The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-03-21


eanc, and was thoroly frightened.
Hut just then DIR. Burton came In
and begged him 10 take look
nj Mr.. Maxwell. even before he
went up stairs 10 Mildred Leslie.
DIR. Burton gave tho old gentle
man a stimnlant. and after a few
moments. HIS sister came into the
room. left them together.
went next 10 tho music room.
where Lord Clarence was. Nearly
all tho guests bad gone. Gilbert
Crane remained. and Mr.. Hant. who
was n sort OF society detective.
asked 20 be allowed TO stay, The
coroner arrived just then. and Miss
fAthrop. n trained nurse. who had
came. She was taken 10 Mildred's
apartment.
Mysterious case" said the cor
oner, after n long look at tho room
and ita contents. Might be an at
tempt At double suicide. or suicide
and murder"
"or double murder said Mr..
Hunt.
Tho coroner gave him q quick
glance.
I'VE must work on evidence" hs
said, mot Imagination"
What evidences do you sccf"
asked Gilbert Crane.
Very little. I confess" replied
tho coroner. whose nnns was BIZ
lingp,
'But- he won't on. when 4 gen.
tieman n found dead. and = wound
ed lady near by. with pistol In
her hand. II doesn't require an IN
usual intellect 10 deducs that she
probably shot him. Unless. as |
said. u ia a double suicide. and he
shot himself first. and then she
shot herself"
Soon Dr. Burton came into the
library. lie talked with Mr.. Hunt
and Mr.. Billings. and then said:
AS soon as you have completed
all necessary Investigations. DIT.
requests that tho body be
TO Mr.. Philip Maxwslra
room and laid upon the bed. In or.
Ter that II may seem less shocking
TO his aunt and uncle"
Tn. coroner agreed 20 his sug'
rcstions. and later saw Mr. Max
we'll and Miss Miranda 20 together
10 tho room that had always been
!, seemed impossfbis that Philip
,ouid be dead. and Mildred Leslie's
Ito hanging In tho balance. DR..
nurton's nsws OF her had been
his: She had been shot In tho
rirh, shoulder. and tho wound was
dangerous. but not necessarily ia
al.
Partially psralyrcd by the shot
she had fallen 10 the floor and
struck her temple as she fell. pre-
nwnin~, tho corner ~ the
able near which she stood. !, was
bis blow which had made her IN
Dr. burton though, tina, Miss
'~slie would soon regain conscious
ioss. but said ho was sure DIR.
sheldon would allow no ons 10 s~c
acr for several days. except the
1urss and. possibly. her sister.
AZ last Mr.. Maxwell and Miss
Miranda vcrs persuAfed TO retire.
Ind the rest of IN vere advised 10
10 %.
But Gilbert Crane announced his
Intention Of staying all night He
'aid soma one should be IN general
.harrs. and, as Philips b~st friend, |
10 considered he bad tho right 10
assume such a position. He e~sab- |
ished himself in Mr.. Marwcll's
f~Aw
'uK that Mr. Hunt sat down |
here. too. with tho evident in'en.
ion of tircussin. tho affair.
'o.nei them. Lord Clarence came
Ia. and almost Immediately after.
ars. whiting and Irene.
VIVA, were Mr.. Philip Maxwcils
sentimeuts toward Miss feslie7-
incurred tho detective.
No one seemed inclined 20 re-
,iy. and as I thought II my duty To
he'd all tho light possible on the
'aso. I said:
4 have good reason n believe
hat. At or about the time os HIS
'eath. Mr. Maxwell was asking
Hiss Leslie 20 marry him"
did she favor his su't'- pur.
Iued Mr.. Hunt.
"So." broke IN Irene; "shs aid
iot. She told mo 90 only this
"But that would be no reason
or her shooting him and then
Ihooting herself" walled Edith
"Oh. An sure Mildred
lever did a."
WAS Il Philips pistol'" asked
rene.
"Oh. II was Phirs pistol" said
liibcrt Crane. y know II well.
And he always keeps Z, In the top
lrawer of that big table-desk they
we're standing by"
How do you know they were
standing by it7"
This question came from the
,arl. In a curt. sharp voice. almost