The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-09-12

SluNc. We van !
neither read nor write"
But you've been in The company OF
Doctor Eccleshare's hOuSekeeper,
continued Crole. "Do you mean TO
say that she's never read anything
about il to you-out of the papers?"
Parslave shook his head.
mo, sir-she hasn't" he replied
Don't seem a paper reading woman,
that. Her reads them story papers
tales-such like. But | amt seen her
a-reading of newspapers"
We'll. but you've no doubt been in
the habit since you've been here, of
going out to have glass of ale at
some public house or other" persisted
Crole. "Have you never heard it men,
toned at such times?"
'NO, SIR" answered Parslave, with
solemn assurance. Never! | always
go out to take pint of ale at the
public up the street, but amt never
talked to nObOdy-don't understand
this London talk-'tis all so much
furrin language to me. And | amt
never heard nobody talking of the
murder"
You can take it from me, Mr.
Crole," said Eccleshare, that Par.
slave never heard of MaZaroffs muir.
der at all until last night, when re
turned home. | told him-we had a
talk last night about our own expert
ences near Reiver's den that evening
in the light of what we remembered.
of course"
That's just what | want to ask
you some questions about, Doctor,
said Crole. at seems to me thai
we're getting nearer a solution of this
mystery than we've ever been before
Now, you won't mind if | ask you a
few straightforward questions?"
ASK me anything you like" replied
Eccleshare.
You were at the inquest on Maza-
roff's body at the WOodcock," said
Crole. You gave evidence"
Purely professional evidence" in.
terrupted Eccleshare.
"Precisely-as to the cause of death,
assented Crole. Now. why didn't you
tell the coroner and the jury what
you've told us just now?"
'And-if | may put word in," said
Manners, quickly, why didn't you tell
us-the pOHce-all you've just told US
about Parslave, when you knew quite
well that we were looking for HING"
LAS to your question, Manners, }
wasn't aware of the hue-and-cry for
Parslave TO the extent you think, -
answered Eccleshare. "My time
wasn't spent in the Marrasdale dis
trict, so much as on the east side of
my hosts house. AS to yours, Crole-
well, I've told you | possibly made a
mistake-no doubt | did. But | haG
reason for silence. They're easily
summed up. The person that Par.
slave and saw hurrying away from
Reiver's den, where, presumably. MUIR
der had just been committed was-a
woman! -
Crole summoned our undivided at
tention with a swift glance round the
table. He went forward to EccleShare
Now, Doctor!" he said Don't
let's beat about the bush any longer
let's get at the truth, however I'm.
pleasant it may be. Did you form any
opinion as to who that woman wasp
Eccleshare made gesture of dis.
like at the situation. But he bowed
his head and replied without hesita
ton.
Il did!-certainly
"Who was she?"
"Mrs. Elphinstoner
You feel sure of that?"
"Positive-without doubt Ask Par.
slave!"
Croe turned sharply on Parslave.
And Parslave threw up his mead with
a jerk.
"What do you say, Parslave? Who
was the woman that passed you?"
Mistress ElphinstOne, sir-no doubt
on it! Never had no doubt-myself' .
Crole turned again TO Eccleshare
"You said it was dark, then. but
clear, star-lit. How did you recognize
herr"
Figure, walk, profile" replied Ec-
cleshare I'D no doubt at the time,
and I've none now. The woman who
passed Parslave and myself just after
at least. almost just after-we heard
the shot fired, was Mrs. Elphinstone.
That's why you kept silence?" sug-
gested Crole.
Il thought things out, next morn
ing" answered Eccleshare. 81 kept
silence-Parslave, of course, had gone.
well, didn't want to give woman
away. And after all-there might be
explanations
Explanations! exclaimed, Crole.
Elk"
Here's something that needs ex-
planatiOn," interrupted Maythorne.
Doctor Eccleshare and Parslave agree
that they heard a shot fired near
Reiver's den soon after eight o'clock.
Old Mr.. Hassendeane told us, Crole.
when you, Holt, and myself met him
there, that he heard a shot fired,
about ten o'clock. Now then-Whicb
of those shots was ii that killed MaZa.
rolf? Remember Neither Eccleshare
nor Parslave saw anything OF Maza-
rolf near Reivers den at eight O'Clock.
And yet, if the eight o'clock shot killed
him, he must have been about there
when they were. What do you make
of that?'
Don't know-it needs thinking out, "
answered CrOle. "But-to my mind.
the pertinent thing is this. Doctor
Eccleshare and Parslave are both dead
certain they saw Mrs. ElphinstOne
come away from Reiver's den. where.
. afterwards Mazaroff's lifeless body
was found. robbed OF money, valu,
ables, papers, and his will. Now then,
neither Manners nor COrkerdale know