The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-08-27
CHAPTER VI.
The Gathering Of the Clouds.

MT gregg exclaimed the girl with
agitation as she put forth her black.
gloyed hand II suppose YOU know
you've heard all about the discovery
today at the wood? | need not tell
you anything about it,"
yes, Miss Leithcourt, I only wish
You would tell me about it." | said
gravely inviting her to a chair and
seating myself. Who is the man."
"Ah! that We don't know" she re-.
piled, pale-faced and anxious. 81
wanted to see you alone-that's the
reason | am here. They must not
know at home that I've been over
here"
Why, is there any service I can
render you?"
Yes. A very great one" she re
sponded with quick cagemess. q
well-the fact is, have summoned
courage to come to you and beg of
you to help me. am in great dis.
tress-and | have not single friend
whom | can trust-in whom | can con-
| tide.'
Her lips moved nervously, but no
sound came from them, so agitated
was she, so eager to tell me some
thing; and yet at the same time reluc.
tant to take me into her confidence.
TT concerns the terrible discovery
made up in Rannoch wood" she said
in hoarse, nervous voice at last.
That unknown man was murdered
stabbed to the heart. T have suspi-
cions."
"Of the murdered mans identity?"
mo. OF the assassin. want you
to help me, if you will"
Most certainly" responded. But
if you believe you know the assassin
you probably know something of the
victim?"
"Only that he looked like a for
eigner."
Then you have seen him." l ex-
claimed, much surprised
My remark caused her to hold her
breath for an instant. Then she an.
swered, rather lamely, it seemed to
me:
"From his features and complexion
guessed him to be an Italian. l saw
him after the keepers had found him"
Besides" she went on, "the stiletto
was evidently an Italian one, which
would almost make it appear that a
foreigner was the assassin
lis that your own suspicion?"
NO"
way"
sSe s,esitated moment, then in a
low, eager voice she said:
because l have already seen that
knife in another PERSONS possession"
Then what is your theory regard.
ing the AFFAIR."" inquired.
1T seems certain that the poor fel,
lowwent to the wood by appointment,
and was killed. The affair interested
me, and as soon as l recognized the
old Italian knife in the hand of the
keeper, went up there and looked
about. ! am glad l did so, for l found
something which seems to have es.
capped the notice of the detectives"
And what's that?" l 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 a second person also fell
victim" she added in a low, distinct
! tone.
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 double murder was com
mnted?"
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
W0unded-on the hand, or IN the face
at first, and then at the spot where
he was found struck fatally" | sug
gested.
She shook her head obviously, but
made no reply to my argument. Hell
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:
ut is for this reason, Mr. Gregg, that
I have sought you in confidence. No
body must know that have come here
toyou, or they would suspect; and il
L atnts. IL l....