Arizona republican., 1911-01-17

1t was the afternoon before the In
! quest on the body OF Austen Abbott
/ and there were gathered together in
/ Lefty Shaw's parlor a curiously as
! sorted little group of people. There
was Miss Shaw herself-or rather
what seemed to be the ghost of her
/ self-and her mother: Lady Mary and
Sir William Trencham; Peter Ruff and
Violet Brown-and Mr.. John Dory
The eyes OF all OF them were fixed
upon Peter Ruff, who was the latest
arrival. He stood in the middle OF the
room, calmly taking off his gloves, and
glancing complacently down at his
well-creased trousers.
Lady Mary" he said. land Miss
Shaw, I know that you are both arr
ious for me TO explain why | asked
you to meet me here this afternoon.
and why | also requested my friend
Mr.. Dory from Scotland Yard, who
has charge of the case against Cap
tain Sotherst, to be present. l will
tell you"
Mr.. Dory nodded, a little impa-
tiently.
Unless you have something very
definite to say" he remarked. at think
IL NOulu Dt do wei u Any
general discussion Of this matter until
after the inquest. / must warn you
that so far as l, personally. am con-
cerned, l must absolutely decline to
allude to the subject at all. II would
be most unprofessional."
al have something definite to say"
Peter Ruff declared. mildly.
Lady Mary's eyes flashed with hope
Lefty Shaw leaned forward In her
chair with white. drawn face.
Let It be understood" Peter Ruff
said, with q slight note of gravity
creeping into his tone, THAT I am
here solely as the agent of Lady Mary
Sotherst. I am paid and employed by
her. My sole object is on her behalf.
therefore. to discover proof Of the in
nocence Of Captain Sotherst l take
II, however" he added, turning to-
wards the dropping figure in the easy
chair. that Miss Shaw is as anxious
to have the truth known"
"of course! OF course" she muir
INJURED.
"In France" Peter Ruff continued,
there is a somewhat curious custom,
which. despite a certain theatricality,
yet has its points. The scene of a
crime is visited. and fits events. so far
as may be. reconstructed. Let us sup
pose for a moment that we are now
engaged upon something OF the sort"
Lefty Shaw shrank back in her
chair. Her thin white fingers were
gripping its sides. Her eyes seemed
to look upon terrible things.
at Is too-awful /" she faltered.
Madam" Peter Ruff said. firmly,
Eve seek the truth. Be so good as
to humor me in this. Dory. will you
go to the front door. stand upon the
mat-so? You are Captain Sotherst-
you have just entered. l am Austen
Abbott. You. Miss Shaw. have just
ordered me from the room. You see,
move toward the door open it
go. Miss Shaw" he added. turning
swiftly towards her, "once more will
you assure me that everyone who was
in the fat that night with the excep-
tion of your domestic servant, is pres
ent now"
Yes" she murmured.
Good! Then who" he asked. sud
denly pointing to door on the left
" who Is in that ROOM
They had all crowded after him to
the threshold-thronging around him
as he stood face to face with John
Dory. His finger never wavered-it
was pointing steadily towards that
closed door few feet to the left. Sud
denly Lefty Shaw rushed past them
with loud shrek.
(Te BE- eesfirsedD