Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-06
CHAPTER XXI.

malQSu UCokOS thS bSNS, N~'o
notable discoveries. For he was QUICK
TO note the fact that one Of the dead
mans hands was tightly clenched,
while the other lay half-open and
limp. The former was closed upon
leather thong 80 stout as to resist any
attempt to break it by main strength,
SO firmly held that the murderer had
found it necessary to sever it Win
a knife. The knife itself was there
for proof of this; the sheen OF lsnt
upon It's mother.of-pearl handle causnl
the Irishman's eye.
Picking it up he subjected 1t 10
close examination that, however
cleaned no information. 1t was SIM
ply a small pocket penknife, little
worn, with blades OF German steel IL
carried no identifying marks and toto
him but one thing-that the assassin
had been a European; native Wouie
never have bothered with so lnehec'
tual a. thing when a sturdy weapon,
seryiceabie alike for offense and de-
tense, would have served its purpose
equally we'll.
From this he turned 10 the dagger
which he had taken from the body;
a stiletto with a plain ebony handle
unmarked, unscratched, apparently
fresh from the dealers showcase IL
meant nothing, save that it indicated
still more strongly that the murderer
was most probably not a native. a
Greek or an Italian. Genoese sailor
or native OF Southern France-say
a. seafaring man out of Marsellies-
might have carried 1t.
"Oho!" said O'Rourke. speculative.
"a Frenchman, mayhap!'
He got up. satisfied that he would
learn nothing more by continuing MS
search Of the solicitors body. Inc
mental link between the fact Of the
crime and its perpetrator was inevita-
BILE; O'Rourke believed implicitly that
Sypher had been murdered by Des
Trebes masquerading as DE Hyeres.
And he could have done himself an
injury in the impotent fury aroused by
realization that he had permitted him
self to be so chlldishly hoodwinked,
despite the suspicious he had enter
tanned OF the soi-disant DE Hyeres.
He felt himself responsible. since he
had neglected to warn Syphcr. 1t had
been on his tongues tip that after
noon, when Sypher himself had divert
ed the warning by his request that the
ORourke could more comfortably spin
his yarn after they had dined.
Poor divvle.' said the adventurer
again. He stopped to spread his
handkerchief over the staring. pitiful
face. And poor, poor young woman
He vas startled by the thought OF
her: for the first time it entered into
his comprehension, until then bounded
by the hard and fast fact OF the muir
der Now instantly his concern about
the crime was resolved into solicitudo
for the girl What could have hap.
pened 10 her? What had become OF
the servants, whose sudden desertion
had lett the house so sinisterly quiet:
Swept on by fervor of anxiety on
the girls behalf, O'Rourke glanced
: quickly about the study to assure HIM
self that he had overlooked nothing OF
importance. then passed out into the
main hall or reception-room. Here the
most searching inspection revealed
nothing amiss. He moved on to the
other room on the main floor and
found him sH1f in hn 1ioi, hnrn
again all was in perfect order
The kitchen offices in the rear OF
The house next received his attention;
he found them completely untenanted.
having apparently been abandoned in
desperate haste. Everything was in
disorder; the meal he had been in.
vited to partake Of was cooking to Gin.
ders In pots and ovens: a heavy OF,
tense OF burning food thickened the
atmosphere. Ha'f-stifled. he left the
place as quickly as possible. returned
to the main hall and assembled to the
upper story.
Here ne found three bed-cha mbers
and a bath. He first entered Sypher's,
then the room evidently occupied BY
Miss Pynsent. finally what was IN.
auestionably guest-chaInber. discov-
ering nothing noteworthy until he
reached the latter. And here ne re-
ceived a shock Thrown carelessly
across the foot OF the bed was Wom
ans evening wrap, while on the bureau
were gloves, long, white and fresh. but
wrinkled from recent wear, and SILK
en- VEIL Plainly these were the prop
erty OF the fourth guest. whose place
had been set at the table below, but
of whose identity he had not been ap'
prised. Presumably, he reflected. she
ttvhoever she wasl had been intended
as the fulfillment OF Sypher's limited
surprise.
A guess formed vaguely in mis- brain.
and suddenly curdled into suspicion.
He took the gloves in his hand. ex-
smiuing them for marks OF identified