The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1914-03-12


thick walking type Judging from
Burton's description she must have
been about your size and figure, Mrs.
Wrandall. Isn't that so, Mrs. Bur
TOM"
The innkeeper's wife spoke. yes,
Mr.. Harlem, I'd say so myself. About
five feet six, I'd Judge; rather slim
and graceful like, in spite Of the big
coat"
Mrs. Wrandall was watching the
woman's face. T am five feet Six
she said, as if answering question.
The sheriff cleared his throat some
what needlessly.
Burton says she acted as II she
were lady," he went on. "Not the
kind that usually comes out here on
such expeditions, he admits. She did
not speak to anyone, except once in
very low tones to the man she was
with, and then she was standing by
the fireplace out in the main Office,
quite a distance from the desk. She
went upstairs alone, and he gave some
orders to Burton before following her
That was the last time Burton saw
her. The waitress went up with a spe'
cially prepared supper about half an
hour later"
at seems quite clear, Mrs. Wran
dali, that she robbed the man after
stabbing him." said the coroner.
Mrs. Wrandall started. Then she
was not lady. after ALL" she said
quickly. There was note of relief
in her voice. 1t was as If she had
put aside a half-formed conclusion.
"His pockets were empty. Not a
penny had been left. Watch, cuff
links, scarf pin, cigarette case, purse
and bill folder-all gone. Burton hao
seen most of these articles in the
Office"
Isn't it-but no! Why should
be the one to offer suggestion thai
might be construed as a defense fol
this woman?"
"You were about to suggest, madam
that some one else might have taker
the valuables-is that it," cried the
sheriff.
Had you thought Of it, Mr.. Sheriff.
81 had not. 1t isn't reasonable. Nc
one about this place is suspected. We
have thought Of this, however: the
murderess may have taken all o1
these things away with her in order
to prevent immediate Identification Of
her victim. She may have been clever
enough for that. 1t would give her
start
"Nct an unreasonable conclusion
when you stop to consider, Mr.. Sher
if. that the man took the initiative in
that very particular" said Mrs. Wran
dali in such a self-contained way thai
the three men looked at her in won
der. Then she came abruptly to hel
feet. ''It is very late, gentlemen.
am ready to go upstairs, Mr.. Sheriff
81 must warn you, madam, that Mr.
Drake is reasonably certain that 1t is
your husband" said the coroner IN
comfortably you may not be pre-
pared for the shock that"
81 shall not faint, DR.. Sheet. II Il
is my husband I shall ask you to leave
me alone in the room with him for 6
little while" The final word trailec
out into long, tremulous wall, show
ing how near she was to the breaking
point in her wonderful effort at self
control. The men looked away hast
lily. They heard her draw two o.
three deep, quavering breaths; the!
could almost feel the tension that sht
was exercising over herself.
The doctor turned after momen
and spoke very gently, but with pro
fessional frmness.. "You must no
think Of venturing out in this wretchet
night, madam. 1t would be the wors
kind Of folly. Surely you will b
guided by me-by your own common
sense. Mrs. Burton will be witt
YOU"
Thank you, DR.. Sheet" she inter
posed calmly. "If what we all fea
should turn out to be the truth,
could not stay here. I could no
breathe. 1 could not live. If, on th'
other hand, Mr.. Drake is mistaken,
shall stay. But if it is my husband,
cannot remain under the same roo
with him, even though he be dead.
do not expect you to understand m,
feelings. It would be asking TOT
| much of men-too much"
81 think understand" murmuret
Drake.
Come" said the sheriff, arousin,
himself with an effort.
She moved swiftly after him. Drak'
and the coroner, following close be
hind with Mrs. Burton, could not taxi
their eyes from the slender, graceful
figure. She was a revelation to them
Feeling as they did that she was abou
to be confronted by the most appalling
crisis imaginable, they could not bu
marvel at her composure. Drake
mind dwelt on the stories of the guillo
tine and the heroines who went up tt
it in those bloody days without 81
much as quiver of dread Somehow
to him, this woman was a heroine.
They passed into the hall ant
mounted the stairs. At the far ent
of the corridor man was seated IL
front of a closed door. He arose a!
the party approached. The sheriff
signed for him to open the door HI
guarded. AS he did so, chilly bias
of air blew upon the faces of those IL
the hall. The curtains in the window
of the room were tapping and whip
~~o~~-~-~-~-o-~-~~~~ -~~N"~es~s-s---~"~~"~o~>