Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-22

This should have treasured me, no
doubt, and sent me away quiet and
happy. But something-the tenacity
of a deep conviction, possibly-kep
me lingering before the inspector and
finally gave me the courage to say:
II know I ought not to speak an
other word; that / am putting myself
at disadvantage in doing so; but
can not help it, Inspector; can not
help 1t when see you laying such
stress upon the few indirect clues con-
Meeting the suspicious Sears with this
crime, and ignoring the direct clues
we have against one whom we need
not name."
Had I gone too far? Had my pre-
| sumption transgressed all bounds and
would he show a very natural anger
No, he smiled instead, an enlgmatical
smile, no doubt, which found 1t diff.
cult to understand, but yet smile.
"You mean" he suggested, that
Sears possible connection with thu
crime can not eliminate Mr.. Grey's
very positive one; nor can the fact
that Wellgood's hand came in contact
with Mr.. Grey's, at or near the time
Of the exchange Of the false stone
with the real, make 1t any less evident
who was the guilty author of this ex
changer"
The inspectors hand was on the
door-knob, but he dropped 1t at this
and surveying me very quietly said:
II thought that a few days spent at
the bedside of Miss Grey In the so.
ciety Of so renowned and cultured a
gentleman as her father would dis
abuse you of these damaging suspic-
IONS"
81 don't wonder that you thought
co." burst out. "You would think
SO all the more, If you knew how kind
he can be and what solicitude he
shows for all about him. But can
not get over the facts. They all
point, 1t seems to me, straight in one
direction
AL? You heard what was said in
this room-I saw it in your eye-how
the man, who surprised the steward in
his own room last night, heard him
talking of love and death in connec.
ton with Mrs. Fairbrotfer To kiss
what hate! 1t is almost as bad as
to kill what love'-he said something
like that"
Eyes, heard that. But did he mean
that he had been her actual slayer?
Could you convict him on those
words?"
We'll, we shall find out. Then, as
to Wellgood's part in the little bust
ness, you choose to consider that it
took place at the time the stone fell
from Mr.. Greys hand What proof
have you that the substitution you be.
lieve In was not make by him? He
could easily have done it while cross
Ing the room to Mr.. Grey's side"
Inspector" Then holly, as the alb
surdity of the suggestion struck me
with full force: "He do this! A wait
er, or as you think, Mr.. Fairbrother's
steward, to be provided with so hard
to-come-by an article as this counter
part of a great stone? Isn't that al
most as incredible a supposition as
any have myself presumed to adj
vance,"
Possibly, but the affair is full of
incredibilities, the greatest of which,
to my mind. Is the persistence with
which you, knd-hearted enough lit
tie woman, persevere in ascribing the
deepest guilt to one you profess to add
mire and certainly would be glad TO
find innocent of any completely with a
great crime
felt that must justify myself.
Mr.. Durand has had no such con.
sideration shown him." said 1.
Il know, my child, know; but the
cases differ. Wouldn't it be we'll for
you to see this and be satisfied with
the turn which things have taken.
without continuing to insist upon in
volving Mr.. Grey in your suspicious? ?"
A smile took off the edge Of this re.
Duke, yet felt it keenly; and only
the confidence had in his fairness as
man and public official enabled me
to say:
"But am talking quite confiden-
TALLY And you have been so good to
me, so willing to listen to all l had to
say. that can not help but speak my
whole mind. 1t is my only safety
valve. Remember how 1 have to sit
In the presence of this man with my
thoughts all choked up. 1t is killing
me. But l think should go back con.
tent If you will listen to one more sug.
gestion have to make. 1t Is nv
last"
"say It. am nothing If not in.
dulgent."
He had spoken the word. Indulgent
that was it. He let me speak, prob
ably had let me speak from the first
from pure kindness. He did not be.
lieve one little bit IN my good sense
or logic. But I was not to be de-
tered l would empty my mind of
the ugly thing that lay there. 1 would
leave there no miserable dregs of
doubt to ferment and work their evil
way with me in the dead watches of
the night, which had yet to face. So
took him at his word.
81 only want to ask this. In case
Sears is innocent of the crime, who
wrote the warning and where did the
assassin get the stiletto with the Grey
arms chased into its handle? And the
diamond? Still the diamond! You
hint that he stole that, too. That
with some idea of Its proving useful to
I, J,,,< 49,. L..