The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-03-22

E Continued from our last issue. }
Miss Gardiner was dismissed,
and the Earl of Clarendon was
next called. Mr.. Billings asked
the witness to tell what he could
of the tragedy.
81 can tell very little" the earl
responded, that has not already
been told. But just before the
dance hiring which Mr.. Crane
brought the news of the accident
/ went onto the veranda to smoke
a cigaret, and strolled toward the
back of the house"
"On the same side of the house
as the library. ppstairs?"
Yes, the sarge side. And while
there" Clarendon continued, "a
motor car came swiftly up the
drive and went on round the
house"
Did you notice the car espe-
cially?"
II gave 1t little thought, as it
might have been bringing or TAX
ing guests, or might have had to
do with the caterers or servants. ="
Can you describe the carr"
Though | didn't see 1t clearly,
1T gave me the impression OF
being long and low, and OF gray
color. Also 1t was going rapidly"
That would scarcely seem to
indicate the motor vehicle of a
caterer"
Nor do | say that 1t did,"
You didn't notice its occu-
pants?"
NO; nor could I see them dis
tinctly. | fancy, however, there
were three or four men in it,"
After a few more inquiries the
earl was dismissed, and other wit
nesses followed. None was import
ant. The Writings and other
guests who had been in the draw
ing room simply repeated what
was already known.
There were now no more wit
nesses to be heard from save the
most important of all, Mildred
Leslie. She was very weak, and
both doctor and nurse were in
constant attendance. More than
once she seemed on the point of
fainting, and her testimony was
so interrupted that | shall not
attempt to give it wholly in her
own words.
She said that she and Philip
were in the library together talk
ing, and upon close questioning
admitted that she had again re-
fused to marry him. He. had-Sust
{ told her, she said, that during sthe
past week he had learned some
thing which would mhkef her
change that decision, when 4na n
CARRIED in motoring appapek step
ped in at the French window and
pointed a revolver at Philip.
She and Philip, she explained,
were both standing by the desk
on the hall side-that is, the desk
J was between them and the win
( dow. Philip. was facing the win
: dow and when he saw the intruder
he jerked tnep the top drawer of
: the desk and catching up lis own
pistol, pointed 1t at the Intruder,
saying in low moaning voice,
"Oh. to think he would shoot
/ me-"
Here the coroner asked her If
she recognized the intruder. She
said that she could not because of
his high collar turned up about
his face, his goggles and cap pull
ed far over his eyes, but that from
! Philips words she believed that
he did.
Mildred then went on to tell of
her own fright, and explained in
detail how she had picked up first
a heavy cut glass ink stand from
4 the desk and hurled it at the man.
! This, she said, fell short, and she
then caught up a bronze horse
used as a paper weight and threw
it, hoping to strike down the arm
pointing the revolver at Philip.
! But it too fell harmlessly to the
] rug, and just then the man fired.
philip fell backward" whis-
pered the girl in conclusion, "and
as he fell his pistol dropped from
his hand onto the desk / snatch
! ed it up and aimed at the man my
1 self. With that he turned his re-
volver on me. l heard the report
and that is ALL"
That is all, Miss Leslie" re-
peated Mr.. Billings, and Mildred
/ was allowed to be taken back to
/ her room.
| felt as IL l must get away to
think things over by myself.
rushed out on the veranda where
| found a secluded corner.
What sort Of a story had Mil
dred told, and why?
For the doctor had sworn she
was perfectly rational, and quite
capable of describing the affair.
Why, then, did she say she
threw an inkstand full of ink and
a bronze horse at the intruder,
! when |, who had so carefully
searched the room for clues, found
J no traces of ink? And, moreover,
| especially remembered seeing
! that bronze horse on the desk
when | first entered the library
after Gilbert Crane had given the
] alarm.