Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-11-12
THE LITTLE


swiftly, for the woman had time to write mes
sage which the police found on desk near
the window. The writing was an almost un
Ineligible scrawl, and with difficulty 1t was
deciphered. The message ran: am dying
Poisoned and robbed by Ann Bolt There is
no doubt that Mrs. Pembrass wrote that mes
sage. Her fingers were stained with ink, and
the pen was found lying beneath the chair on
which she died.
Search was at once instituted for Ann Bolt
There was no sign of her In the house. Her
bed had not been slept in. Her room was bare
of any personal belongings-except some odd
and-end Photographic chemical bottles, one of
which contained dregs of cyanide which, as
you know, is used in photography. Ann Bolt
was an enthusiastic photographer.
Inquiries were Immediately set on foot in the
village. and in the meantime the police we're
making close investigations in the sitting room
and discovered that one of the drawers in the
writing desk had been forced OPEN 1t con-
tanned nothing but check book. showing that
fortnight previously Mrs. Pembrass had with
drawn from the local bank no less than six hun
dred pounds.
manager, and learned that regularly every six
months Mrs. Pembrass withdrew her entire bal
ance, except few pounds, just sufficient to
keep the account open.
THE money was paid in by her solicitors
Green & Green. of Lincolns Inn Fields who
managed her affairs From various pronerties
she received something like twelve hundred
pounds a year. She allowed the money to ac-
cumulate for six months. then drew it out. al.
ways in notes. What she did with the notes ia
a mystery. That has been going on for some.
thing like ten years, and as her expenditure
was less than couple Of hundred year, II
follows that she must have had good sum hid
den i'll the house somewhere, for except her
nallyearly VISITS to the bank in cab she was
never known to go outside the house.
The bank manager was able to suppv the
numbers OF the notes recently issued to Mrs
Pemorass, and one of those notes-ra fiver-was
'cashed by Ann Bolt on Monday evening at the
railway station, where she took single ticket
to London. Fairly broad trail, en- Major Duff"
Dornton broke off to mix himself drink.
Very" was the laconic response.
She went to London, too" resumed Dorm
TON Ine police found postcard signed by
her in Mrs. Pembrasss room. 1t had been
posted at Euston at $50 on Tuesday morning"
What was written on the postca rd ?" asked
Duff. eN
"A fake message" said Dornton promptlv
VIII write to you fully in a few days She
mad no intention of writing Simply sent the
card as blind What she did do was to return
to Little Horton probably disguised ON Tues
day sometime at dusk. and, knowing Mrs. Penn
brass's invariable habit of taking a glass of
stout with her evening meal, watched her Cd.
portunlty to dope the bottle of stout waited till
the dose had taken effect, then helped herself
to her victims secret hoard and got away again
unseen"
You said that every door in the house was
securely locked up" drawled Duff How did
she manage to get out of the house and leave
ii secured after her?"
quick, hesitating look flashed into Dorm.
tons eyes. Duff had hit upon the one weak
haw in the whole argument
Inc doors were not only locked but bolted
and chained and barred on the inside' said the
Official slowly Every window securely latched
except small one in the back kitchen. which
was open. She sould easily have squeezed her.
self through that
"Humph!" breathed Duff softly. "Do Won
honestly believe that, Dornton?" he asked
second later
"What-that she got out by the window? or
course. Must have done. Couldn't have got
out any other way, seeing that all the doors and
windows were barred. Facts are facts" he
added drily.
They are" agreed Duff in still drer tone.
Anyone benefit by the woman's death?" he
asked casually.
Her nephew-a man named Murgison-John
Murgson."
who is hep"
"A metallurgist"
quick light flashed into Duffs sound eye,
so quick that the other missed it,
Sure he didn't commit the murder?" asked
Duff, lazily getting up TO stroll across to the
open window, where he stood looking idly at
the sunsetdyed Thames Just beyond
"Qute!" snapped Dornton, almost trium.
phantly. Il knew you'd ask that question. Rut
you can leave John Murgson absolutely ont
of your calculations right from the start He has
never seen his aunt, never been to Little Hor
ton, had no idea that she was worth any money
to speak of, and to crown all four DAYS before
the crime was committed he met with an acct.
dent in his laboratory, which necessitated his
detention in st. Jamess Hospital, from where