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

SYNOPSIS.
Chapter 1.-The plainest girl n
the room that night" attracts the at
tention of Arson Durand, and he pro
poses marriage at dancing party at
the Ramsdell home. Mrs. Fairbrother
Is murdered in the "alcove" and her
costly diamond is stolen. Chapter 2.
The murdered woman's gloves, and
the diamond rolled Within them, are
found in the hand bag carried by Miss
Van Arsdale. Suspicion Is fastened
upon Durand, whom she had promised
that night to wed. Chapter 3.-Police
inspector has interview with Miss Van
Arsdale and Mr.. Durand before thay
are allowed to leave the Ramsdell
home. The man under suspicion In
sists upon his innocence. Chapter 4.
-Durand makes explanation OF his
presence in the alcove, Mrs. Fair
brother giving him the gloves, his re
turn to the alcove by rear passage,
his discovery of the dead woman, his
escape and the splash of blood on his
shirt bosom, from above him. Chap
ter determination Of diamond by
Grey, the Engli shman.-Says 1t is an
imitation. Guests startled by long,
unearthly shrek while Grey holds
stone. Discovery of note Of warn
ing given to Mrs. Fairbrother before
her death. Chapter 6.--Mtss Van A:s-
dale looks for clue to murderer. In
quest delayed awaiting Mr.. Fairbroth-
er's return. He is Ill at his mining
camp. the Placide Chapter RE
ports of correspondent at the Placide.
Journey to mining camp. Effort to in
terview Fairbrother. In conscious mo-
'ments he asserts the diamond was
q real one. Chapter S.-Coroner''
verdict does not accuse Durand, but
he is arrested by the police. Chapter
9.-Miss Van Arsdale has interview
with Inspector Dalzell and tells him
of Mr.. Grey's disinterested attitude
toward pleasures of the evening be
fore the arrival of Mrs. Fairbrother
and Of his stady gaze at the diamond
thereafter. She calls attention to the
unsolved mystery of the two broken
coffee cups and says she saw Mr.
Grey lift two cups from tray ard
start toward the alcove. Chapter 10.
Miss Van Arsdale continues inter
view with the inspector, astonishing
him with her knowledge concerning
Mr.. Grey. She gives him the informa-
ton that Mr.. Grey is collector of
Jewels, that being the first aim Of his
life. She tells him that the nurse at.
tendant upon Mr.. Grey's daughter is
her friend and from her she learned
that the sick girl wrote note that
night but was too weak to make a
complete sentence. Chapter 11.-Miss
Van Arsdale completes arrangements
to succeed her friend as nurse to Miss
Grey, where she is to find out more
concerning the case. Chapter 12.-
The new nurse takes up her duties
and is warned by Mr.. Grey not to let
her patient see any OF the papers, his
explanation being that he was present
at the house where the crime was
committed. Miss Van Arsdale has in
her possession the stilletto which she
Is to leave where Mr.. Grey's eyes will
fall upon it. Before she has reached
the point she receives word from the
inspector that Ut Is not necessary
Chapter 13-On the following day
Miss Van Arsd|ale receives message
from her uncle that he wants to see
her. He takes her into carriage and
they go to the Office OF the inspector,
where she hears OF a new clew. A
waiter who was employed by the
caterer at the Ramsdall home the
night of the ra1'ty disappears. Upon
looking ,rp his reference 1t is found
the recomm en- d'stion came from Sears.
who was employed IN the F'airbrother
home. Search reveals that Sears de-
parted with Mr.. Fairbrcther. Investi.
cation shows that he left Mr.. Fair
brother at Ell Moro, having time TO
reach New York by the date of the
murder. CHAPTER 14.-While Miss
Van Arsdale is in conference with the
inepector a detective arrives. She re
tires to an adjoining room and the
door is left ajar. Detective tells of
going to Fairorother house at mid
NIGHT to get photograph of the sus-
rect and a specimen of his handwrit-
irg. Although house is supposed to
be ,tnoccupied some one enters who
the detective is convinced is Sears.
The other party succeeds in trapping
tho detective and making his escape
before the officer can.