The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-21

man d btlm uldlt, anu dlteT lew
moments. his sister came into the
room. | left them together.
l went next to the music room
where Lord Clarence was. Nearl,
all the guests had gone. Gilbert
Crane remained, and Mr.. Hunt
who was sort of society detect.
i've, asked to be allowed to stay
The coroner arrived just then
and Miss Lathrop, a trained nurse
who had been sent for by DR..
Sheldon, also came. She was
taken to Mildred's apartment.
Mysterious case" said the cor
oner, after a long look at the
room and It's contents. might
be an attempt at double suicide,
or suicide and murder"
"Or double MURDER" said Mr..
Hunt.
The coroner gave him a quick
glance.
1--WE must work on evidence"
he said, mot Imagination"
What evidence do you see?"
asked Gilbert Crane.
VERY little, | confess" replied
the coroner, whose name was Bill
lings.
But" he went on, "when a
gentleman is found dead, and a
wounded lady near by, with PTS
toll in her hand, it doesn't require
an unusual intellect to deduce
that she probably shot him. I'm
less, as | said, it is a double sui
eide, and he shot himself first,
and then she shot herself"
Soon DR.. Burton came into the
library. He talked with Mr.. Hunt
and Mr.. Billings, and then said:
"As soon as you have complet-
ed all necessary Investigations,
DR.. Sheldon requests that the
body be removed to Mr.. Philip
Maxwell's room and laid upon the
bed, in order that 1t may seem
less shocking to his aunt and
uncle" IS
The coroner agreed to his sug-
gestions, and later | saw Mr.. Max
well and Miss Miranda go togeth-
er to the room that had always
been Philips,
1t seemed impossible that Phil
ip could be dead, and Mildred
Leslie's life hanging in the bal
ance. DR.. Burton's news of her
hn hnAn thta. Gha ho1 hnan
shot in the right shoulder, rand
the wound was dangerous, but
not necessarily fatal.
Partially paralyzed by the shot,
she had fallen to the floor and
struck her temple as she fell. pre-
sumably against the cornerrof the
table near which she stood. 1t
was this blow which had made
her unconscious.
DR.. Burton thought that Miss
Leslie would soon regain con-
seriousness, but said he was sure
DR.. Sheldon would allow no one
to see her for several days, except
the nurse and, possibly, her sis
ter.
At last Mr.. Maxwell and Miss
Miranda were persuaded to retire
and the rest of us were advised
to do so.
But Gilbert Crane announced
his intention of staying all night.
He said some one should be in
general charge, and, as Philips
best friend, he considered he had
the right to assume such posi-
ton. He established himself in
Mr.. Maxwell's study.
Seeing that Mr.. Hunt sat down
there, too, with the evident in
tention of discussing the affair, |
Joined them. Lord Clarence came
in. and almoSt Immediately after,
Mrs. Whiting and Irene.
What were Mr.. Philip Max
wells sentiments toward Miss
Leslie?" inquired the detective.
No one seemed inclined to re-
ply, and as l thought it my duty
to shed all the light possible on
the case, said:
81 have good reason to believe
that, at or about the time of his
death, Mr.. Maxwell was asking
Miss Leslie to marry him."
Did she favor his suit?" pur-
sued Mr.. Hunt.
NO." broke in Irene, "she did
not. She told me so only this
morning."
But that would be no reason
for her shooting him and then
shooting herself" walled Edith
Whiting. "Oh, I am sure. Mild
red never did It,"
WAS it Philips pistol?" asked
Irene.
ooh, 1t was Phil's pistol" said
Gilbert Crane. 81 know 1t we'll.
And he always keeps It in the top
drawer of that big table-desk they
were standing by"
How do you know they were
standing by it,"
This question came from the
earl, in a curt, sharp voice, almost
as il he were making an accuse
ton.
Because" said Gilbert quietly
they both fell near the desk"
Just here Tom Whiting came
downstairs and Joined us in the
study.
81 think you ought to know"
he said. that Mildred is coming
out of the ether's influence, and
has spoken several times, but only
to repeat the same thing over and
over. She continually cries:
He shot me. oh, to, think