The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-07-04
CHAPTER XXI.

notable discoveries. 4 OF ne was QuiCh
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 a
leather thong so stout as to resist any
attempt to break it by main strength,
SO firmly held that the murderer had
found 1t 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 a
close examination that, however,
CLEANED no information. 1t was SIM
ply 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; native would
never have bothered with SO ineffec-
tual thing when q sturdy weapon,
serviceable alike for offense and de-
tense, would have served its purpose
equally we'll.
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 a native. A
Greek or an Italian, Genoese sailor
or a native of Southern France-say
a seafaring man out Of Marseilles-
might have carried It.
"Oho!" said O'Rourke, 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 it's 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. 1t 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 muir
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
had left the house SO sinisterly quiet
Swept on by fervor of anxiety or
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 himself In the dining-room; here
again all was In perfect order.
The kitchen offices In the rear o
the house next received his attention
he found them completely untenanted
having apparently been abandoned IL
desperate haste. Everything was II
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. Half-stified, he left thu
place as quickly as possible. returned
to the main hall and assembled to tn,
upper story.
Here he found three bed-chamber,
and bath. He first entered Sypher's
then the room evidently occupied b!
Miss Pynsent, finally, what was un
questionably a guest-chamber, discov
ering nothing noteworthy until h
reached the latter. And here he re
N cefved shock. Thrown carelessl!
- across the foot of the bed was a WON
ans evening wrap, while on the bureau
a were gloves, long, white and fresh, blu
wrinkled from recent wear, and a silk
en- veil. Plainly these were the prop
4. erty Of the fourth guest, whose plac,
u had been set at the table below, blu
Of whose identity he had not been ap
prised. Presumably. he reflected, sh,
whoever she was) had been intended
, as the fulfllment of Sypher's hinte,
surprise.
A guess formed vaguely in his brain
and suddenly curdled into. suspicion
He took the gloves In his hand, ex
aiming them for marks Of identified
ton, but found none. But in one cor
ner Of the veil he discovered an EN-
broidered initial-the letter B.
'Beatrix?" he guessed huskily. 81
It possible? He promised m,
a surprise. 'Twould have beer
like her to plan It with hSm-and ii
quite possible she reached Rangool
before l. My wifai :"
III Hastily he returned to the evenin.
wrap, a fascinating contrfvsnce of lac,
and satin unquestionably the last CT.
j Of the Partisan mode, such a wrap a.
his wife might well have worn. Blu
beyond Paquin's label stitched insid,
its dainty pocket 1t boosted no dis
tinguishing mark.
He stumbled hurriedly from tn,
room and down the stairs, returning
to the study where Sypher's bod.
lay: tortured by mounting fears. b.
q stood and looked blankly about him
ar loss where next to turn, II almos
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