The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-12-11

the rail-like this-and still staring
into space added in the same hard and
determined voice this one word more
Tonight and. wheeling about. passed
me with one blank and wholly uncon.
scious look and betook himself toward
the city. AS he went by. his lips open
cd for the third time. Which means.
he cried. between n groan and shrek.
"a bullet for her and I wish | had
heard the rest. but he WIS out OF my
hearing before his sentence was fin
ished.'
What time was this
AS near half past < "a possible
1t was 6 when | reached home few
minutes later
..Ah. he must have gone to the GENE
terry after this
II am quite sure OF it,
why didn't You follow the man?"
grumbled Darhn
1T wasn't my business. He was a
stranger and possibly mad. / didn't
know what to do
What did you dor
"Went home and kept quiet: my wife
was very i'll that night and had my
own cause for anxiety"
morning"
NO, sir, nor for many days My
wife grew constantly worse and for
week l didn't leave her. not knowing
but that every breath would be her
last. l was dead 10 everything out
side the sickroom. and when she grew
better, which was very gradually. we
had to take her away. so that l had
no opportunity of speaking of this oc-
currence to any one till a week ago.
when some remark published in con-
nection with Mrs. Jeffreys death re-
called that encounter on the bridge.
/ told neighbor that l believed the
man l had seen there was MIR. Jeffrey.
and we looked up the papers and ran
over them till we came upon his pic
ture. That settled it, and / could no
longer-being free from home anxieties
now-hold my tongue, and the police
heard
THAT will do. Mr.. Gelston,'' broke in
the major. when we want you again
we will let you know. Durbin, see Mr.
Gelston out"
I was left alone with the major and
the district attorney.
The major was the first to speak.
Addressing the district attorney, he re-
marked: This will strengthen your
case very materially. We have proof
now that Mrs. Jeffrey's death was ac-
tually determined upon. Ii Miss Tut
tie had not shot her. he would. l
wonder if 1t was q relief to him on
reaching his door to find that the deed
was done"
could not suppress my surprise.
''Miss Tuttle.' l repeated. lis it 50
evident that Mr.. Jeffrey
did not get to the Moore house in time
to do the shooting himself?'
The major gave me quick look.
II thought you considered Miss Tut
tie the guilty one"
felt that the time had come to show
my c0lors.
II have changed my mind" said 1.
81 can give you no good reason for
I suppose. She does not look nor act
like criminal. While not DESTROYS of
raising myself in opposition to the
judgment Of those 50 greatly my SUI
periors in all respects. have had this
feeling. and l am courageous enough
to avow it. And vet, il Mr.. jeffrey
could not have left the cemetery gates
and reached the Moore house in time
to fulfill all the conditions Of this
tragedy, the case does look black
against the woman. She admits TO
having been there when the pistol was
fred, unless
Unless what? You have something
new to tell u.s. That I have seen ever |
since you entered the room. What |
10 it?'
l cast a glance at the door. Should |
be able to finish my story before |
Durbin returned? 1 thought 1t pos
sible, and. though still upset by this |
new evidence, which / could now see |
was not entirely in Miss Tuttle's favor. |
spoke up with what spirit l might.
Il have just come from spending |
another night In the Moore house. All |
he efforts heretofore made to exhaust
is secrets have been founded upon a
theory that has brought us nowhere.
had another in mind, and I was anx-
Gus to test it before resting from all
'urther attempt to solve this riddle.
And it has not failed me-
As said this laid open on the table
before me the transcription OF which
spoke. Instantly the two men bent
'ver 1t. When they looked up again,
heir countenance showed not excite
nent only, but appreciation: and in the
me minute of triumph which / then
njoyed all that had wounded or dis
urbed me in the past was forgotten.
The major now proposed that we
hould go at once to the old house. "A
amily secret like this does not crop
p every day even in a city so full of
urprises as Washington. We will
unt for the spring under the closet
rawers and see what happens. eh?
md on our way therefore he turned
0 met should like TO hear the par
lculars concerning the little clew just
Mentioned. By the way. Mr.. Jefrey's
interest in this old drawing il now !
Explained. He knew its diabolical I
ecret."
This was self evident, and my heart
7as heavy for Miss Tutfle, who seem
to be so deep in her brother-in-law's
onfdence.
IT grew afiIi heav far vrbou D,,rhip /