The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-04-16
''Ihe Forgotten Wedding"
os 4s By OLIVE WADSLEY s % @ % l 4

Hink went back to the dining-room.
On the black oak table little row of
articles had been laid out. Beside
them the detective sat.
There was small gold watch on
hin gold chain. an empty sovereign
purse. and beside it little stack OF
gold, a few letters, and gold ciga-
rette-Case containing some dark-look.
ing cigarettes. That was all.
Dosser stood looking down at the
still, white face
And I meant to do i'm in" he
thought.
He noticed that in laying the body
on the couch one hand had been twist
Cd under the hip.
The inspector and the detective had
their backs to him, examining the let
ters He bent down and gently loosed
the cold hand and laid it straight.
Something slipped out of the cuff.
from which a handkerchief hung. 1t
was the purple-covered notebook!
Dosser put 1t. without speaking, In
to his pocket
The dead man had perhaps had the
notebook and handkerchief in his
hand, and had been in the act of slip
ping the handkerchief into his sleeve;
and the little book, caught by fold,
Lad been held in place until the mo-
ment when Dosser moved the hand.
'Ere's handkerchief on the floor"
he said, making as though to pick II
up.
The inspector turned sharply.
Il moved is and and it fell.' Dos
ser explained. He put It on the table.
DO you want me, Inspector" he
asked.
You'll be wanted at the inquest, Of
course; and I dare say we shall want
YOU up at the yard: but, of course.
You are free all highland think
yourself lucky l followed YOU"
Good Lord" Dosser said with a
sigh Of relief, II should think sol"
He got out into the street and walk
ed rapidly away. He was burning
with anxiety to discover what was
written in the purple notebook!
The news of Sir Maline Gorde's
mysterious death trebled and quad
rupled the sale of the newspapers, al
ready selling far above their normal
average by reason of the coronation
news.
The enterprising young journalist
who had been the first man to spread
the news, obtained yet another splen.
did piece of information.
He had returned from Fleet Street
to Portland Place about dawn. Leav-
ing his cycle round the corner, he had
walked slowly to the house of the
tragedy.
Policemen were waiting about out
side. One on the balcony was doing
AZ Spc o. nj 81 Ia
balcony. He had fastened together
the rope taken from Gordes neck
and the severed piece.
The journalist saw Hink mount the
ladder at the side When his head
very slightly, at once the rope knock
over ever so little more toward the
right 1t would have been over his
head.
ut could have happened that way"
he heard the inspector say.
IF it didn't, whoever placed that
rope and ladder has a nice sense OF
proportion" another voice agreed.
The journalist was gone again in a
fash, and his paper it was which in
troduced the headline Suicide of
q
whirlwind Of controversy.
Throughout the next day the house
was literally besieged by callers.
Famous doctors came; smart so
ciety women, with anxiety written
across their faces, asked the inspector
hreathlessly If any diary had been
discovered
Hink was able to comfort them
with the assurance that none had
been found. They went away reliev-
ed. What condolences, and what con-
fessions had not Gorde received in
his consrlting-room?
Royalty, In the midst of all its i'm |
mense labor, remembered to express
a message of sympathy.
Ali, sharing his duties with the
pleasant detective, received all the
visitors with dignifed sadness. Once, ,
when on opening the door dark face !
appeared among the shifting crowd |
below. he involuntarily' drew back; |
but the face vanished at once, and he |