The Washington times., 1913-10-16

, Il am sorry," Yorke said gently. Il
can fully comprehend your state of
| mind, and l would gladly give you any
further information / could, but there
really is nothing more 1 can say at
present.
Il understand. Mr.. Van Rensselaer,,
| that you are interested In photography
can you let me have q camera-a small
one with a good lens carrying film rolls
instead of plates would suit my ,pur-
pose. should like few snapshots BE-
fore the police arrive and the room up
stairs is disarTanged."
Certainly; I've got kodak which
WIN be just the thing you need. I think.
WIN three-and-a-Quarter by four-and-a
quarter be sufficiently larger It's in
my darkroom; I'll load It at once"
1T will do perfectly. I'll como with
YOU" said Yorke, significantly.
They LETT the house by a side door
and started across the clearing toward
the Toulouse.
When they were wen beyond earshot
from the house Yorke resumed quietly:
There are . few minor details 1
should like to tell you which it was
necessary Or advisable to mention be-
vegetable knife was found beside the
body. crusted with blood, but II played
no actual part In the crime which can
see as yet
me doctors examination proves that
the murder was committed with a long
er' thinner. more keen and plant blade
single. slashing stroke from left to
right severed the wtndpipe and jugular
vein and went even deeper. In fact. the
body Is almost decapitated."
Robins face grayed. and he caught
for an instant at Yorke's arm, but he
with firm step to the door of the
darkroom. which had been built on as
wing of the gardeners house, on the
side farthest from the lodge He pre-
csded Iorke and stopped Just over the
onresnold with an exclamation Of
Why, some ones been in herer' he
calsr '
II was l." said Yorke, quietly. ct
wanted sheet of especially sensitized
paper TO take an impression and | found
JUST what needed to prepare it here"
:, oh! that's all right then. Here's
1t takes-my Cod"
He droped the little photograph which
ne had picked up at random from the
taple and walked unsteadtIv TO the
window. Yorke examined it
II pore the likeness of a slender.
oeaullIul woman, seated on the yeranda
steps, with the sleek head of great
porzlo resting on her knee Her Inns
we're slNlng, but in her eyes, as in
nose Of the huge dog, a somber in
scrutable shadow dwelt
he had no difficulty In recognizing
her-it was the woman who IsS daaS
IN the lodge. Yorke gazed refiectiyeIy
at IL for a minute, and then sIfpnad /.
quietly in his pocket.
l ne camera will do nicely" he said,
o. haVe ids you any films? I don't want
-
1ore the coroner arrives
hopin turned from the window and
went bhndly to the table drawer where
ne selected a roll of films, seated him
ceeded to load it. NV
iorke was kindly oblivious to the an
guish which ccnvulsed his face hnt
watched his deft hands as they me
chi4nlcally performed their task When
the camera had been handed IA him
ually:
=, Left handed, aren't you, Mr.. Van
Yes, in some things; baseball. golf
tennls-that sort of thing. Not in every
Ihlns. Look at the servants gathered
have TO be told soon?''
Not just yet I'd like to question a
few of them first, If possible
Now"
No. l want a word with Mrs.
Ashley alone. VIII you ask her to come
out here for moment? I want some
general Information which she can
readily give me-"
Here" was a small rustic tea-bouse.
set just on the edge of the forest Of
pines and spruce which stretched away
in seeming infiniteness to the north
There Madge found him a few min
utes later, gazing introspectively at
small object III his hand which he
dropped indifferently into his pocket AS
he rose at her approach.
Mrs. Ashley" he said. Il want 10
ask you a few questions. You can en-
Tighten me on some points as fully rs
Mr.. Van Rensselaer, would be able to,
and want to spare him as much as
possible just now
Il. too, am suffering, Mr. Ncrke." she
reminded him, gently, with Il faint, pit
iful. quivering smile.
II know" he said compassionatelJ-.
81 will be as brief as ] can. There are
soVe general facts which | must be in
possession Of-ycu, as an intimate fam
lily friend, can tell me all ] wish to
Fmow. You are an old friend Of the
Van Rensselaers. ar" you not"
Il have known Victoria since chilli
hood. Although she IL younger than
by several years. we nave been lifelong
dcVoied friends
Madgc'S eyes flied, and she sat gaZ-
ing past the detective. if half uncon-
sciOus of his presence. He paused a
minute and then asked:
Who was Mrs. Van Rensselaer,
'Beforr her marriage, Won mean? She
was Victoria Hildr"th RgelUw. Her
father was rector of St John :, and was
widely known for his magnetic person
ality and wonderful powers of Ur:tiory.
st Johns was the most prominent
church -SaE" one or two in B"stOn-iu
all New England, and his genius made
1 lnlNprG4Il,- ht.lnNpl
And his wife-whO was she?'
Mary Hildreth, of the old New York
family. She was charming. too. Her