The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-28
The 1reAt settle
in the room OF death

man who died here a fortnight since
accountable for these ashes? If 50,
his unfinished cigar must be within
sight. Should search for it? No, for
this would take me to the hearth and
that was quite too deadly place to
be heedlessly approached.
Besides, 1 was not yet finished with
the spot where 1 then stood. If
could gather nothing satisfactory from
the ashes, perhaps l could from the
chair or the shelves before which it
had been placed. Some one with an IN
terest in books had sat there; some one
who expected to spend sufficient time
over these old tones TO feel the need
Of chair. Had this interest been
general one, or had it centered in a par
ticular volume? l ran my eye over the
shelves within reach. possibly with an
idea of settling this question, and
though my knowledge of books is linn
tied / could see that these were what
one might cal rarities. Some of them
contained specimens Of black letter, all
moldy and smothered in dust: in others
l saw dates of publication which
placed them among volumes dear to a
\VAGCNOA . hC0ANe but nOAC VI lACAu.
so far as l could see, gave any evil
dence of having been lately handled;
and, anxious to waste no time on
puerile details. 1 hastily quilted my
chair and was proceeding to turn my
attention elsewhere when noticed
on an upper shelf q book projecting
slightly beyond the others. Instantly
my foot was on the chair and the book
in my hand. Did find 1t of interest?
Yes, but not on account of its con-
tents, for they were pure Greek to
me, but because 1t lacked the dust on
its upper edge which had marked
every other volume I had handled.
This, then. was what had attracted the
unknown to these shelves, this-let me
see If can remember its title-"Disqtfi-
sition Upon Old Coast Lines" Pshaw!
I was wasting my time. What had
such a dry compendium as this to do
with the body lying in its blood a few
steps behind me, or with the hand
which had put out the candle upon this
dreadful deed1 Nothing. 1 replaced
the book, but not so hastily as to push
IL one inch beyond the position in
which found 1t. For, II it had a tale
to tell, then was it my business to
leave that tale to be read by those
who understood books better than
did
My next move was toward the little |
table holding the candeiabrum with |
the glittering pendants. This table |
was one Of a nest standing against a |
nearby wall. investigation proved |
that 1t had been lifted from the others |
and brought to its present position |
within q very short space of time. for |
the dust lying thick on its top was
almost entirely lacking from the one |
which had been nestled under 1t. /
Neither had the candelabrum been |
standing there long. dust being found /
under as well as around 1t. Had her
hand brought it there? Hardly, If it |
came from the top Of the mantel
toward which now turned In my
course of investigation.
I have already mentioned this man
tel more than once. This l could hard
" avoid. since in and about it lay the
heart OF the mystery for which the
room was remarkable. But. though
have thus freely spoken OF 1t and
though 1t was not absent from my
thoughts for q moment. had not ven
tured to approach 1T beyond a certain
safe radius. Now in looking to see II
might not lessen this radius I expert
anced that sudden and overwhelming
interest in its every feature which at
aches to all objects peculiarly $3.50
lated with danger