The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-11-09

he could not safely conjecture, YET
deep down I'm his own heart, he felt
convinced that this act OF self-de.
struction would later prove to be q
confession Of guilt. Yet, be that as il
may, he was already definitely ruled
out Of the matter. Not unless she
personally sent for him could he eve,
venture to go to her again I'm any ca.
pacity. To his mind this decision was
final.
He was called for the inquest and
gave his testimony. The hearing was
brief, and the facts ascertained 50
, clear there remained 10 doubt in the
minds Of any one but what this wa,
case Of suicide. No particular at
tempt was made to probe into the
cause, the personal affairs Of the. deaf
man being left for later investigation
West saw Natalie Mt the inquest fo,
the very few moments she was upoI
the stand. but their eyes did not meet
nor did the girl give amy evidence q
recognition. Somehow the impressi0
the young woman LETT upon him Il
those few moments wns not pleesan
one. He could not clearly analyze thi,
, result, yet she was either acting 1,
part to conceal her true emotions, or
else she was really Indifferent.
1t was not until the following day
that reason began to reassert itself,
and he succeeded In marshailng the
facts Of the case more clearly in his
own mind. He even began to doubt
and question his own testimony, yet,
before he reached any real conclusion,
one Of the club servants approached
his chair.
captain West, there Is q man out
here asking to see you."
"A man! Wherew
II had him wait In the anteroom.
sir"
Every we'll, Mapes."
1t was Sexton, twirling his hat nerv-
ously In his hands, and still standing
irresOlutely In the middle Of the floor
AS sight Of West he took hasty step
forward, eager to explain the cause of
his presence.
you'll pardon me, sir" he burst
forth In apology, "But must see you,
SIR"
That's quite all right, Sexton. Let's
step In here where we Gun talk quiet
ly."
He pointed the way into private
card room, closing the door behind his
visitor.
"Take the seat over there, Sexton.
You came In to see me from Fair
lawn
"No, sir, didn't The fact is, I'm
not out there any longer"
"NOt there! What do you meanT"
"Tve been discharged, sir, with two
other servants, since the funeral yes
terdny"
discharged! BY whom7 Not Miss
Natalie, surelyT
ayes. sir. She didn't give no reason;
Just said we were not wanted any
longer. That's one reason why I came
here to see you, sir"
"But hardly know how I can be of
help. I have no house Of my own, and
well, the truth Of the matter is, Sex.
ton, just at present am not on very
good terms with the ynnns lady my
SELF"
II know that, SIR" more confidently,
land 1t isn't position I am seeking,
at all. have quite tidy bit of
money laid away, and could get plenty
Of work. That's not the point, sir.
Why should Miss Natalie tell me to go
like that? It isn't bit like her, SIR;
she amt seemed natural ut all lately,
and I tell you there's something wrong
goin' on out there. Tn sure o that,
SIR"
"Sure Of whatT
"Well, for one thing, it's my opinion
that Percivai Coolidge never killed
himself. sir"
West sat up stlfily, rs though struck
blow. These words startled him:
drove his own mind into sudden ac-
tivity.
"What makes you think that, Sex.
tonT" he questioned slowly.
"Well, there's more than one thing"
as though glad to have made the
plunge. and anxious to justify himself.
"But first of all that wasn't his re.
vOlver they found lying beside him. He
always had one In his valise, an it's
there ac%, or was when I looked to
see."
"You didn't tell that to the coroner"
mo. sir; he never put me on the
stand. Besides didn't know about
It then. Did you notice where he was
shot, sir?"
Behind the right ear; the wound
was plainly visible"
mot very easy for man to do HIM
self, SIR"
"No, but possible, nevertheless The
coroner was satisfied on that point"
"Yes, sir, but the coroner overlooked
one thing, sir. He was sure 1t was a
suicide case, and wanted to get done
with 1t in hurry. I and Simmons
sir, washed the body to get 1t ready
for burial, an I combed the hair down
over the bullet wound. There wasn't
no powder marks on the skin, an not
hair was singed, sir. That's what
makes me say he never killed himself"