The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-08-21

| AND WHAT'S that! i 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 man 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. be-
lieve that second person also fell
a victim" she added in low, distinct
tone.
| gazed at her open-mouthed. Did
she; | wondered, know the actual
truth? Was she aware that the woman
|
"A second person!" / echoed, as
though in surprise. Then do you be-
lieve that a double murder was COM
mitted?"
II draw my conclusion from the fact
that the young man, on being struck
in the heart, could not have gone such
distance as that which separates the
one mark from the other"
But he might have been slightly
wounded-on the hand, or in the face
at first, and then at the spot where
he was found struck fatally" l 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, few moments
later she said to me:
ut is for this reason, Mr. Gregg, that
| have sought you in confidence. No
body must know that have come here
to you, or they would suspect; and IL
suspicion fell upon me it would bring
upon me fate worse than death. Re-
member, therefore. that my future is
entirely in your hands"
81 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."
Il know, | know!" she said quickly.
Il trust you in this matter implicitly.
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, woman"
"A woman! Whom?"
AT present | cannot tell you. l
must first establish the facts. II 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 at
her.
IF we find it, the crime would then
tell it's own tale-it would convict the
person in whose hand have seen that
| fatal weapon" was her clear, bold
answer.
Then you wish me to assist you in
this search, Miss Leithcourt? My
search may bring suspicion upon me.
1t will be difficult to examine the whole
wood without arousing the curiosity Of
somebody-the keeper or the police"
IL have already thought of that" she
said. 81 will pretend tomorrow to lose
this watch bracelet in the wood" and
she held up her slim wrist to show
me the little enameled watch set in
her bracelet Then you and l will
search for it diligently, and the police
will never suspect the real reason Of
our investigation. Tomorrow / shall
write to you telling you about my
loss, and you will come over to Ran
noch and offer to help me-"
was silent for a moment.
as Mr.. Woodroffe back at the
castle? l heard he was to return to-
day."
No. / had a letter from him from
Bordeaux a week ago. He is still on
the continent. l believe, indeed, he
has gone to Russia, where he some
times has business"
81 asked you the question, Miss Mu-
riel, because l thought if Mr.. Wood
roffe were here he might object to
our searching in company" / ex-
planned, smiling.
Her cheeks flushed slightly, as
though confused at my reference to
her engagement, and she said mis-
chievously:
Il don't see why he should object In
the least. If you are good enough to
assist me to search for my bracelet,
he surely ought to be much obliged to
you"
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