The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-11-21

spector Of police awaited him.
This is very good of you," the in
spector began, glancing down at the
aged detectives bundled up legs, and
gently pushing a chair towards him
The elderly man thus addressed
glanced down at his legs, now propped
up on a stool which someone had
brought him, and smiled, with the
Iathos Of the old who sees the inter
ests Of a lifetime slipping gradually
away.
Il am not what 1 was. l can nc
longer get down on my hands and
knees to pick up threads from the nap
of a rug, or spy out spot of blood
In the crimson wool Of carpet"
"You shall have Sweetwater here
to do the active work for you. What
we want of you is the directing mind
the infallible instinct It's a case
in thousand, Gryce. 1t will make
you young again"
The old mans eyes shot fire anc
unconsciously one foot slipped to the
floor Then he bethought himself
and painfully lifted it back again.
What are the points? What's the
difficulty" he asked. "A woman has
been shot"
No, not shot, stabbed. We thought
she had been shot, for that was intel
ligible and involved no impossible
tiles. But Drs. Heath and Webster
under the eye of the Challoners' OWE
physician, have made an examination
of the wound and they declare that
no bullet is to be found in the body
AS the wound extends no further
than the heart, this settles one great
point, at least You know the vic
tim? Her name, l mean. and the
character she bore?"
Yes; so much was told me on my
way down"
"A fine girl unspoiled by riches and
seeming independence. Happy, too
to all appearance, or we should be
more ready to consider the POSSIBLE
lily of suicide
Suicide by stabbing calls for a
weapon. Yet none has been found, ]
hear"
None
yet she was killed that way?"
Undoubtedly, and by long and
very narrow blade, larger than
needle but not so large as the or.
binary stiletto."
you may call by herself? She had nc
companion near herr"
None, if we can believe the four
members of the Parrish family who
were seated at the other end of the
ROOM
And you do believe them?"
Would a whole family leland
needlessly?"
1T wouldn't seem so.'
She fell just few feet from the
5esk where she had been writing.
no cord, no cry, just collapse and
sa5den fall She never looked up or
spoka again. What do you make OF
Il. Gryce?"
.ts tough one, and I'm not ready
10 venture an opinion yet. l should
like to see the desk you speak OF,
and the spot where she fell"
A young fellow who had been hover
ing in the background at once stepped
forward. He was the plain-faced de-
tective who had spoken to George.
will you take my arm, sir?'
Mr. Gryces whole face frightened.
This Sweetwater, as they. called him,
was, / have since understood, one OF
his proteges and more or less OF a
favorite.
'Have you had a chance at this
thing?" he asked.
Yes, sir; they were good enough
to allow it,"
Very we'll, then, you're in posi-
ton to pioneer me. You've seen it
all and won't be in a hurry"
NO; I'm at the end of my rope. l
haven't an idea, sir
We'll, we'll, that's honest at all
events" Then, as he slowly rose with
the others careful assistance,
There's no crime without its clue.
The thing is to recognize that clue
when seen. But I'm in no position to
make promises"
The mezzanine was guarded from
all visitors save such as had official
sanction. Consequently, the two re-
NAMED quite uninterrupted while
they moved about the place in quiet
consultation. The locale was what
Gryee wanted, and he got it. Wheth-
er he got anything else it would be
impossible to say from his manner as
he finally sank into a chair by one OF
the openings, and looked down on the
lobby below. 1t was full of people
coming and going on all sorts of bus
mess, and presently he drew back,
and, leaning on Sweetwater's arm,
asked him a few questions.
Who were the first to rush in here
after the Parrishers gave the alarm"
"One or two of the musicians from
the end of the hail. They had just
finished their program and were pre-
pairing to leave the gallery. Natural.
iy they reached her first"
"And who followed them? Who
came next on the scene?"
Some people from the lobby. They
heard the disturbance and rushed up
pell-mell But not enc of these touch