The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1912-09-19


mained beside the body, making TWO
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
liLap. The former was closed upon
leather thong so stout as to resist any
attempt to break it by main strength,
so firmly held that the murderer had
found it necessary to sever 1t with
a knife. The knife itself was there,
for proof OF this; the sheen OF light
upon its mother-of-pearl handle caught
the Irishman's eye.
Picking it up. he subjected 1t to q
close examination that, however,
cleaned no information. 1t was SIM
ply a small pocket penknife, little
worn, with blades of German steel. 1t
carried no identifying marks and told
him but one thing-that the assassin
had been a European; a native would
never have bothered with so inef1ec-
tual a thing when sturdy weapon,
serviceable alike for offense and de-
fense, would have served its purpose
equally well.
From this he turned to the dagger
which he had taken from the body;
a stiletto with a plain ebony handle,
unmarked, unscratched, apparently
fresh from the dealers showcase. 1t
meant nothing, save that 1t indicated
still more strongly that the murderer
was most probably not native. A
Greek or an Italian, Genoese sailor
or a native Of Southern France-say
q seafaring man out Of Marseilles-
might have carried 1t.
"Oho!" said ORourke. speculative.
"A Frenchman, mayhap!"
He got up, satisfied that he would
learn nothing more by continuing his
search of the solicitors body. The
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 80 childishly hoodwinked,
despite the suspicious he had enter
tanned of the soi-disant DE Hyeres."
He felt himself responsible, since he
had neglected to warn Sypher. It had
been on his tongues tip that after
noon, when Sypher himself had divert
ed the warning by his request that the
O'Rourke 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 was startled by the thought Of
her; for the first time 1t entered into
his comprehension, until then bounded
by the hard and fast fact Of the mur-
der Now instantly his concern about
the crime was resolved into solicitude
for the girl. What could have hap
pened to her? What had become of
the servants, whose sudden desertion
had left the house SO sinisterly quiet?
Swept on by a 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
most searching inspection revealed
nothing amiss. He moved on to the
other room on the main floor and
found himself in the dining-room; here
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 ne had been In
gited to partake of was cooking to Gin
iers in pots and ovens; heavy Of
iense Of burning food thickened the
atmosphere. Half-stifed, he left the
place as quickly as possible, returned
10 the main nall and ascended to the
upper story.
Here he found three bed-chambers
md bath. He first entered syphers,
hen the room evidently occupied by
Miss Pynsent, finally what was un-
luestionably a guest-chamber, discov-
sring nothing noteworthy until he
'eached the latter. And here he re-
.eived shock. Thrown carelessly
lcross the foot of the bed was WON.
ms evening wrap, while on the bureau
we're gloves, long, white and fresh, but
wrinkled from recent wear, and silk
sn veil. Plainly these were the prop
,rty of the fourth guest, whose place
sad been set at the table below. but
,f whose identity he had not been ap-
prised. Presumably, he reflected. she
whoever she was) had been intended
is the fulfllment Of Syphers limited
yurprise.
A guess formed vaguely IN his brain,
and suddenly curdled into suspicion.
He took the gloves In his hand. e1-
smining them for marks Of identified.
No,, hut Sound NINA Rut In cne COT