The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-12-30
"a Defecfix,e Story
CHAPTER 1x-tcontinued.,

mere can De only one inference,
ne said. The dead man Is not bleed
ing-the cord did not cut the flesh.
The blood, then, must have come from
the murderer. He must have been in
lured in some way-bleeding profusely.
Look at this handkerchief-it is fairly
soaked"
1 am sure that, at that instant, the
same thought was in Godfrey's mind
which flashed through mine, for our
eyes met, and there was'a shadow in
his which / knew my own reflected.
Then l glanced at Human. He was
looking at the handkerchief thought
fully, his lips tightly closed. i could
guess what he was thinking, but he
said nothing. |.....
Goldberger laid the handkerchief on
the table, at last, and turned back to
the body. He bent close about Ii, ex-
aiming the blood spots, and when he
stood erect again there was in his face
n strange excitement.
Lend me your glass, Simmonds," he
said, and when Simmonds handed him
a small pocket magnifying glass, he
unfolded it and bent above the stains
again, scrutinizing each in turn. At
phatic little snap. This case isn't go
ing to be so difficult. after all" he
said. Those spots are finger prints"
With an exclamation of astonish-
ment, Simmonds took the glass and
examined the stains; then he handed
IL to Godfrey, who finally passed 1t on
to me. Looking through 1t, saw that
Goldberger was right. The stains had
been made by human fingers. Most Of
them were mere smudges, but here and
there was one on which faint lines
could be dimly traced.
They're plenty clear enough for our
purpose" said Goldberger; besides
they will come out much clearer in
photographs. It's lucky this stuff Is
so smooth and closely woven" he ad-
ded, lingering a corner Of the robe, "or
we wouldn't have got even those. It's
as hard and fine as silk"
How do you suppose those marks
came there, Mr.. Goldberger?" Godfrey
asked, and there was in his tone q po-
lite scepticism which evidently an
noyed the coroner.
Why. there's only one way they
could come there" Goldoerger ans
there by the murderer's fingers as he
drew the cord tight. Do you see any
thing improbable in that?"
only that II seems too good to be
true" Godfrey answered, quietly, and
Goldberger, after looking at him a mo-
ment, turned away with a shrug Of the
shoulders.
OCo IL you CAk SCI LAiC SSAo IOO6Np
Simmonds," he said.
The cord was in the form
of a running moose, which had
been knotted to hold 1t in place
after being drawn tight. AL
though it had not cut the flesh of the
neck, 1t had sunk deeply into tt, and
Simmonds worked at the knot for some
moments without result. suspect
his fingers were not quite as steady as
they might have been; but it was EVIL
IDENTIFY an intricate knot.
That's a new one on me-" he said,
at last. II can't get 1t loose"
Godfrey bent close above it and
looked at II.
TT is a peculiar knot" he agreed.
"If youth permit suggestion, Mr..
Goldberger, you'll cut the cord and
to find the man who made It,"
you're right" agreed Goldberger.
promptly. Cut the cord, Simmonds."
Simmonds got out his pocket knife,
opened 1t and slipped the blade under
the cord. He looked at it a moment,
and then handed 1t to Goldberger. The
latter examined 1t carefully.
It's stained with blood. too" he re-
marked, and passed 1t on to Godfrey.
1T looks like curtain cord" Godfrey
said, and made a little tour Of the
room. "Ah!" he added. after a moment,
fro mthe door opening into the grounds.
"See herei"
He was holding up the end OF the
cord by which the curtains covering the
upper part Of the double doors were
controlled.
You were right, Mr.. Coroner" he
said, lin thinking that the murderer en-
tered by this door, for he stopped here
and cut off a piece Of this cord before
going into the ROOM"
Then he must also have stopped to
make 1t into a moose" remarked Gold
berger. IF he did that, ne was GER
tainly q cool customer. It's a wonder
his victim didn't hear the noise he
made"
Making a knot isn't a noisy opera
tIon," Godfrey pointed out; besides,
the back of the chair was toward the
door. And then, of course, it's possible
his victim did hear him."
But then he would have jumped
from the chair" objected Simmonds.
Not necessarily. Suppose you were
sitting there. and heard a noise, and
looked around and saw me standing
here, you wouldn't jump from the chair,
would your"
mo; I'd have no reason to jump
from you"
perhaps Vaughan thought he had
no reason to jump from the man he
SaW-lI ne saw diy III AhSAAIN ~
think, however. that he didn't suspect
anyone else was in the room until he
feat the cord about his throat"
And, of course" said Goldberger,
taking the cord again and looking at
If, ut was while the murderer was
making it into a moose with his blood
stained fingers that he stained 1t in
that way. Don't you agree, Mr.. God
frey?' =,
'That is a possible explanation"
Godfrey conceded.
But why did he make this second
knotT' inquired the coroner; the knot
which holds the moose tight and pre-
vents 1t from slipping?"
IF he hadn't knotted IL like that he
would have had to stand there holding
II until his victim was dead. As IT was.
he didn't have to wait"
I shivered a little at the thought OF
the scoundrel calmly tying the knot to
secure his moose. and then leaving his
victim to twitch his life out.
It's no little trick to tie a knot like
that" Godfrey added, thoughtfully. i
should like to study It,"
"All right" agreed Goldberger, "you
can have it whenever you want It," and
he got a heavy manila envelope out OF
his pocket and placed the cord care
N,,II,y ipaida TNOW we must get that