The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-15

to the arts, l consulted the CLOCK ar
the foot OF the stairs, and noting that
1t was half past IL, scribbled the hour
on the margin OF my music, with the
intention of seeing how long my lady
would linger outside alone. Gentle
men, II was two hours before saw her
face again. How she got back into the
house / do not know. 1t was not by
the garden door, for my eye seldom
left It; vet at or near half past / 1
heard her voice on the stair above me
and saw her descend and melt into the
crowd as II she had not been absent
from 1t for more than five minutes. A
half hour later I saw her with Fred
erick again. They were dancing. but
not with the same spirit a. before. and
even while I watched them they sep
arated. Now where was Miss Page
during those two long hours? I think
I know. and 1t is time unburdened
myself to the police.
"But nrst l must inform ysu Of a
small discovery / made while the
dance was still In progress. Miss Page
had come down stairs. a. I have said,
from what I now know to have been
her own room. Her dress was, In all
respects. the same N before. with one
exception--her white slippers has been
exchanged for blue ones. This seemed
to show that they had been rendered
unserviceable, or at least unsightly, by
the walk she had taken. This in itself
was not remarkable, nor would her pc
culiar escapade have made more than
q temporary impression upon my
curiosity II she had not afterward
shown an unaccountable and extrnor-
binary interest in the murder which
had taken place in the town below
during the very hours OF her absence
from Mr.. Sutherland's ball. This, In
consideration Of her sex and her being
q stranger to the person attacked, was
remarkable. and, though perhaps had
no business to do what I did. / no
sooner saw the house emptied OF
master and servants than l stole
softly back. and climbed the stairs to
her room. Had ne good followed this
intrusion -wnleh, anr q6re ready 10
acknowledge, was q tribe presump-
tuous, I should have held my peace In
regard to 1t; but As I did mako a dis
covery there which has. - believe.
an important bearing on this affair.
have forced mysek to mention IL. Tho
lights in the house having been left
burning. I had no difficulty In finding
her apartment. knew itrby the fol-
derols scattered about. But did not
stop to look at them. was on
search for her slippers, and presently
/ came upon them, thrust behind an
old picture In tie dimnest corner Of
the room. Taking them down. I ex-
amined them closely. They were not
only soiled. gentlemen, but dreadfully
cut and rubbed. In short, they were
ruined; and. thinking that the young
lady herself would be glad to be rid OF
them, I quietly put them into my
pocket, and carried them to my own
home. Abel has just been for them.
so you can see them for yourselves.
and. II your judgment comedies with
mine, you will discover something
more on them than mud"
DR.. Talbot, though he stared n little
at the young mans confessed theft,
took the slippers Abel was holding out
and carefully turned them over. They
were, as Sweetwater had said, griev-
ously torn and soiled and showed. be-
sides several deep earth stains. a mark
or two OF a bright red color quite un-
mistakable In character.
BLOOD" declared the coroner. There
IN no doubt about 1t. Miss Page was
where blood was spilled last night"