Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1913-05-29
I'D. FLETCHER RODINSON
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greatly unnerved by the tragedy. and
| strolled up the stairs again on an
errand of consolation. The door was
locked, and there came no answer to
my continued tapping.
Terry" l called through the key
hole. 1T is I. Phillips; won't you let
me in?"
Il have key that will fit, If you
Will kindly stand aside," suggested a
modest voice.
l rose from my knees to find the
inspector at my elbow.
1T would be a gross intrusion" I
told him. III he wishes to be alone
with his sorrow, we have no right 70
disturb him."
He is seriously ILL.,"
How did you discover that7"
by borrowing a gardeners ladder
and looking through his window. He
Is unconscious, or was ten minutes
ago."
A skillful twist or two with a bit
OF wire and the key was pushed from
the lock. The duplicate opened the
door. Peace walked into the room,
and l followed at his heels.
On his bed, fully dressed, lay poor
Terry, with face paler than his pill
lows. His breath came and went in
short, painful gasps. One hand stray
ed continuously about his throat,
cropping and plucking at his collar
with feverisb unrest. 1t was a very
painful spectacle.
l Will send for a doctor at once"
whispered, stepping to the bell. But
Peace held up warning hand.
Come here" he said, II have some
thing to show you"
With movements as tender as a
woman's he unfastened the mans col
lar and slipped out the stud. Then
he paused. The eyes that watched
me had turned cold and hard.
IF 1t Is as l suspect, you may be
called as witness. Do you object?"
Yes; but shall not leave you on
that account"
Very WE'LL" he said, as he opened
the shirt and the vest beneath 1t.
Smeared and patched in dark etch-
ing upon the white skin was a broad
stain of blood, of dried and clotted
blood, the LIES blood of a man.
He is wounded, Peace" cried
Poor fellow, he must have nearly
bled to death"
DO not alarm yourself" said the
inspector, dryly. 1T is the blood of
Baron Steen."
A week had gone by, and I was sit
ting alone in my Keble Street rooms
when Peace walked in, with a heavy
travelling coat over his arm.
Thank Heaven, you have come at
last" I cried. How is Maurice Ter
ry?"
"Dead-poor fellow" he said, with
an honest sorrow in his voice. "Yet,
after all. Mr.. Phillips, 1t was the best
that could have happened to him."
And his story-the causes-the
method?" 1 demanded.
1T has taken some hard work. but
the bits of the puzzle are fitted to-
gether at last You wish to hear It. I
suppose?"
According to your PROMISE" 1 re-
minded him.
1T Is a case Of unusual interest"
he said. Though it bears a certain
similarity to the Gottstein trial at
Kiel in 49,"
He paused to light his big pipe.
and then sat back in his chair, with
his eyes fixed in abstract contempla-
ton.
Il was convinced that the murderer
was In the house; and that he had
entered by the side door, towards
which you had seen him pass. When
studying the spot made a discovery
OF some Importance. Steen had left
by the same exit. Also he had reason
to fear some person in that wing, for
he had turned from the path and made
circuit over the grass. l had al
ready noted his broad-toed boots when
examining his body-and the foot
prints In the snow were unmistak-
able. Who was his enemy In that
wing? 1t was problem to be solved.
Il discovered no stained clothing,
and no signs Of its cleansing or de-
struction. From what information I
could gather, all the house party had
been in the roulette-room save you
yourself; and all the servants had
been at the dance save Henderson
and man waiting on the guests. But
In the course Of my search the foot
man who accompanied me discovered
that a quantity Of gold plate was miss
ing. 1t was reasonable to imagine
that Henderson was the thief Prob
ably tho confidential valet had learnt
of the Baron's projected flight and