Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-12-20
CHAPTER VII.
The Letters.

IIoHeu as given over TO the use OF
the police, sat Doctor Heath in a
mood too thoughtful to notice the en-
trance of Mr.. Gryce and Sweetwater
from the dining-room where they had
been having dinner.
However, as the formers tread was
somewhat numbering, the coroner:s
attention was caught before they had
quite crossed the room, and Sweet
water, with his quick eye. noted how
his arm and hand Immediately fell so
as to cover up portion of the pa
pers lying nearest to him.
We'll Gryce, this Is a dark case"
he observed, as at his bidding the two
detectives took their seats.
Mr.. Gryce nodded; so did Sweetwa-
ter.
she was not shot. She was not
struck by any other hand; yet she lies
dead from a mortal wound in the
breast. Though there is no tangible
proof of her having inflicted this
wound upon herself, the jury will have
no alternative, ] fear, than to pro-
nounce the case one of suicide"
I'm sorry that I've been able to do
so little" remarked Mr.. Gryce.
The coroner darted him a quick
look.
You are not satisfied? You have
some different idea?" he asked.
The detective frowned at his hands
crossed over the top of his cane. then
shaking his head, replied:
THE verdict you mention is the
only natural one, of course. see that
you have been talking with Miss Chal-
loner's former maid?"
Yes, and she has settled an i'm
portant point for us. There was a
possibility, of course, that the paper
cutter which you brought to my no.
tice had never gone with her into the
mezzanine. That she, or some other
person, had dropped it in passing
through the lobby. But this girl as
sures me that her mistress did not en-
ter the lobby that night. That she
accompanied her down in the elevator,
and saw her step off at the mezzanine.
She can also swear that the cutter
was in a book she carried-the book
we found lying on the desk. The girl
remembers distinctly seeing it's pc
culiarly chased handle projecting
from it's pages, Could anything be
more satisfactory if was going to
say, if the young lady had been of the
impulsive type and the provocation
greater But Miss Challoner's nature
was calm, and were it not for these
letters" here his arm shifted a little
Il should not be so sure of my jury's
future verdict. Love" he went on,
after a moment of silent consideration
of a letter he had chosen from those
before him, "disturbs the most equa-
BILE natures. When it enters as fac
tor, we can expect anything-as you
know. And Miss Challoner evidently
was much attached to her correspon-
dent, and naturally left the reproach
conveyed in these lines"
And Doctor Heath read:
Dear Miss Challoner: Only a man
of small spirit could endure what
endured from you the other day. Love
such as mine would be respectable in
clod-hopper, and l think that even
you will acknowledge that stand
| somewhat higher than that Though !
was silent under your disapprobation,
! you shall yet have your answer. 1t
will not lack point because of its nee
essary delay"
"A threat"
The words sprang from Sweetwater.
and were evidently involuntary.
ut is the only letter of them all
which conveys anything like a re-
| proach," proceeded the coroner. Her
! surprise must consequently have been
great at receiving these lines, and her
| resentment equally so. If the two met
afterwards But ! have not shown
1t conveyed nothing-some facts have
been kept from him-but to us"
here he whirled the letter about SO
that Sweetwater, at least, could see
| the name, "it conveys hope that we
may yet understand Miss Challoner."
"Brotherson!" exclaimed the young
detective in loud surprise. Brother
son! The man who"
THE man who left this building
Just before or simultaneously with the
alarm caused by Miss Challoner's fall
1t clears away some of the clouds be-
Jogging us. She probably caught
sight of him in the lobby, and in the
passion of the moment forgot her
usual instincts and drove the sharp
pointed weapon into her heart"
"Brotherson!" The word came soft
ly now, and with thoughtful intona-
| ton. He saw her die"
why do you say that?"
would he have washed his hands
] in the snow If he had been in igno-
rance of the occurrence? He was the
, real, If not the active, cause Of her
death and he knew it. Either he-ex-
cuse me, Doctor Heath and Mr.. Gryce,
It is not for me to obtrude my opin-
| ion."
Have you settled it beyond dispute
| that Brotherson is really the man who
] was seen doing this?"