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

Tho situation Was INDEED
changed. Ny latent detective In
stinct was nov fully reused. and
determined TO do all could toward
solving the mystery.
determined TO 20 st once 10 ths
library, the scene OF the crime. and
make a thoru search for clues.
So 20 the library I went. and sub
i~csed tho room and all its contents
q n minute and systematic scrutiny
Contrary 10 all precedent. iitcrar,
and repor,oriai. ] found nothing.
Again I wen, over the room. ~vos
moro diligently. remembering Sher
lock Holmes wise advice TO dis
criminals carefully between vital
and Incidental clues.
Bot. alas. I could ind neither. ex'
copt tho very doubtful ono Of q
small and shiny black spangic. q
tiny disc. which might have fallen
from tho trimmings OF some lady's
gown.
remembered no one who had
worn such Q decoration the night
before, but put the spangle care
fully away in my note book. and
turned my attention 10 the window
by which tho intruder must have
entered.
I, was n French window. reaching
from floor 10 ceiling. Il was 10
thre. divisions. each OF which WINS
really a door. and opened out on the
balcony. which. as have said. ran
around both sides and the front OF
tho house without barrier.
Iopcncd the middle door. stepped
out on the balcony. and endeavored
10 scrutinize in a scientific way.
Signs OF a scuffle there certainly
were. Just outside tho library win
dow. In the dust OF tho balcony.
observed many long. sweeping
marks.
found nothing else Of note. save
two more OF those little black
spaneles-one in the outside library
blind. and another farther front on
tho balcony. These | put away with
my first one. determined 20 find
out who wore such trimmings the
evening before
BY this time the coroner had
come. bringing his jury. How
strange IL seemed 10 hold an In
quest in Miss Mirandas stately
drawing room But that was not
moro strange than realizing that
Philips dead body lay upstairs.
Mr.. Billings was calm and bust.
nesslike. He was already examin.
Ing the first witness.
Mr.. Maxwell's own lawyer was
present. also the district attorney.
The frat witness was Gilbert
Crane.
"Will you tell us." said tho cor
oner. "the circumstances which led
to your going to the library las,
EVENING""
81 was alone in the billiard room"
said Gilbert. Il heard Mr.. King
come downstairs. 20 into MIR. Max.
wells study and talk TO him for a
few moments. After this I heard
Mr.. King tell Mr. Maxwell that
Philip Maxwell and Miss Leslie
were In the library.
after this MIR. King walked thru
the room | was In, but We said
to each other. and he went
on 20 tho drawing room. stayed
exactly where ! was for some time
longer, and then concluded |
would 20 home.
81 thought | would say good night
10 Mr. Maxwell. lifted the por-
there and looked into his study. but
az he vas asleep. thought |
wouldn't disturb him. but would
Just run upstairs for my banjo. and
then slip away unnoticed.
~ went upstairs. and admit Il
was curiosity concerning the two
people inside that led me To look
toward the library door. heard no
sound OF voices, so | took another
step or two in that direction. and
looking. saw Philips figure
stretched on tho floor.
"Then. OF course. went into the
room. II has no door, and the nor.
there's we're but partly drawn. See.
ing what was evidently n serious
accident OF some sort. | immediate.
~ ran downstairs and called DR..
sheldon to tho scene"
You saw no one else In the
roomf"
"N-no." said Gilbert, but he
seemed to hesitate.
You are quite sure?" asked the
coroner
Il am positive | saw no one else