Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-06-17

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"And what's that?' | asked eagerly.
why. about three yards from the
pool of blood where the unfortunate
foreigner was found is another small
pool OF blood where the grass and
ferns around are all crushed down as
though there had been a struggle
there"
There may have been a struggle at
that spot. and the mar may have stag
gered some distance before he fell
dead"
Not If he had been struck in the
heart, as they say. He would fall.
would he not?" she suggested. mo.
The police seem very dense, and this
plain fact has not yet occurred to
them. Their theory is the same as
what you suggest, but my own is some-
thing quite different, Mr.. Gregg. I be-
lieve that a second person also fell
a victim" she added in a low, distinct
tone.
l gazed at her open-mouthed. Did
she, l wondered, know the actual
truth? Was she aware that the woman
who had fallen there had disappeared?
"A second person!" l echoed, as
though in surprise. Then do you be-
lieve that a double murder was com
mitted?"
Il draw my conclusion from the fact
that the young man, on being struck
in the heart, could not have gone such
a distance as that which separates the
one mark from the other"
But he might have been slightly
w~ounded-on the hand, Of in the face
at first, and then at the spot where
he was found struck fatally" I sug-
gested.
She shook her head obviously, but
made no reply to my argument. Her
confidence in her own surmises made
it quite apparent that by some I'M
known means she was aware of the
second victim. Indeed. a few moments
later she said to me:
at is for this reason, MI. Gregg, that
have sought you in confidence. No
body must know that l have CONF here
to you, or they would suspect; and II
suspicion fell upon me it would bring
upon me a fate worse than death. Re-
member, therefore, that my future Is
entirely in your hands"
II don't quite understand" | said,
rising and standing before her In the
fading twilight, while the rain drove
upon the old diamond window panes.
But l can only assure you that what
ever confidence you repose in me. |
shall never abuse, Miss Leithcourt."
a" know, know!" she said quickly.
Il trust you in this matter implicitly.
l have come to you for many reasons,
chief of them being that if a second
victim has fallen beneath the hand
of the assassin, it is, | know, a woman"
"a woman! Whom?"
AT present | cannot tell you. ]
must first establish the facts. If this
woman were really stricken down,
then her body lies concealed some
where in the vicinity. We must find
it and bring home the crime to the
guilty one"
"But if we succeed in finding 1t
could we place our hand upon the
assassin" asked, looking straight al
her.
"If we find it, the crime would ther
tell its own ~tale--it would convict the
person in whose hand | have seen thai
fatal weapon" was her clear, bolt
answer.
"Then you wish me to assist you II
this search, Miss Leithcourt? MY
search may bring suspicion upon me
1t will be difficult to examine the whole
wood without arousing the curiosity o.
somebody-the keeper or the police
81 have already thought of that" she
said. 81 will pretend tomorrow to lose
this watch bracelet in the wood" ant
she held up her slim wrist to show
me the little enameled watch set il
her bracelet. Then you and ! will
search for it diligently, and the police
!, will never suspect the real reason o
, our investigation. Tomorrow | shall
write to you telling you about N.
I loss, and you will come over to Ran
a noch and offer to help me-" :
g l was silent for a moment.
Us Mr.. Woodroffe back at tn
castle? l heard he was to return tc
day."
mo. l had a letter from him iron
Bordeaux a week ago. He is still o.
the continent. l believe, indeed, h
has gone to Russia, where he some
O times has business"
81 asked you the question, Miss MI
I riel, because l thought II Mr.. WOOD
roffe were here he might object t
/" our searching in company" | e,
o planned, smiling.
h Her cheeks flushed slightly, a
a though confused at my reference t
her engagement, and she said mi
%chievously:
Il don't see why he should object /
the least. If you are good enough I
a assist me to search for my bracele
he surely ought to be much obliged I
1t YOU"
:" CTo BE CoNTINUED)
H.