Evening star., 1909-07-17
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busy night and day upon it, and they've
discovered one or two facts which, IN
themselves, show an extraordinary sit
uation."
Tell me about them, George. l m most
interested" / said.
We'll. I was with them all day yester-
day. indeed. until nearly midnight" Cum
life said Il saw the doctors immediate
ly they had made the post-mortem.
And what did they find?"
They established that it was clearly
case of murder. But 1t was murder
under most unusual. and. indeed. almost
unheard of circumstances"
I'm what way?'
1.-The woman died of some means, the
exact nature OF which they have not yet
been able to determine. The home Office
analyst is at work Tonight. or tomor-
1T might surely shave been suicide?"
mo. The medical men had pronounced
against such a theory. There was the
struggle. Besides why should the front
door have been left open? The assassin
door after him.
Perhaps 1t was some unusual poison"
/ haZarded.
II hardly think that. Treherne, the
police divisional surgeon. is friend of
mine. and assisted at the examination.
He pronounced against the poison theory
and says it's one of the queerest cases
in all his experience. The poor woman
died swiftly. that is certain. But they
could discover no cause In fact, it is a
complete mystery
She might have died natural death.
and some one in the house alarmed at
her collapse. and fearing to be mixed up
with an unpleasant affair, may have fed"
Such things have, of course, occurred.
But In this case there are certain fea-
lures which entirely negative that idea.
The secrecy with which the house was
rented. for instance shows a distinct in
f0ylf r,1oy I'll
us the poison theory entirely negative?'
asked.
-Four of the most expert analysts in
London are at this moment at work upon
It.. he said. up to the present. how
ever. they've failed to identify any poison
known to toxicologists. Their report will.
no doubt. he intensely interesting
Then why are the police SO very cock
sure that 1t is a case of murder If it
was not poison there must be some
Wound,'
They haven't discovered any" he re-
piled seated at his writing table. with
curious point about it,
But if there is no wound might it
not yet be suicide?"
The medical evidence negatives that
theory, as I've already told you. No
poison has been found in the stomach
If it had-to some. suicide might be the
explanation" he said. II tell you. Phil"
he went on. 1.-The case is most amaz-
ing one in every respect. The mysterious
arrival of the lady In London, the taking
of the furnished house by the maid, and
the sudden disappearance of the latter,
are all matters which the police are try
ing to clear up"
That maid. whoever she is. knows
something about it, 1 suggested
My opinion exactly
rs there any suspicion of a man in the
case? l inquired, not without trepd-
alton.
hn
as I've gathered was his answer. But
1t seems that two servants were engaged
by the maid through registry Office
in the Brampton road. They turned up
mence their duties, and found their new
mistress-whom they'd never seen-dead,
and the place in the possession of the
poiice.'
they see the mad?"
NO. 1t as all by correspondence. The
maid signed herself Marie Lebas and
gave the address in Redclffe Gardens"
The police are In search of her. L
suppose?'
Yes, and they hope to find her
THE engagement of servants does not
appear as though death was anticipated
| remarked. IF the maid were guilty she
would hardly have sent for them"
she might have done so as a blind j.,
One can never tell. Both women were
| evidently foreigners. and in all PROBABLE
ity foreigner was the assassin
Well / said. what is your candid
opinion upon the whole affair? You've
been with Morton all day yesterday. so
you are the most competent to form a
theory"
Theory" he echoed Il have no the
ory The case is a mystery-absolutely.
complete UP to the present. The people
over at Scotland Yard are puzzled be-
cause of certain features that are so un-
usual"
ISo, fh0y- 11
| exclaimed. breathlessly.
(To be continued tomorrow)