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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 15, 1913)
y ANNA K&rtiARlNE GREEN1 Author of "the leavbnwohth case" rrHE FILIGREE BAlT'tllE HOUSE OF HIE WHISPERING PlflEsI ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHARLES .W. R0S5ER COPYRIGHT JOII by STREET & .SMITH copymutrr ion lay dodp. meap co I 8YN0PSI3. Ocorsp Anderson mul wife ? n rr fimrkntilr looking limn oiiip out of tno 'lnnont hotel, look iiroiinil furtlvoly, whMi IiIb lianiln In the snow nml linns on. xoniinotlon nttriivln tlicin to tins Clurmorit. Tvlii-lc It In rnunil Hint 111.! Iirutltlflll MlHH MJltli riinlloncr lian fnllon dmid. Antlr- t 'i (kmrlhrs tlio niiin no saw wnsn inn Imnils In tho (now. Tlio hotel nmniiRiT l-nro8 hltn to lie Orlando Hrothcrson. i'liyRlclniiH nml that Mlsa t'lmlloiiiT wns Kitlwd ami not shot, width seem to ''car lirutlicrHon of atinntcUn. CHAPTER IV. Continued. "What kind of a looking person w.'ih thu mnn who took you outside last night?" I Inquired ot Ocorgo, with my eyca still on thin furtive watcher. A fellow to rnnke you IntiRli. A erfect character, Taura; hideously homely but agreeable enough. I took juttc a funny to him. Why?" "I am looking at him now." "Very llkoly. Ho'b deep In thin af fair. JuBt an ovoryday detective, but ambitious, I euppoao, and quite alive to the, .Importance-of being thor ough." ' Ho Is watching those people. No, lie Isn't. How quickly ho disap peared!" "Yea, ho'a mercurial In all his movements. Laura, wo must get out t this, Thcro happens to be some thing cIbo In tho world for me to do than to Bit around and follow up mur lor clues." Hut wo begun to doubt If others agreed with him, when on passing out we were stopped In the lobby by hls Batno dotectlve, who had some thing to say to George, and drew him julckly aside. "What does ho want?" I asked, ns -.won oo George had returned to my uhte "Ho wants mo to stond ready to eboy any summons the police may acnu me." "Then they still suspect Brother ton?" "They must." Ah wq stepped out of tho hotel "George gave my arm a quiet pinch which Borvod to direct my attention to mi elderly gentleman who was just nllchtlng from u toxical) nt tho kerb. ilv moved heavily and with some an 4Maranco of pain, but from tho crowd collected on tho sldownlk. ninny of V'hom midgod each other ns he pnss vC, ho waB ovldontly a person of iomc Importance, and as ho disap peared within tho liotcl entrance. 1 -U3Ked George who this kind-faced, .bright-eyed old gentlenum could bo. Uo uppcarod to know, for ho told tno at onco that he was Detective tiryco; n man who had grown old In nolvlng Just such baffling problems oh these. That night I bided George's coming with an Impatience I could not con trol IIo was lute, of course, hut Vrheniho did appear, I almost forgot cur usual greeting in my hurry to nsk him If ho had scon the evening pa ;crs, "No," ho grumbled, as ho hung up fils overcoat. "Been puojiod about al day, No tlmo for anything." "Then lot mo toll you" Tlut ho Would have dinner f'rst. llowover, a little later wo had a rginfortubla chut. Mr. Gryce had rrnado u dftcovory, and tho papciH -wore full of it, Tho opinion had bocomo quite gon- erul with thoso host acquainted with the details ot this affair, that tho mystery was ono of those abnormal ones for which no solution would over lie found, when tho aged detective , showed himself in lite building and War taken to tho room, where an in- spoctor ot police awaited him "rhlB is vory good of you," the In spector began, glancing down at the aged detccttvo'B bundled up legs, and gently pushing a chair towards htm. Tlio elderly man thus addressed igluncod down at IiIb legB, now propped Hip on a stool which someone hud (jrought him, and smiled, with tho pathos of the old who boob tho lnter frttn of a lifetime slipping gradually awny. ' I am not what 1 was. I can no (ongor got down on my hands and Uncos to pick up threads from tho nap of u rug, or spy out a spot ot blood In tho crimson woof of a carpet." ' You shall have Sweetwater hero to do tho actlvo work for you. What -we want ot you Is the directing mind the tnfalllblo Instinct. It's a cuso In u thousand, Gryce. It will mako you young again." The old nian'B eyes shot tire and mnconsclouHly one foot slipped lo tho floor. Then ho bethought himself und painfully lifted It back again. "What are tho points? What's tho difficulty?" ho asked. "A woman has 2oon shot " "No, not shot, Blabbed. Wo thought alio hud been shot, for that was Intel ligible and Involved no imposslbll UIob. But Drs. Heath and Webster, under tho eyo of the Chullonors' own physlclun, havo mado an oxamlnntlon of tho wound and thoy declare that uo bullet Is to bo found In the body. As tho wound extends no further than tho heart this Hetties ono great point, tit least. You know the vic tim? Her name, I mean, and the character she bore?" "Yes; so much was told tno on my way down." "A lino girl unspoiled by riches and seeming -Independence. Happy, too, to all appearance or wo should -he moro ready to consider the possibil ity of sulcldo." "Suicide by stabbing ciiIIb for a weapon. Yet none lias been found, 1 hear." "None." "Yet she wus killed that way?" "Undoubtedly, and by a long and very uarrow blade, larger than a needle but not so largo' ns the or dinary ntiiotto." ''Stabbed while by herself, or what you may call by herself? She had no companion near her?" "None, If wo can believe the four mombers of the Parrlah family who wore seated ut tho' other end of the loom." "And you do bolleve them?" "Would a whole family He and needlessly?" "It wouldn't aeem so." "She fell Just a few feet from the desk where she had been writing. No word, no cry, Just a collapse and suddon fall. She never looked up or spoke again. What' do you make of It, Gryce?" "It's a tough one, and I'm not ready to vonttire an opinion yet. 1 should like to sen tho desk you speak of, and tlio spot where she fell." A young follow who had been hover ing in the background nt once stepped forward. Ho was the plain-faced do tectlve who had Bpokon to George. "Will you tako my arm, Blr?" Mr. Gryce's whole face brightened. Tills Sweetwater, as thoy called him. wns, 1 havo since understood, one of his proteges and more or less of a favorite. "lluve you had u chance at this thing?" ho united. "Yes, sir: thoy were good enough to allow It." "Very well, then, you're In a posi tion to pioneer me. You've keen It nil and won't bo In a hurry.'' t "No; I'm at tho eniPof my rope. I hnven't an Idea, sir." "Well, well, that'B honest at all ovents." Then, ns ho slowly rose with tho other's cureful assistance, "There's no crltno without Its clue. Tho thing Is to recognize that clue when seen. But I'm In uo position to make promises." Tho mezzanine was guarded from all visitors save such us, hnd ofllclol sanction. Consequently, the two re mained quite uninterrupted while thoy moved about tho place In qulot consultation. Tho locale was what Gryce wuntod, and ho got it. Whcth or ho got anything clso It would he 'Impossible to say from his manner as ho filially sank Into a chair by one ot the oponlngs, nml looked down on tho lobby below. It was full of people coming and going on all sorts of bus iness, and presently ho drew back, nnd, loaning on Sweetwater's arm, asked htm a few questions. "Who wero tho first to rush In here nftor tho I'arrlshers gave the alarm?" "Ono or two of tho niiiBlclniih from tho end of tho hall. They had Just Mulshed their program nnd were pre- He Wat Evidently a Person of Some Importance, paring to leave tho gnllery. Natural ly they reached her llrst." "And who followed thorn? Who camu noxt on tho scone?" "Some people from tho lobby. Thoy heard tho disturbance and rushed up pell-mell. But not ono of these touch ed her. Later her father came." "Who did touch her? Anybody, before tho father camo In?" "Yes; Miss Clarke, tho middle aged lady, with the Pnrrlslos. She had run towards Miss Challoner as soon as sho heard her full, and was sitting there with tho doad girl's head in her lap when tho musicians allowed themselves." Jfivmum- w Vj Wwy I'u ID "I supposo she hus been carefully questioned?" "Very, I should bay." i "And fihe speaks of no weapon?" "No. Neither she nor nny ono else nt Hint moment suspected murder or oven a violent death. All thought It a natural one sudden, but tho re sult of some secret disease." "Hut the blood? Surely there must have been some shout of blood?" "No ono noticed any. Not ( till tho doctor enine her doctor, who was happily In his ofllce In this very building. He saw the drops, nnd ut tered tho llrst suggestion of murder." "How long after wns this? Is thero nny one who hns ventured to mako an estimate of the number of min utes which elapsed from the time sho fell, to the moment when the doctor llrst raised tho cry ot murder?" "Yes. Mr. Slater, the assistant manager, who was in the lobby at the time, says that ten minutes at least must havo claimed.' "Ten minutes and no blood! The weapon must still have been there. Some weapon with a short, and in conspicuous hnndle. I think they said there were flowers over and around the place where It struck?" "Yes, great big scarlet ones." "Ten minutes! I mint see every ono who approached .iur during those ton minutes. Kvery one, Sweetwater, and I must myself tnlk with Miss Clarke." "You will believe ivery word sho says." "No doubt? All the more reason why I must Bee her. SweetwateV, someone drew that weapon out. Tho question Is who? We must leave no stone unturned to find that out." ' Where will you see MIbb Clarke?" "Wherever she pleases only I can't wnlk far." "I think I know the place. You shall havo the use ot this elnvntor. It has not. been running since last night or It would be full of curious people all the time, hustling to get a glimpse ot this place. But thoy'll put a man on for you." "Very good; manage It as you will. I'll wait here till you're ready. I'll not trouble her much. But there Is one point she must make clear to me." Sweetwater did not presume to ask what point, hut ho hoped to be fully enlightened when the time came. And ho was. Mr. Gryce had under taken to educate him for this work and never missed tho opportunity of giving hltn a lesson. The three mot In a private sitting-room on an upper floor, tho detectives entering llrst and the lady coining In soon after. Miss Clarke wns not a woman to rouse an unfavorable opinion In vany tnan'B mind. Of slight, almost frail build, she had that peculiar anima tion which goes with a speaking eye and a jvldely sympathetic nature. Without any substantial vhiims to beauty, her expression wns so wom anly and so sweet that she was In variably culled lovely. Mr. Gryce was engaged at tho mo ment In shifting his cauo from tho right hand to the left, but his man ner waB never more encouraging or his smile more benevolent. "Pardon me," he apologized, with one of his old-fashioned bowa. "I'm sorry to troublo you after all tho dis tress you must have been under this morning." But there Is something I wish especially' to aBk yd. it In regard to tho dreadful occurrence In which you played so kind a part. You wero tho llrst to reach tho prostrate wom an, 1 hellovo." 'Yes. Tho boys jumped up and ran towards her, but they wero fright ened by her looks and left It for mo to put my hundA under and try to life her up." Did you manage It?" 1 succeeded In getting her head Into my lap, nothing more!" ' And sat so? For some little 'time." 'You knew she was dead, thon?" "1 felt her to be, so." ' How felt?" "1 was sure 1 never questioned It." "You havo seen women In a faint?" Yes. ninny times." 'What mnde tho difference? Why should ou believe .Miss Challoner dead simply because she lay still and apparently lifeless?" 'I cannot tell you. Possibly, death tells Its rtwn Btor. I only know how I felt." "Perhaps thero was another rea son? Perhaps, that, consciously or unconsciously, you laid your palm upon her heart?" Miss Clarke started, and her sweet face showed n moment's porploxlty. "Did I?" sho queried, musingly. Then with u Biiddon tccoss of feeling, "I may have done so, Indeed, I be lieve I did. My nrms wero around her; It would not, have been nn un natural action." "No; a very natural ono, I should say. Cannot you' tolj mo positively whothor you did this or not?" "Yes, I did. 1 had forgotten It, but 1 remetnbor now." And tho glnnco hc cast him while not meeting his eye showed Hint sho understood tho Importance of tho admission. "I know. "'she Bald, "what you are go ing to ask mo now. Did I feel any thing there but tho flowers and the, tulle? No, Mr. Gryce, I did not. There was no poniard in the wound." Mr Gryco felt around, found a chair and sank into It. ' You are u truthful woman," said he. "And," he added moro slowly, "composed onough In character I should Judge not to have made nny Tulstnko on' this very vital point." "I think bo, Mr. Gryce. 1 was In a state of oxcltement, ot course; but the woman was a stranger to me, and my feelings were not "unduly agi tated." "Sweetwater, we can let my sug gestion go In regard to those ten min utes I Bpoke or. The time is nar rowed down to one, and In that one, Miss Clarko was the only person to touch her." "The only ow," echoed the lady, catching perhaps the slight rising sound of query In his voice. "I will trouble you no further." So i i. "You Are a Truthful Woman," He Said. said the old detective, thoughtfully. "Sweetwater, help mo out ot this," "But one possibility remains," he conllded to Sweetwater, as they stood waiting ut the elevator door. "Miss Challoner died from a stab. What follows? Sho struck the blow herself, and the strength of purpose which led her to do this, gave her the addi tional force to pull tho weapon out and fling It from her. It did not fall upon the floor around her; Uieroforo, It flow through ono of thoso open ings into the lobby, and 'there It either will be, or has been found." CHAPTER V. The Rid Cloak. ''What results? Speak up, Sweet water." "None. Kvery man, woman and boy connected with tho hotel has been questioned, but not, ono of them plck cdup anything Crom tho floor ot tho lobby, or knows of any ono who did." A bulletin was put up. Somo hourB later, Sweetwater re entered tho room, and, approaching Mr. Gryco with a smile, blurted out: "Tho bulletin is a great go. 1'vo watched every ono who stopped to rend It, Many showed lntorest and many emotion; sho' seems to havo a troop ot frieiu.s. But embarrass ment! only oud showed that." "Embarrassment? Humph! a man?" "No, a oiiiiin; a lady, sir; ono ot tho transients." "A woman! Wuero is sho? Still in tho lobby?" ''No, sir. Uha took the elevator while I was talking with the clerk." "You mistook her expression." "I don't-ahlng so I had noticed her when sho Hist came into the lobby. Sho wns talking to hur daughter who was with her, and looked natural and happy. But no sooner hnd she seen and rond that bulletin, than tho blood shot tin Into her face and her manner became furtive and hasty. Almost be foro 1 could point her out, she hnd seized her daughter by the arm and hurried her towurds tho elevator. Her room ,1s on the seventh floor, number 712, and her name Is Wntklns. Mrs. Horace Watklns of Niishvlllo " "Cull tho desk. Say that I'm to be told If Mrs. Wntklns of Nahhvlllo rings up during the next ten min utes. Wo'll give her thnt long to take somo action " Sweetwater did as he was bid, thou went back to his place in tho lobby. But he returned nlmost Instantly. "Mrs. Watklns hus just telephoned down that she Is going to to leave, sir." To leavo?" Tho old man struggled to his feet. "No. 712, do you say? Seven' stories," he sighed. But bb ho turned with n hobble, ho stopped. "Thero uro dif ficulties In tho way of this Interview," lie remarked. "A blush Is 'not much to go upon. I'm afraid we shall have to resort to tho shadow business nnd that Is your work, not mine." But hero tho door opened and a boy brought In a line which had been left at tho desk. It related to the very matter then engaging them, and ran thus: "I sec that Information Is desired as to whether any person was seen to stoop to the lobby floor last night at or shortly after tho .critical moment of Ml3s Chnlloner's fall in the half atory nbove. I can give such Infor mation. I waB in tho lobby at the time, nnd In the height'of the confusion fol lowing this alarming incident, I re member weeing a lady ono of the now arrivals (thero wero several com-4 Ing in at Uie tlmo) stoop quickly down and pick up Bomethlng from the floor. I thought nothing of It at the time, and bo paid little attention to her appearance. I can only,, recall the suddenness with which she stooped and the color of the cloak she wore. It waa red, and the whole gar ment was voluminous. If you wish fur thef particulars though In truth, I have no moro to give, you can find me in room 6G. "HENRY A. M'ELROY." "Hunrph! This should simplify our task," was Mr. Gryco's comment, as he handed the note over to Sweetwa ter. "You can easily find out if the lady, now on the point of departure, can be Identified with tho one de scribed by Mr. McElroy. If she can, I am ready to meet her anywhere." And so It hnppened thnt just as Mrs. Watklns was watching the wheeling out of her trunks, there appeared In the doorway before her, an elderly gentleman, whose expression, always benevolent, save nt moments when benevolence would bc quite out of keeping with the situation, had for some reason, so marked an effect up on her, that she colored under his eye, nnd, Indeed, showed such embarrass ment, that all doubt of tho propriety of his Intrusion vanished from the old man's mind, and with the ease of one only too well accustomed to such scenes, he kindly remarked: "Am I speaking "to Mrs. Watklns of Nashville?" "You are," she faltered, with anoth er rapid change of color. "I I am just leaving. I hope you will excuse ine. I " "I wish 1 could," he smiled, hobbling In and confronting her quietly in her own room. "But circumstances make it quite imperative that I should have a few words with you on a topic which need not bo disngreeable to you, and probably will not be. My name Is Gryce. A beautiful and charming young womnn died here last night. May I ask if you knew her?" , "I? I never saw tho young lady. Why do you ask? I do not recognize your right. I I " Mr. Gryco made ono of his low bows and propping himself against tho table he stood before, remarked civilly: "I had rather not force my rights. I thought perhaps you coujd, tell me something which would aid me In my effort to elicit the real facts of the case. You wore croasing tho lobby at the time " "Yes." She raised her head. "So were a dozen others " "Madam" the Interruption wan made in his kindliest tones, but in a way which nevertheless, suggested au thority. "Something was picked up from tho floor nt that hiomont. Am I not correct? Didn't you boo a certain person I will mention no names stoop am) pick up something from tho lobby floor?" "No." Tho word came out with startling violence. But her lips quiv ered, and her cheeks wore white, too white now for simnle indlnimtion. "Then I havo mado a big mistake,"' apologized the over-courteous detect ive. "Will you pardon mo? It would have settled a very Berlous question If it could bo found that the object thus picked up was the weapon which killed Miss Challoner. That Is my ex cuse for tho trouble I have given you." Tho dcor burst open, nnd a young girl boiih.lcd into thu room, with tho merry crj . "All ready, mother. I'm glad wo am going to tho Clarendon. I hate ho tels whore peoplo die almost before jour eyes." The cloak which enveloped the girl wnB red, und full enough to bo called voluminous. "Who Is this?" demanded tho girl, her Indignant glances flashing from one to tho other. "I don't know." faltered the mother In vory evident distress. "He says he has a right to ask us questions and hu has been asking questions about about " "Not about me." laughed tho girl, with a toss of her head. "Ho ran havo nothing to say about me."- And she began to movo about the room in an aimless, halMnsolont way, Mr. Gryco stared hnrd nt tho few re maining belongings of tho two womon, lying in a heap on tho table, and half musingly, half deprccntingly, re marked: "The person who stooped woro a long red cloak. Probably you pro coded your daughter, Mrs. Watklns." The lady thus brought to the point made a quick gesture towards tho girl who suddenly stood still, and, with n rising color In her cheeks, answered, with somo show of resolution, on her own part: "You say .your name is Gryco and that you have a right to address mo thus pointedly on a subject which you evidently regard as seriouB. That Is' not exact enough for me. Who uro you, air? What is your business?" "I think you havo guessed it. I am a detective from headquarters. Per haps this young lady can tell me what you cannot." "Caroline" Thon the mother broke down. "Show the gentleman what you picked up from the lobby floor last night." Tho girl laughed again, loudly and' with evident bravado, before she threw the cloak back and showed what she had evidently been holding In her hand from the first, a sharp pointed, gold-handled paper-cutter. "It was lying there and 1 picked It up. I don't see nny harm In that." "You probably meant none. You couldn't have known tho part It had Just played In this tragic drama," said the old detective, looking careful ly at tho cutter which he had taken in his hand. "You have washed this?" ho asked. "No. Why should I wash it? It was clean enough. I was just going down to give it in at the deslj." And she turned asl.do to the window and. began to hum, as though dono with the whole matter. The old detective rubbed his chin glancd again at the paper-cutter, thon at the girl in tho window, and lastly at the mother, who had lifted her head again and was facing him bravely. "It Is very Important," he observed to the latter, "that your daughter should be correct in her statement as to the condition of this article when she picked it up. Are you sure she did not wash It?" "I don't think she did. But I'm sure she will tell you the truth about that Caroline, this is a police matter. Any mistake about It may involve us in a world of trouble and keep you from getting back home in tlmo for your coming-out party. Did you did you wash this cutter when you got up stairs, or or " sho added, with a propitiatory glance at Mr. Gryce "wipe it off at any time between then and now? Be Bure." "Mother, how can I tell what I did? flashed out tho girl, wheeling round on her heel till she faced them booth "Such a lot of talk about a paltry thing which couldn't have cost ten dollars." And she wheeled back. "It isn't the value." Mr. Gryce could be very patient. "It's the fact that wo bolleve it to have been an swerable for Miss Challonor's death that is, if thero was any blood on it when you picked It up." "Blood!" Tho girl was facing them again, astonishment struggling with disgust on her plain but mobllo fea tures. "Blood! Is that what you mean! Tako It away," she cried. "Blood!" "Blood!" She Reiterated With Horror, Flinging Herself. Into Her Mother'! Arm. she repeated In horror, flinging her self Into her mother's arms. Mr. Gryce thought he understood the situation. Here was a little klep tomaniac whoso weakness the mother was struggling' to hide. iTO BK CONTINITRD.) Just Married, Too. "Young man," said the magistrate, severely, "the assault you have com mitted on your poor wife Is a most brutal one. Do you know or nny roa son why I should not Bond you to prison?" "If you do, your honor," re plied the prisoner at tho bar, hope fully, "It will break up our honeymoon." f " p V M'- Hipi0v,''- --y.-,.- y - :. -,
