The Washington times., 1913-03-26


time 1t was a long way below. 1t came
very suddenly, so that the river, which
had been entirely open. froze within
that week over eight inches deep. and
the ice people began cutting.
1T was early in January. about the
10th. l think. that an ice-cutter at Sill
yer Springs discovered a body frozen
In the Ice. It was a girl-a young
woman somewhere in her twenties.
Even In the pictures they took Of her
she was very, very beautiful And what
she must have been really-well, one
can imagine it, Because, you see. the
body wasn't changed at all. 1t had
frozen just exactly as It was. probably
put in the water
Been putt" echoed Jeffrey. Then she
hadn't drowned herself?"
NO. said Gwendolyn. 1T was muir
der. She had been shot through the
heart"
Still" interrupted Jeffrey. why mur-
der? Why not suicide with the revolver
and a tumble into the river?''
1T was murder said i, for Gwendo-
lyn had hesitated over the horror of the
thing.
No powder marks around the wound,
/ suppose" suggested jeffrey. Shot
fired from a distance"
1 nodded.
How was she dressed?" he concluded
He turned to Gwendolyn with that ques-
ton.
That's one of the weirdest things
evening dress, dressed as If for a ball,
and her hair-perfectly wonderful hair.
ii must have been from the picture
was done that way. too
And they haven't identified herr"
questioned Jeffrey. IF the body was
literally in perfect condition.
1T was" said Gwendolyn. You could
even see the pressure marks Of the
rings on her fingers, they said"
That points to robbery. doesn't it,"
rings to the ball"
/ she hadn't been at the ball." said
Gwendolyn. AT least, she wasn't in
ball dress when she was murdered.
There was no bullet-hole in the bodice
of her gown and no stain of blood on
the white satin. They dressed her that
way after she was killed. So you see 1t
wasn't robbery"
Il can't help thinking" Gwendolyn
concluded. that the murder was COM
mitted by some insane person. Surely
II doesn't seem that anyone in their
senses would have run that risk and
taken that trouble to do what. one
would think. must make the identifca-
ton easier"
1t Is possible" said jeffrey. that II
he'd read the weather reports. he
wouldn't have done II. '.
The remark sounded perfectly fippant
to me, but caught a sudden look of in
telligence in Gwendolyn's eyes and saw
that jeffrey had meant something by 1t.
In the same moment he saw the be-
wtlderment In mine.
Assuming" he explained, that the
person was still sane. he might almost
safely have counted on the current car
rying the body away altogether and its
never being found. And II he wanted to
dispose of the dress at the same time.
perhaps that was as good a way to do
it as any. But he didn't count on the
freeze. That must have caused him
some pretty bad nights. should think.
and days hardly better. It's perfectly
extraordinary. when you come to think
Of it, that she hasn't been identified.
You say the pictures were published
In the papers?"
"Everywherew 1 exclaimed. :'The
country's been ringing with it,
We'll" said Jeffrey. in the tone Of
one who dismissed the subject. that's
very interesting"
wait a minute." exclaimed Jack. II
can show you the picture. l cut it out
Of the paper and laid it away some
where"
Don't bother" exclaimed jeffrey.
mo bother at ALL" Jack already had
his hand on the door.
ITO tell you the truth" Jeffrey ad-
mitted, II don't believe l want to look
at IL. Let's talk about something else
Dead faces are beginning TO get a little
on my nerves. Oh. it's nothing serious"
he went on, seeing the look Of surprise
me TO feel that way about IL. But-well,
! mean II just the same"
II suppose said Madeline, that
you're loaded up with commissions after
your vacation. You must have sitters
three or four feet deep. clamoring at
your studio door"
Il don't know" said Jeffrey. II
haven't seen my business man since
came back Haven't even been to my
studio. But hope to Heaven he doesn't
get me any more commissions like the
last one. You knew what that was.
didn't you?" He turned to me. THE
thing / was at work on when / bolted?"
II seem to remember said /. that
you were doing some work for Miss
The Miss Meredith?' questioned
queer, rich. invisible Miss Meredith
We all exclaimed over his last word
Invisible, Then what were you
= spirit-picture Of herr"
The last question was Jacks II |
seemed to AFFECT Jeffrey a little un-
10 his head as one will when a fly is |
ouzzing about ones ear.
II wasn't doing a portrait of her." he |
exclaimed. Il was painting from 4 |
and 4 few relics and SOU
,enirs. what was meant for a portrait |
IF a niece of hers-I think it was a |
liece-who. l understand. died several |
ears ago.
I laughed 81 knew some men dill
hat sort of work. It's rather a new
inc for you. isn't it?'
Never before said Jeffrey, land
lever apain, OF course. they Offered
ne a perfectly immoral price for II. but
ven ar that ! Ghouldn't have done it.
xcept for the fact that found tho
photograph they showtd me rather at
ractive."
Beautiful, I suppose" said Madeline 4
That ahaiIldxa'f ha xx...x,daroa mi.