The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-12-16
CHAPTER w.
"Ridiculous!" cried Gevrol.

TOO much, perhaps" retorted ole
Tabaret. "At all events. it is the
truth. Ii you are not minute in YOU,
investigations, cannot help it; any
now, | am. search. and find. Toe
mucn. say you? Well, ueign to glance
at these Jumps of damp plaster. They
represent the heels of the boots worn
by the assassin. of which l found
most perfect impression near the
ditch, where the key was picked up
On these sheets OF paper. have mark.
ed IN outline the imprint OF the foot
winch l cannot take up, because it is
on some sand. Look, heel high, in
step pronounced, sole small and mar
rowan elegant boot, belonging to a
foot well cared for evidently. Look
Tor this impression all along the path
ana you will find it again twice. Then
you will find 1t five times repeated ir
the garden, where no one else had
been; and those footprints prove. nv
the way, that the stranger knocked
not at the door. but at the window
shutter, beneath which shone a CLEAN
OF light. At the entrance to the gar.
den the man leaped to avoid a flower.
ped. the point Of the foot, more deep
~ imprinted than usual, shows it.
lie leaped more than two yards with
ease. proving that he is active. and
therefore young.
"I1naS tho hof ;,b
Gevrol? Just look at the circle traced
In the dust On the marble ton of the
secretary Is it because have men
toned his height that You arc sur.
p"isedo Take the trouble to examine
tie tops OF the wardrobes and you
VIII see that the assassin passed his
hands across them Therefore he is
taller than 1 am. Do not say that he
got on chair, for in that case he
would have seen, and would not have
been obliged to feel. Are you aston
1shed about the umbrella? This lump
OF earth shows an admirable impres.
sion, not only OF the end OF the stick
hut even of the little round piece of
wood which Is always placed al the
end OF the silk. Perhaps you canno'
get over the statement that he smoked
a cigar? Here is the end OF a trabucos
that found among the ashes. Has
the end been bitten? No. Has it been
with saliva? No Then he
who smoked it used a cigar holder."
Iecod was unable to conceal his en-
thnsiastic admiration and noiselesslv
rubbed his hands together delighted.
Now" continued the old FELLOW,
follow me closely. We have traced
the young man into the house. How
he explained his presence at this hour,
/ do not know; this much is certain,
he told the widow he had not dined.
The worthy woman at once set up
to work TO prepare a meal. This meal
was not for herself; for in the cup
board | have found the remains of
her own dinner. She had dined off
fish: the autopsy will confirm the
truth of this statement Besides, you
can see yourselves, there is but one
glass on the table, and one knife. But
who is this young man? Evidently the
widow looked upon him as a man of
superior rank to her own; for in the
cupboard is table-cloth still very
clean. Did she use it? No. For her
guest she brought out clean linen
one, her berry best. 1t was for him
This magnificent glass, a present, no
doubt, and it is evident she did not
often use this knife with the ivory
handle.
Now, then. we have got the young
man seated. He began by drinking a
glass Of wine, while the widow was
putting her pan on the fire. Then,
his heart failing him, he asked for
brandy, and swallowed about five
small glassfuls. After an internal
struggle of ten minutes (the time 1t
must have taken to cook the ham
md eggs as much as they are), the
7oung man arose and approached the
widow, who was squatting down and
Gaming forward overSaer cooking. He
stabbed her twice in the back; but
the was not killed Instantly. She
lalf-arose, selling the assassin by the
lands; while he drew back lifting
ler suddenly, and then hurting her
Town in the position in which you see
Ter. This short struggle is indicated
n the posture Of the body: for, squat
ing down and being struck in the
,ack it is natural on her back that
ne ought to have fallen. The mur-
lerer used sharp, narrow weapon,
Vhich was, unless am deceived. the
md az foil, sharpened, and with the
lnttcn broken of. BY wiping the
Weapon upon his victims skirt, the
ssassin leaves W this indication.
Ie was not, however. hurt in the
trugEle. The victim must have
lung with q death-grip to his hands;
III 81 he had not taken OF his Lave
ndar gloves +
Why. this 4 romance" exclaimed
Eevrol
Have you examined the dead wo-
azz.ss 1nEer-nailA y 0AIrol NJ.