River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-05-29

necQl2 put not 50 ldISS do IIO "a
binary stiletto."
Stabbed while by herself, or what
you may call by herself? She had no
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 a few feet from the
desk where she had been writing.
No word, no cry, just collapse and
sudden fall She never looked up or
spoke again. What do you make of
it, Gryce?"
Its tough one, and I'm not ready
to venture an opinion yet. | 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.
viii 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 well. then, you're in posi-
ton to pioneer me. You've seen it
all and won't be in a hurry"
mo; I'm at the end of my rope.
haven't an idea, sir"
well, well, that's honest at all
events" Then, as he slowly rose with
the others careful assistance,
There's no crime without it's 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
Gryce 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 chair by one OF
the openings, and looked down Oh the
lobby below. 1t was full of people
coming and going on all sorts of bus
inc hn nj
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 p
Zone or two of the musicians from
the end of the hall. They had just
finished their program and were pre-
pairing to leave the gallery Natural
ly 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 one of these touch.
ed her Later her father came"
who did touch her? Anybody,
before the father came in?"
Yes; Miss Clarke, the middle
aged lady with the Parishes She
had run towards Miss Challoner as
soon as she heard her fall, and was
sitting there with the dead girls
head in her lap when the musicians
| showed themselves"
81 suppose she has been carefully
questioned?"
Very I should say"
"And she speaks Of no weapon?"
mo. Neither she nor any one else
at that moment suspected murder or
even a violent death All thought it
natural one-sudden, but the re-
suit of some secret disease"
But the blood? Surely there must
have been some show of blood?"
mo one noticed any. Not till the
doctor came-her doctor. who was
happily in his Office in this very