Evening star., 1909-07-14
CHAPTER V-Continued.


The world is startled now and then by
some strange and unexpected announce
ment-a sudden hostility, an extraordinary
understa ndins or strained relations be-
tween two nations. 1t is accepted as a
natural outcome of diplomacy. Yet how
often ii is that clever woman has been
the means of disturbing the worlds peace.
Was not. indeed, the Franco-German con-
fict due TO womans ambition?
| watched the detectives making
their search, pryins, as they did,
into everything, but discovering prac-
ticaliy nothing. Outside the house were
several men in tweed suits : reporters
eager for every scrap of information that
might be forthcoming, but forbidden entry
to the house They lounged up and down,
standing together now and then to chat,
smoke cigarettes, and excite their own
lmaglnatlonS concerning the mysterious
affair. They were awaiting the exit of
anybody to pounce upon him and seek an
interview for that evenings papers.
Cunliffe. the chosen one. looked forth
upon his confreres and smiled.
The dining room and drawing room hav-
ing been thoroughly investigated. Morton
led the way upstairs to the front bed
room, large. pleasant apartment. well
furnished The bed was undisturbed and
had not been slept in; neither, indeed,
had any of the beds in the whole house.
The wardrobe in the front bedroom
which was evidently that occupied by the
woman now lying lifeless-stood open, re-
vealing several gowns hanging in it, while
in the center of the room was lady S
dress trunk. quite new. open. but empty.
The detectives. at Morton's suggestion,
took down dress after dress examining
them to see If there was any makers
name in the bands of the bodices. They
We're, without exception. well made gar
ments. rich and of the latest model but
not one of them bore anything to give
clue as 10 its maker There were three
hats, but all the Innings We're plain In
one. however, was sewed large trefoil
of leaf-green linen. fancy displayed by
some French and Italian miliners to
please the more superstitious of their Gus
toners. who believe that such designs in
their hats bring them good fortune.
Upon the dressing table were several
articles of jewelry. They included about
half a dozen rings. little gold watch
with long gold chain, a small diamond
brooch shaped as a countess coronet, and
IA hatpin the head of which was formed of
a big silver filigree earring of antique
Turkish design. Unfortunately. they were
not in jewelers. cases, but heaped in the
silver tray upon the table. Most of the
drawers in the chest were empty: but in
one quantity of other clothing. evil
IDENTIFY belonging TO the dead woman, all
| of which we carefully investigated.
! a marx was at last 1Ounu. ana
Morton duly noted it in his pocketbook
i 1t was the first suggestion of a clue. but
1 only a Shadowy one Withal, for the wom-
an was foreigner, and at present it was
| impossible TO decide in which city of Eu-
rope to make inquiry.
The main question. as far as
| see remarked one of the officers. a
ishrewd-faced man with hair just silvered.
lis whether the lady did not die a natural
/ DEATH"
/ clya
| There are several theories. of
| course Morton interposed "She
might have been frightened by
the sudden appearance OF an enemy while
alone here. The fright might have caused
heart failure
| 1t was new theory and struck me
as an uncommonly good one Was il
possible that Granny Cough had come
there unexpectedly with my knife in his
hand and she had expired AT sight OF
him? Had she actually been the woman
whom he had cause to hate ! could have
accepted the theory a once. But as she
was certainly not the fair Lydia | hesi-
| tated.
We spent weird and exciting hour in
that house. The work of prying into
every hole and corner was fascinating
| This methodical investigation of a mys-
terry was something new to me. | had
read many works of fiction dealing with
It. and showing the methods of the Grim
inal investigation department. But here
was the real work being carried out be-
| fore my eyes.
| Cuniffe was quick and observant He
saw in ii all good 'story''-as a mur-
der mystery is called in journalistic par
| lance. He little dreamed of the secret
knowledge which ] held. or of the amaz-
ing discovery which | had made.
! ''Of course" he suggested, the poor
woman might have been poisoned. II
seems very curious that whoever came
| here left the front door ajar on leaving.
The visitor must have feared to awaken
| somebody sleeping upstairs
Exactly But how did the person en-