The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-09

pied" murmured Mr.. Sutherland.
"Strange. Could be have expected
guests"
'It looks like IL. I don't know that
his wife allowed him such privileges
But she was always too good to him
and l fear has paid for it with her
ufe.''
Nonsense, He never killed her
Had his love been anything short of
the worship it was. he stood in too
much awe OF her TO lift his hand
against her. even in his most demented
moments"
81 don't trust men of uncertain wits"
returned the other. You have not no.
ticed everything that is to be seen in
this room"
Mr. Sutherland. recalled to his duty
by these worss. looked quickly about
him. With the exception of the table
and what was on and by it there was
nothing else in the. room. Naturally
his glance returned to Philemon Webb.
Il don't see anything but this poor
sleeping man." he began.
Look at his sleeve"
Mr. Sutherland. with a start, again
bent down. The arm of his old friend
lay crooked upon the table. and on its
blue cotton sleeve there was a smear
which might have been wine but which
was-blood.
AS Mr.. Sutherland became assured of
this. he turned slightly pale and looked
inquiringly at the two men who were
intently watching him.
This is bad" said he. ANY other
mo. That one smear is ALL
'Oh. Philemon burst from Mr..
Sutherland in deep emotion. Then as
he looked long and shudderingly at his
friend he added slowly:
He has been in the room where she
was killed. SO much is evident. But
that he understood what was done
there | cannot believe or he would not
be sleeping here like a log. Come, let
us go upstairs"
Fenton. with an admonitory gesture
toward his subordinate turned directly
toward the staircase. Mr.. Sutherland
followed him, and they at once pro-
ceeded to the upper hall and into the
large front room. which had been the
scene of the tragedy.
II was the parlor or sitting room Of
this small and unpretentious house. A
rag carpet covered the floor, and the
furniture was of the plainest kind. but
the woman who lay outstretched on the
stiff old fashioned lounge opposite the
door was far from being in accord with
the homcly type of her surroundings
Though the victim of violent death,
her face and form. both of a beauty
seldom to be found among women of
any station. were SO majestic in their
calm repo>e that Mr.. Sutherland. as
customed as he was to her noble ap-
pearance. experienced a shock Of sur
prise that found vent in these words:
'Murdered, She? You have made
some mistake, my friends Look at
her face!'
But even in the act of saying this his
eyes fell on the blood which had dyed
her cotton dress. and he cried:
"Where was she struck and where is
the weapon which made this CHASTITY
wound?
"She was struck while standing or
sitting at this table," returned the con-
stable. pointing to two or three drops
of blood on it's smooth surface. 1.-THE
weapon we have not found. but the
wound shows that it was inflicted by a
three sided dagger"
/, "A three sided daggerT
Eyes"
81 didn't know there was such a
thing IN town. Philemon could have
had no dagger"
cit does not seem so, but one can
never tell. Simple cottages like these
to;Y 81.
ticles."
Mr.. Sutherland thought of what this
cottage did contain and scrutinized the
constable closely. But the latter show
ed no discomposure.
Il cannot imagine a dagger being
among its effects" he pursued where
was the body of Mrs. Webb lying when
you came in?"
Where you see it now. Nothing has
been moved or changed"
''She was found here, on this lounge,
in the same position in which we see
her now?"
.Yes, sir
But that is incredible. Look at the
way she lies! Hands crossed, eyes
closed, as though made ready for her
DuTldl. Oily l0NiIl uduuS COuiu nave
done this. What does it mean?"
1T means Philemon; that is what it
means. Philemon"
Mr. Sutherland shuddered, but said
nothing. He was dumfounded by these
evidences of a carry mans work.
Philemon Webb always seemed so
harmless, though he had been failing
in mind for the last ten years.
But" cried Mr.. Sutherland suddenly
rousing, there is another victim. 1
saw old woman Batsy hanging from a
window ledge, dead
Yes; she is in this other room; but
there is no wound on Batsy."
How was she killed. then?"
'.That the doctors must tell u.s."
Mr.. Sutherland, guided by Mr.. Fen |
tons gesture, entered a small room /
opening into the one in which they 1
stood. His attention was at once at |
tracted by the body of the woman he
had seen from below. lying half in and
half out of the open window. That she
was dead was evident; but. as Mr..
Fenton had said, no wound was to be |
seen upou her nor were there any 4