The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-07-03

thority as chief to prevent the whole
of the female household from follow
Ing me and Penelope upstairs in the
character of volunteer witnesses in a
burning fever of anxiety to help Ser
geant Cuff.
The sergeant seemed to approve of
Penelope. He became a trife less
dreary. and he looked much as he had
looked when he noticed the white musk
rose In the flower garden.
Penelope examined: Took a lively
interest in the painting on the door,
having helped to mix the %colors: no
ticed the bit of work under the lock
because 1t was the last bit done; had
seen 1t som hours afterward without
a smear; had left IL as late as IL at
night without a smear: had at that
hour wished her young lady good night
in the bedroom: had heard the clock
strike in the boudoir: had her hand
at the time IN the handle of the paint
ed door; knew the paint was wet. nav
ing helped to mix the colors. as afore-
said; took particular pains not to touch
1t: could swear that she held up the
skirts of her dress and that there was
no smear on the paint then; could not
swear that her dress mightn't have
touched it accidentally in going out;
remembered the dress she had or be-
cause 1t was new, a present from Miss
Rachel; her father remembered and
could speak to it, too; could and would
and did fetch it: dress recognized by
her father as the dress she wore that
night; skirts examined, a long Job from
the size of them; not the ghost OF a
paint stain discovered anywhere.
The s%ergeant's next proceeding was
to question me about any large dogs
In the house who might have got into
the room and done the mischief with a
whisk of their tails. Hearing that this
was impossible, he next sent for a mag
nifying glass and tried how the smear
looked, seen that way. No skin mark,
as Of a human hand. printed off on the
paint. All the signs visible-signs
which told that the paint had been
smeared by some loose article of some
body's dress touching it in going by.
That somebody, putting together Pencil
ope's evidence and Mr.. F~ranklin's evil
dence, must have been in the room and
done the mischief between midnight
and 3 o'clock on the Thursday morn
ing.
Having brought his investigation to
this point, Sergeant Cuff discovered
that such a person as superintendent
Seegrave was still left in the room,
upon which he summed up the proceed
ings for his brother officers benefit, as
follows:
This trifie of yours, Mr.. Superintend-
ent," says the sergeant, pointing to the
place On the door. has grown a little
In Importance since you noticed 1t last.
You have got one Of your men here, l
see. Leave him here at my disposal
in case l want him and allow me to
wish you good morning"
Superintendent ~Seegrave's respect for
the sergeant was great. but his respect
for himself was greater still. Hit hard
by the celebrated Cuff, he hit back
smartly to the best Of his ability on
leaving the room.
II have abstained from expressing
any opinion so far" says Mr.. Super
intendent, with his military voice still
In good working order. 81 have now
only one remark to offer on leaving this
case In your hands. There Is such a
thing, sergeant, as making a mountain
out of a mole hill. Good morning"
There is also such a thing as making
nothing out of a mole hill. in onse-
quence of your head being too high to
see it," Having returned his brother
officers compliment In those terms, Ser
geant Cuff wheeled about and walked
away to the window by himself.
Turning from the window after a
minute or two the sergeant walked
into the middle of the room and STOP
ped there, deep in thought, with his
eyes ON Miss Rachel's bedroom door.
After a little he reused himself, nod
ded his head, as much as to say. "That
will do" and, addressing me, asked for
ten minutes conversation with my mis-
tress at her ladyship's earliest conven-
fence.
l found my lady in her OWL sitting
room. She started and looked annoyed
when l mentioned that Sergeant Cuff
wished to speak to her.
Must l see him?' she asked. Cant
you represent me, Gabriel?"
l felt at a loss to understand this
and showed it plainly, l suppose, in
my face. My lady was so good as to
explain herself.
Il am afraid my nerves are a little
shaken" she said. There is some
thing in that police officer from Lon
don which | recoil from. l don't know
why. | have a presentiment that he
is bringing trouble and misery with
him into the house. Very foolish and
very unlike me, but so 1t is"
/ hardly knew what to say to this.
The more l saw of Sergeant Cuff the
hefter I liked him Nv lady rallied a