The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-09

this. Come and see for yourself
Still frowning. Professor Kent suf-
fered himself to be led to the spot
Two or three of the group, as II parted
before him, greeted him. He round
himself booking down on q corpse clad
In q dark silk dress and stretched on
wooden grating. to which IL was
dashed with a small rope Everything
about the body indicated wealth. The
dress was extensively made. The
shoes were of the best type. and the
stockings were silk. The head was
marred by frightful bruise which
had crushed in the right side and
extended around behind the ear.
Blood had clothed thickly in the short,
close -curled hair. The left side was
unmarked. The eyes were closed and
the mouth was slightly open, showing
a CLINT of gold amid very white ana
regular teeth. An expression of dead
ly terror distorted the face Professor
Kent bent ssloseiy over II.
That's strange; very strange" he
--urmured. ''It should be peaceful"
'But look at the hand" cried Jar
Wis.
Here, indeed, was tho astounding
feature of the tragedy; the aspect that
closely to observe. The body lay
twisted slightly to the right. with the
left arm extended, The left wrist was
enclosed In light rusted handctaff to
which chain was fastened. At the
end VI the chain was the COM anton
cuff, shattered. evidently by q power
full blow, and half buried In the sand.
AS Kent loaned over the corpse, fat,
powerful grizzIed man with metal
badge on his shirt front pushed for
ward"
"Theul's cast-irnn cuffs" he an
nounced. THAT kind amt been used
these forty years"
what kind of O ship 'ud be car
ryin, EN- nowadays?" asked some one
In the crowd.
.An' what kind of a seaman'd be
putting of 'efn on lady's wrist? =
growled a formidable voice. which
Kent, looking up. perceived to have
come from amid growth of heavy
white whiskers, sprouting from q
weather-furrowed face.
"Seafaring man. aren't you?" in
CURED Kent.
aNo more. Fifty. year OF it. man
an boy, has put me in harbor.,
That's Sailor Smith, explained
Jarvis, who had assumed the duties of
d self-appointed cicerone. Not much
about the sea and Its ways, good or
bad, that he don't know
'sTrue for YOU" confirmed several
voices.
Then, Mr. Smith, will you take a
look at those iashingg and tell me
whether in your opinion they are the
work of a sailor?" asked Kent.
The old hands fumbled .expertly.
The old face puckered. Judgment
came forth presently.
The knots is well enough, The
lashin's a passable job. What gifts
me In the rope"
.'Wen, what's wrong with the
roper"
know what just that style Of rope
would be doin' on shiphoard, unless
it was TO hang the old mans wash
on
... Suppose we lift this. grating" Kent
suggested.
At this the man with the badge
interposed. Say, who's runnin' this
thing. anyhow? I'm sheriff here, an
this body amt to be moved till a doc
tor has viewed it,
s.of course said Kent mildly; "hut
/ thought you might be interested To
see, MIR. Sheriff. whether ships
name was stamped somewhere on the
grating"
We'll, don't want any amachure
learning me my business" declared
the official importantly.
Nevertheless. he heaved the wood
work up on edge and held 1t so. while
eager eyes scanned the under part.
Murmurs of disappointment followed.
In these Kent did not join. He had
inserted a finger in crevice of the
splintered wood and had extracted
some small object which he held In
the palm Of his hand. examining II
thoughtfuiiy.
.Wot ye got there2'' demanded the
sheriff.
Professor Kent stretched out his
hand, disclosing small. grayish OBJ
ject-
| II should take it to be the cocoon
OF Ephestia kuehniella," he an
nounced.
AN wot does ne do for Twin p
inquired the official. waxing humor-
Gus.
Destroys crops. It's a species Of
grain moth"
'sOhr' grunted Schlager. You're a
bug collector. eh?"
Exactly" answered the other,
transferring his trove to his pocket.
Thereafter he seemed to lose inter-
est in the center of mystery With
drawing to some distance. he paced
up and down the shore, whistling live
| " tunes, not always in perfect ac-
| cord from which n dAducffye mind