienced official. l only wonder
that we have not seen it openly dis
cussed i'm the papers"
Taking a box from his desk, he open
ed it and held it out toward me. A coil
OF white ribbon surmounted by a crisp
and dainty bow met my eyes.
you recognize itY' he asked
Indeed / did
1T was cut from her wrist by my
deputy. Miss Tuttle wished him to un-
tie il. but he preferred TO leave the
bow intact. Now lift it out Careful.
man; don't soilit You will see why in
minute" As held the ribbon up he
pointed 10 some spots on its fresh
white surface do you see those?" he
asked Those are dust marks. and
they were made as truly by some ones
fingers as the impressions you noted
on the mantelshelf in the upper cham
Der. This pistol was tied to her wrist
after the deed; possibly by that same
hand"
1t was my own conclusion, but II did
not sound as welcome 10 me from his
lips as / had expected. Either my ma
ture is narrow or my inordinate teal
ousy lays me open TO the most aston.
ishing Inconsistencies. for 40 sooner
had he spoken these words than / ex-
perienced a sudden revulsion against
my own theory and the suspicious
which It threw upon the man whom an
hour before ! was eager 10 proclaim a
criminal.
But Coroner q gave me 10 chance
for making such fool OF myself. Res
cuing the ribbon from my hands. which
no doubt were running a little too free
l..
with the indulgence proper from such
a man to n novice like myself and OBJ
served quite frankly:
you will consider these observations
Rs confidential You know bow 70 hold
your tongue; that you have proved.
Hold II, then, q little longer The case
Is not yet ripe, Mt. jeffrey Is a man
Of high standing. with a hitherto M
blemished reputation. 1t won't do. my
boy, 70 throw the doubt Of 80 hideous
a crime upon so dns a gentleman with.
out sg1ple reason. That no such mis-
take rlay be made and that be may
have every opportunity for clearing
himself am going to have q conhden-
tial talk with him DO you want 10 be
presentT"
nushed again, but this time from
extreme satisfaction.
- am obliged for your confidence A"
said l. Then. with burst Of courage
born Of his good nature | inquired,
with due respect. II my little friend had
answered his expectations. WAS she
as clever as / saidT' / asked
''Scui little friend is a trump" was
bis blunt reply. with what we have
learned through her, and now through
you, we can approach Mr. Jeffrey TO
some purpose II appears that before
The ribbon IN the bOH
M