Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-04-09

anu returned 10 the Gull IOuIlne OF us
days.
The two new boardeTs-they were
longest naturally in settling to the
routine. Indeed, two or three days
passed before the others grew accli-
mated to their thrilling and somewhat
perturbing presence. But Constance
and Betsy-Barbara behaved through a
soul-racking week in such manner as
to secure Rosalie's growing affections
and to win the respect of the rest.
On the morning after the inquest,
Constance quietly took her place at
the common table in the dining-room.
The rest of the boarders stilled their
tongues for embarrassment. And not
only embarrassment; undoubtedly
there was prejudice. Rosalie, pre-
siding at the head Of the table, did
not make the mistake of trying to lull
this feeling Immediately. She let mat
tiers take their course for two meals.
At the third, she tactfully drew Con-
stance into an argument over the dis
lance to Paris. That served for an
opening. Little by little, the sweet
ness Of Constance, as exploited by
Rosalie LIE Grange, made its own way.
What had been a kind of horror Of a
woman in her situation, became pity
and sympathy.
AS for Betsy-Barbara, that sprightly
young person was popular from the
first. She took hold Of the Hanska-
Wade case as though its settlement
devolved upon her alone. Within three
days she had interviewed every one
in the house, from Mrs. Moore to
Miss Estrilla, and had formed a half
dozen theories, all proving the limo
cence of Lawrence Wade. 1t matter
ed not that Resale, already her con-
fidant, shattered all these bubbles.
Betsy-Barbara would simply interview
her witness again, and blow another
Constance was her daily and hourly
care.
l leave to the newspapers the Of
fetal events-"the developments" Of
that week. Indeed, they reported few
essentials which we do not already
know. The inquest was over; the body
of Captain Hanska had travelled the
road of flesh to the crematory; Law
renee Wade was held in the Tombs
without bail, to await action of the
Grand Jury. The evidence against
him was circumstantial but strong. He
had proposed marriage to Mrs Han
ska. Both he and his attorney tried
to keep that out when Constance went
on the stand; they lost, and she told
the fact with a simplicity which filed
columns and columns of space next
morning. She insisted that he never
mentioned marriage after she told
him her story. Lawrence Wade, nat
urally, wanted divorce. Captain Han
ska had refused. There was the mo-
tive, perfect, comprehensive. Wade
and Hanska had met twice before and
quarreled both times. On the night
of the tragedy, Lawrence Wade, car
rying a handbag, had gone to Captain
Hanska's room at about ten o'clock.
The bag contained, among other
things, two knives.
Lawrence Wade admitted this; and
admitted also that he had left all the
debris which Uttered Captain Han
ska's table. THAT was part of my
errand," he said. He had gone from
Mrs. Moore's to the Curfew Club, had
found from the desk clerk that there
was one o'clock train to Boston, had
telephoned for berth, had taken the
train, had been arrested in Boston
while engaging passage for Liverpool.
At half past two, Captain Hanska had
been found dead-stabbed in the heart
with clean thrust by one of the very
knives which Wade admitted bringing
from Arden. The Coroner's physician
testified that Hanska had been dead
an hour, and probably longer. The
knife travelled an upward course. He