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I 1 / . I < 4 mmimniiiiiDiiiiiiiiJiiiri]iiiiiiii)iiii!!iiniTTiriTrTrinTiiin?irni!iii!ii!iiiniiiiinii!iininiiiiiiniiiiiirnrrrn7TTnTnnrnT!TrrnTTTmTrTTTT Synopsis ol Preceding Chapters. T HE handsome residence of Silas Van Bur- nam in Gramercy Park adjoins that of Mira Amelia Buttarworth, a lady of Inde pendent moans and spirit, who tells tho story. At mldnlKht, peering through her curtains, Miss Rutterworth sees a oab drive up with a young man and woman, who enter the Van Burmin house Ten minutes later she sees the young msn leave the house alone and walk rapidly avt&y Knowing the house to be vacant owing to the absence of Bllas Van Bumain In Europe, this midnight Incident astonishes Miss Butter- worth Next morning she 1s present when a police man. summoned by Mrs. Boppert, a scrub woman, discovers the dead body of a young woman lying under a heavy piece of fallen furniture Detective Oryoe, summoned from Police Head quarters, arrives with a physician Miss But- torwerth tells of the midnight Incident—the young women’s companion seemed to resemble one of the Van Burnsm mom—Franklin, or How ard. the latter understood to be estranged from his family owing to an unsuitable marriage, wnd spending the Bummer with his bride In Connecticut It was Franklin Van Burnam— who spent his nights at Long Branch—who hod sent Mrs. Boppert to make the house ready for his father an<l sisters, arriving to-day. A clock which had fallen with the cabinet under which the dead girl lay had stopped at three minutes to five. The cabinet botng raised, Miss Butterworth sees 'that the body is clothed In a new. blue serge drees, and that the hat—lying crushed under It ban been worn but once, revealing but one prink of a hatpin. Fran kin Van Burnam arrives and soon his father. There Is myaterv In their muttered mention of "Howard. 1, M1hs rtutterworth also sees mystery 1n the ms.nner of Mrs Boppert. the ecrub woman A crowd gathers. Miss But- terworth Invites the Van Burnam daughters to her house From her window—Just as the body of the dead girl is being carried out to an arxfbuiance—ehe sees Howard Van Burnam drive up. His faoe Is ghastly w*h1te. Continued from Last Sunday. F RANKLIN VAN BURNAM had evidently come to the door with the rest; for Howard no sooner showed his faoe the second time than we saw the for mer dash down the steps and try to part , the crowd In a rain attempt to reach his brother's side. Mr. Oryce was more success ful. He had no difficulty in winning his way acros. the street, and presently I perceived him standing near the carriage exchanging a few words with Its occupant. A moment later hp drew back, and, addressing the driver, Jumped Into the carriage with Howard, and was speedily driven off. The ambulance followed and some of the Towd, and as Boon a, a hack could be obtained Mr. Van Juroam and fils son took the same road, leaving us three women In a state of suspense, which, as far as one of us was concerned, ended in a nervous attack that was not unlike heart failure. "They probably did not consider the fate of this unknown woman a matter of any Impor tance to you.” I said. The Van Burnam girls were unlike In appear ance anu character, but they showed an equal embarrassment at this, casting down their eyes and ’ cl aving so strangely that I was driven to wonder, without any show of hysterics I am happy to say, what would be the upshot of this matter, and how faj I would become involved In It before the troth came to light. At dinner they displayed what 1 should call their best society manner. Seeing this, I as sumed my society manner also. It Is formed on a different pattern from theirs, but Is fully as Impressive. I Judge. In the evening their father came in. He was looking very dejected, and half his bluster was gone. He held a telegram crushed In his hand, and he talked very rapidly. But he confided none of his secrets to me, and I was obliged to say good night to‘ these young ladies without knowing much more about the matter engross ing us than when I left their house in the after noon. But others were not as ignorant as myself. A dramatic and highly exciting scene had taken place that evening at tho undertaker's to which the unknown's body had neon removed, and as I have more than onci heard It minutely described, I will endeavor to transcribe it here with all the Impartiality of an outsider. When Mr. Gryoe entered the carriage In which Howard sat, he noted, first, that t.ha young man was frightened; and secondly, that he made no effort to hide It. He had heard al most nothing from the detective. He knew that there had been a hne and cry for him ever since noon, and that he was wanted to Identify a young woman who had been found dead In his father's honse, but beyond these tacts he had been told little, and yet he seemed to have no curiosity nor did he venture to ex press any surprise. A quiver passed down the young man's side where he came In contact with the detective. “And did not they—my father and brother, I mean—-recognise her 7" "It would be difficult for any one to recognise her who was not well acquainted with her." A horrified look crossed the features of How ard Van Burnam, which. If a part of his acting, showed him to have genlns for his role. Hls head sank back on the cushions of the carriage, end for a moment he closed his eyes. When he openod them again, the carriage had stopped, and Mr. ryee, who had not noticed hls emotion, of ooursa, was looking out of the window with his hand on the handle of the door. "Are we there already?" asked the young man, with a shudder. “I wish you had not con sidered tt necessary for me to see her. I shall detoct nothing familiar In her. I know." Mr. Gryoe bowed, repeated that It was a mere formality, and followed the young gen tleman into the building and afterward into the room where the dead body lay. A couple of doctors and one or two officials stood about. In whose faces the young man sought for something like encouragement before casting hls eyes In the direction Indicated by the de tective. But there was little in any of these faces to calm him, and, turning shortly away, he walked manfully across the room and took bis stand by the detective. "1 am positive,” he began, "that it is not my wife” At this moment the cloth that covered the body was removed, and he gave s great start of relief. "1 said so," he re marked: coldly. "This Is no one I know." Hls sigh was echoed In double chorus from the doorway. Glancing that way he eneoun- t-. : pd the faces of hls father and elder brother, rnd moved toward them with a relieved air that made quite another man of him in ap pearance. "1 have had my say," he remarked. "Shall 1 wait outside till you have had yours?" •We have already said all that we had to." Franklin returned. “We declared that we did ' not recognize this person.” "Of course, of course," assented the other. “I don’t see why they should have expected us to know her. gome common suicide who thought the house empty But how did she get In?" Don't you know’" said Mr. Oryce. "Can It be that 1 forgot te tell you? Why. she was let In at night by a young man of medium height” --hls eye ran up and down the graceful figure of the young elegant before him as he spoke— "who left her Inside and then went away. A young man who had a key" "A key? Franklin, I” Was It a look from Franklin which made Mm stop? It Is possible, for he turned on hls heel as he reached this point, and, tossing his head with quite a gay air, exclaimed: “But It Is of no consequence! The girl is s atranger. and we have satisfied. 1 believe, all the re quirements of the law in saying so, and may now drop the matter. Are you going to the chib, Franklin?" "Yes, but” Here the elder brother drew seam and whispered something into the other's ear, who at that whisper turned again toward the place where the dead woman lay. Seeing this movement, his anxious father wiped the moisture from hls forehead. Silas Van Burnam had been silent up to this mo ment and seemed Inclined to continue so, but he watched hls younger son with painful In tentness. "Nonsense!” broke from Ilownrd's lips as hls brother ceased hls oommunlcatlon; but he took a step nearer the body, notwithstanding, and then another and another till he was at Its side again. Tho hands had not. heen Injured, as we hare said, and upon these hls eyes now fell. "They are like hers! O God! they are like hers!" he muttered, growing gloomy at once. “But where are the rings? There are no rings to be seen on these fingers, and she wore five. Including her wedding ring." "Is It of your wife yon are speaking?" in quired Mr. Oryce, who had edged up close to hls side. The young man was caught unawares. He flushed deeply, hut answered up boldly and with great appearance of candor: "Yes; my wife left. Haddam yesterday to come to New York, and I have not. seen her since. Naturally I have felt some doubts lest this unhappy victim should be she. But I do not recognize her clothing; I do not recog nize her form; only the hands look familiar.” "And the hair?" “Is of the same color as hers, but It’s a very ordinary color. I do not dare to say from any thing I see that this Is my wife." "We will call you again after the doctor has finished hls autopsy,’ said Mr. Oryce. "Per haps you will hear from Mrs. Van Burnam before then." But this Intimation did not seem to bring comfort with It. Mr Van Burnam walked away, white and sick, for which display of emotion there was certainly some cause, and. rejoin ing hlB father, tried to carry off the moment with the aplomb of a man of the world. But that father’s eye was fixed too steadily upon him; he faltered as he sat down and finally spoke up, with feverish energy: "If It Is she, so help mo God, her death Is a mystery to me! We have quarrelled more than onoo lately, and I have sometimes lost my pa tience with her, but she had no reason to wish for death, and I am ready to swear In defiance of those hands, which are certainly like hers, snd the nameless something which Franklin calls a likeness, that It Is a stranger who lies there, and that her death In our house Is a coincidence.” CHAPTER VI. flew Faof*. AIR VAN BURNAM and hls sons had gone through the formality of & supper and were conversing In the haphazard way natural to men filled with a subject they dare not dls cuss, when the door opened and Mr. Gryoe came In. Advancing very calmly, he addressed himself to the father: "I am sorry." said he, "to be obliged to In form you that this affair Is much more serious than we anticipated. This young woman was dead before the shelves laden with brlc-a brae fell upon her. It Is a case of murder; obviously RO, or I should not presume to forestall the Coroner’s Jury In their verdict.” Murder! I* Is s word to shako the stoutest heart! The older gentleman reeled as he half rose, and Franklin, hls son, betrayed in hls own way an almost equal amount of emotion. But Howard, ahrugglng hls shoulders as If relieved of an immense weight, looked about with a cheerful air, and briskly cried: "’Then It Is not the body of my wife you have there. No one would murder Louise. I shall go away and prove the truth of my words by hunting her up at onoe.” The detective opened the door, beckoned In the doctor, who whispered two or three words Into Howard's ear. They failed to awake the emotion he evi dently expected. Howard looked surprised, but answered without any change of voice: "Yes, Louise had such a scar; and If It. Is true that this woman is similarly marked, then It Is a mere coincidence. Nothing will convince me that my wife has been the victim of murder." "Had you not better take a look at the scar just mentioned?" “No. I am so sure of what I say that I will not even consider the possibility of my being mistaken. I have examined the clothing on this body you have shown me, and not one ar ticle of It oame from my wife's wardrobe; nor would my wife go, as you have Informed me this woman did. Into a dark house at night with any other man than her husband.” "And so you absolutely refuse to acknowl edge her." "Most certainly." The detective paused, glanced at the troubled faces of the other two gentlemen, faces that had not perceptibly altered during these dec larstlona. and suggestively remarked: "You have not asked by what moans she was killed." "And I don’t care!" shouted Howard. "It was by very peculiar means, also new In my experience." “It does not interest me.” the other retorted. Mr. Gryce turned to hls father and brother. 'Does it interest you?” he asked. The old gentleman, ordinarily so testy and so peremptory, silently nodded his head, while Frar.klin cried: "IJpeak. up quick. Vou detectives hesitate so A Thrilling Story of Love, Mystery and Intrigue. over the disagreeables. Was she throttled or stabbed with a knife?” "I have said the means were peculiar. She was stabbed, but not—with a knife." ] know Mr. Gryce well enough now to be sure that he did not glance toward Howard while saying this, and yet at the same time that he did not miss the quiver of a muscle on his part or the motion of an eyelash. But Howard’s assumed sang frold remained undis turbed and hls countenance Imperturbable. "The wound was so small," the detective went on. "that It Is a miracle It did not escape notice. It was made by the thrust of some slender Instrument through" "The heart?" put In Franklin. “Of course, of course,” assented the deteo- tive; "what other spot Is vulnerable enough to cause death?” "Is there any reason why we should not go?" demanded Howard, Ignoring the extreme In terest manifested by the other two, with a de termination that showed great doggedness of character. The detective Ignored him. "A quick stroke, a sure stroke, a fatal stroke. The girl never breathed after." "But what of those thiifgs under which she lay crushed?” "Ah, In them lies the mystery! Her aesall- BDt must have been as subtle as he was sure." And still Howard showed no Interest. "I wish to telegraph to Haddam," he de clared, as no one answered the last remark. Haddam was the place where he and hls wife had been spending the Summer. “We have already telegraphed there,” ob served Mr. Gryce. “Your wife has not yet re- turned. “There are other places,” defiantly in sisted the other. "I can find her If you give me the opportunity." Mr. Gryce bowed. mains, you made the remark that it had heen worn but once. I had already come to the same conclusion, but by other means, doubtless. Will you tell me what it was that gave point to your assertion?” "There was but one prick of a hat pin in it,” I observed. "If you have been in the habit of looking into young women's hats, you will ap preciate the force of my remark.” "The deuce!’’ was hls certainly uncalled for exclamation. "Women’s eyes for women’s mat ters! I am greatly Indebted to you, ma’am. You have solved a very Important problem for us. A bat pin! humph!” he muttered to him self. “The woman who was killed In that room owed her death to the stab of a thin, long pin. We had not thought of a hat pin, but upon your mentioning It, I am ready to aocept It as the Instrument of death. There was no pin to be seen In the hat when you looked at It?” “None. I examined It most carefully.” He shook hls head and seemed to be medita ting. As I had plenty of time I waited, expect ing him to speak again. My patience seemed to impress him. Alternately raising and lower ing hls hands like one In the act of weighing something, he soon addressed me again, this time in a tone of banter. ’’This pin—If pin It was—was found broken in the wound. We hare been searching for the end that was left In the murderer’s hand, and we have not found It. It Is not on the floors of the parlors nor In this hallway. What do you think the Ingenious user of such an Instrument would do with it?’’ "He would not have carried It away,” I rea soned, shortly, “at least not far. He did not „ throw it aside on reach. fevVL detective turned the conversation back to busi- “By the way,’’ said he, “your woman’s knowl edge can help me out at another point. If you are not afraid to remain In this room alone for a moment, I will bring an article in regard to which I should like your opinion.” I assured him I was not in the least bit ifralrl, at which he made me another of hls xnomalous bows and passed Into the adjoining parlor. He did not stop there. Opening the sliding doors communicating with the dining room beyond, he disappeared In the latter room, shutting the doors behind him. Being now alone for a moment on the scene of the crime, I eroesed over te the mantel shelf a*d lifted the clock that lay there. Why I did this I scarcely know. I am natu rally very orderly and It probably fret ted me to see so valuable an object out of Its natural position. However that was, I lifted It up and set It upright, when to my amazement it began to tick. Had the hands not stood as they did when my eyes first fell on the clock lying face up on the floor at the dead girl’s side I should have thought that the works had been started since that time by Mr. Gryce or some other officious person. But they pointed now as then to a few minutes before 5 and the only conclusion I could arrive at was that the clock had been In running order when it fell, startling as this fact appeared In a housa which had not been Inhabited for months. But If It had been In running order and was only stopped by Its fall upon the floor, why did the hands, point at Ji instead of 12, which was the hour at which the accident was supposed to have happened? Here was matter for thought, and that I might be undisturbed In my use of If, I hastened to lay the clock down again, even taking the precaution to restore the hands to the exact position they had occupied before I “I. as well as others, was glancing toward the door beyond which the Van Burnams were supposed to sit.” T am to give orders, then for this body to be removed to the Morgue.” It was an unexpected suggestion, and for an instant Howard showed that he had feelings with the best. But he quickly recovered him self, and, avoiding the anxious glances of hls father and brother, answered with offensive lightness: “1 have nothing to do with that. Y'ou must do as you think proper.” And Mr. Gryce felt that he had received a check, and did not know whether to admire the young man for 1 hls nerve or to execrate him for hls brutality. That the woman whom he had thus carelessly dismissed to the igno miny of the public gaze was hls wife, the detec tive did not doubt. 1 was almost as Ignorant of what I wanted to know at 10 o'clock on that memorable night as I was at B, but I was determined not to re main so. When the two Misses Van Burnam had retired to their room 1 slipped away to the neighboring house and boldly rang the bell. I had observed Mr. Gryce enter It a few min utes before, and I was resolved to have some talk with him. The hall lamp was lit, and we could discern each other's faces as he opened the door. Mine may have been a study, but I am sure hls waa He had not expected to be confronted by an elderly lady at that hour of night. "Well!” be dryly ejaculated, "I am sensible of the honor, Miss Butterworth.” But he did not ask me In. "I expected no less.” said I. "I saw you come in, and 1 followed as soon after as 1 could. 1 have something to say to you.” He admitted me then and carefully closed ths door. Feellug free to be myself. I threw off the veil 1 had tied under my chin and con fronted him with what I call the true spirit. "Mr. Gryce,” I began, “let us make an ex change of civilities ?ell me what you have done with Howard Van Burnam, and I will tell you what I have observed In the course of this afternoon’s Investigation." He laughed; this sly, old, almost decrepit man laughed outright. "It Is my very good fortune to have made your acquaintance. Miss Butterworth. You and 1 ought to be able to work out this case In a way that will be satisfactory to all parties.” He meant it for sarcasm, but I took it quite seriously—that is, to all appearance. "Then let us to work.” said I. "Yon have your theories about this murder, and I have mine; let us see how they compare." Changing hls whole manner to one more In neeordunee with business, he observed after a moment's reflection: "You came to a conclusion this afternoon. Miss Butterworth. for which I should like some explanation In investigating the hat which had beau drawn froaj under the murdered girl's re watched hls movements so closely that I would hare observed him had he done this. It Is in the house, then, and presumably In the parlor, even if you did not find it on the floor.” “Would you like to look for it?" he impressively asked. "Would I?” I repeated; and being spare in figure and much more active in my movements than one would suppose from my age and digni fied deportment, 1 ducked under his arms and was in Mr. Van Burnam's parlor before he had recovered from hls surprise. Nerving myself for the task thus set me, I peered hither and thither, taking in every arti cle in the room before I made a step forward. There had been some attempt to rectify its dis order. The broken pieces of china had been lifted and laid carefully away on newspapers upon the shelves from which they had fallen. The cabinet stood upright in Its place, and the clock, which had tumbled face upward, had been placed upon the mantel shelf in the same position. The carpet was therefore free, save for the stains which told such a woful story of past tragedy and crime. "You have moved the tables and searched be hind the sofas,” I suggested. "Not an inch of the floor has escaped our at tention, madam.” My eyes fell on the register, which my skirts half covered. It was closed; I stooped and opened It. A square box of tin was visible be low. at the bottom of which I perceived the round bead of a broken hat pin. Never In my life had I felt as X did at that minute. Rising up. pointed at the register and let some of my triumph become apparent; but not all. for I was by no means sure at that mo aient, nor am I by any means sure now, that he had not made the discovery before I did and was simply testing my pretensions. However that may be, he came forward quick ly and after some little effort drew out the broken pin and examined It curiously. "I should say that this Is what we want,” be declared, and from that moment on showed me a suitable deference. "I account for Its being there In this way,” I argued. “The room was dark; for whether he lighted it or not to commit hls crime, he cer tainly did not leave it lighted long. Coming out, hts foot came In contact with the iron of the register and he was struck by a sudden thought. He had not dared to leave the head of the pin lying on the floor, for he hoped that he had covered up his crime by pulling the heavy cabinet over upon his victim; nor did he wish to carry away such a memento of hls cruel deed. So he dropped it down the register, where he doubtless expected It would fall into the furnace pipes out of sight. But the tin box retained It. Is not that plausible, sir?” “I could not have reasoned better myself madam. We shall have you on the force, yet.’’ But at the familiarity shown by this sugges tion. 1 bridled angrily. "I am Miss Butter worth.” w’as m.v sharp retort, “and any Interest I may take in this matter is due to my sense of Justice." Seeing that ho had offended me, the astute had started up the works. If Mr. Gryce did not know their secret, why so much the worse for Mr. Gryce. I was back in my old place by the register before the folding doors unclosed again. I was conscious of a slight flush on my cheek, so I took from my pocket that perplexing grocer bill and was laboriously going down Its long line of figures, when Mr. Gryce reappeared. He had, to my surprise, a woman’s hat In hls hand. "Well!” thought I, "what does this meant” It was an elegant specimen of millinery, and was In the latest style. It had ribbons and flowers and bird wings upon It, and presented, as it was turned about by Mr. Gryce's deft hand, an appearance which some might have called charming, but to me was simply grotesque and absurd. "Is that a last Spring’s hat?” he Inquired. "I don’t know, but I should say It had come fresh from the milliner’s.” “I found it lying with a pair of gloves tucked Inside It on an otherwise empty shelf In the dining room closet. It struck me as looking too new for a discarded hat of either of the Misses Van Burnam. What do you think?" “Let me take it," said I. “Oh, It's been worn,” he smiled, ‘’several times. And the bat pin Is in it, too.” "There is something else I wish to see.” He handed It over. “1 think it belongs to one of them,” I de clared. “It was made by La Mole of Fifth avenue, whose prices are simply—wicked.” “But the young ladles have been gone—let me see—five months. Could this have been bought before then?” "Possibly, for this Is an Imported hat. But why should It have been left lying about In that careless way? It cost twenty dollars, If not thirty, and If far any reason Its owner decided not to take It with her, why didn’t she pack It away properly? X have no patience with the modern girl; she Is made up of recklessness and extravagance.” "I hear that the young ladles are staying with you,” was hls suggestive remark. 'They are.” ’Then you can make some inquiries about this hat; also about the gloves, which are an ordi nary street pair.” "Of what color?” "Gray; they are quite fresh, size six.” "Very well; I will ask the young ladles about them.” CHAPTER VII. Devel opmenfu. pROMPTLY at 10 o’clock I entered the room *• reserved for the inquest, and was ushered to the seat appointed me. The Coroner was ilrqidy in his seat when I entered, and though l did not perceive the good face of-Mr. Gryca anywhere In hls vicinity I had no doubt he was within earshot. Of the other people I took small note, save of the honest scrubwoman, of whose red face and anxious eyes under a pre posterous bonnet (which did not come from La Mole’s), I caught vague glimpses as the crowd between us surged to and fro. None of the Van Burnams was visible, but this did not neoessarly mean that they were absent. Indeed, I was very sure, from certain indications, that more than one member of the family could be seen in the small room connect ing with the large one in which we witnesses sat with the Jury. The policeman. Carroll, was the first man to talk. He told of my stopping him on hls beat ludi of hls entrance into Mr. Yen Burnam's Uouse with the scrubwoman. He gave the de tails of hls discovery of the dead woman’s body on the parlor floor, and insisted that no one— here he looked very hard at me—had been al lowed to touch the body till relief had come to him from Headquarters. Mrs. Boppert, the scrubwoman, followed him; and If she was watched by no one else In that room, she was watched by me. Her manner be fore the Coroner was no more satisfactory, ac cording to my netlon, than it had been In Mr. Van Burnam's parlor. She gave a very percep tible start when they spoke her name, and looked quite scared when the Bible was held ouJ towards her. Bnt she took the oath, notwith standing, and with her testimony the Inquiry began In earnest. "What Is your name?” asked the Coroner. As this was something she conld not beta knowing, she uttered the necessary words glibly, though in a way that showed she re sented hls Impertinence in asking her what he already knew. "Where do you live? And what do you do for a living?” rapidly followed. She replied that she was a scrubwoman and cleaned people's houses, and having said this, ghe assumed a very dogged air, which I thought strange enough to raise a question in the minds of those who watched her. But no one else seemed to regard It as anything but the em barrassment of ignorance. "How long have you known the Van Burnam family?” the Coroner went on. "Two years, sir, come next Christmas.” "Have you often done work for them?” "I clean the house twice a year. Fall and Spring.” "Why were yon at this house two days ago?” ‘‘To scrub the kitchen floors, sir, and put the pantries In order.” "Had you received notice to do so?" "Yes, sir, through Mr. Franklin Van Bu» Dam.” "And was that the first day of your work there?" "No, sir; I had been there all the day before.” "You don’t speak loud enough,” objected the Coroner; “remember that every one in ibis room wants to hear you.” She looked up, and with a frightened atr sur veyed the crowd about her. Publicity evidentl;r made her most uncomfortable, and her voc e sank rather than rose. "Where did you get the key of the house, and by what door did you enter?” "I went in at the basement, sir, and I got the key at Mr. Van Burnam's agent in Dey street. I had to go for It; sometimes they send It to me; but not this time.” “And now relate your meeting with the po liceman on Wednesday morning, in front of Mr. Van Burnam's house.” She tried to tel! her story, hut she made awkward work of It, and they had to ply her with questions to get at the smallest fact. But finally she managed to repeat what we already knew, how she went with the policeman into the house, and how they stumbled upon the dead woman In the parlor. Further than this they did not question her, und I, Amelia Butterworth, had to sit In'silence nnd see her go back to her seat, redder than before, but with a strangely satisfied air that told me she had escaped more easily than she had expected. And yet Mr. Gryce had been warned that she knew more than appeared, and by one In whom he seemed to havo placed some confidence! The doctor was called next Hls testimony was most Important, and oontalned a surprise for me and more than one surprise for the oth ers. After a short preliminary examination, ha was requested to state how long the woman had been dead when he was called In to ex amine ber. "More than twelve and less than eighteen hours,” was hls quiet reply. "Did you examine tho wounds made by th# falling shelves and the vases that tumbled with them?” "I did." "Will you describe them?” He did so. "And now”—there was a pause in the Coro ner’s question which roused us all to Ite im portance, "which of these many serious wound* was In your opinion the cause of her death?” The witness was accustomed to such scenes, and was perfectly at home In them. Surveying the Coroner with a respectful air, he turned slowly towards the Jury and answered In a slow and Impressive manner: “I feel ready to declare, sirs, that none of them did. She was not killed by the falling of the cabinet upon her.” "Not killed by the falling shelves! Why notT Were they not sufficiently heavy, or did they not strike her In a vital place?” "They were heavy enough, and li>ey struok her in a way to kill her If she had not been al ready dead when they fell upon her. As It was, they simply bruised a body from which life had already departed." As this was putting It very plainly, many of the crowd who had not been acquainted with these facts previously showed their Interest In eery unmistakable manner; but the Coroner, ignoring these symptoms of growing excite ment, hastened to say: “This Is r very serious statement you are making, doctor. If she did not die from the wounds Inflicted by the objects which fell upon her, from what cause did she die? Can you say that her death was a natural one, aDd that the falling of the shelves was merely an un happy accident following It?” "No, sir; her death was not natural. She was klllpd. but not by the falling cabinet." “Killed, and not by the cabinet? How then? Was there any other wound upon her which you regard as mortal?” “Yes, sir. Suspecting that she had perished from other means than appeared, I made a most rigid examination of her body, when I discov ered under the hair in the nape of the neck, a minute spot, which, upon probing, I found to be the end of a small, thin point of steeL It had been thrust by a careful hand into the most vulnerable part of the body, and death must have ensued at once.” This was too much for certain excitable p*»- sons present, and a momentary disturbance arose, which, however, was nothing to that In my own breast. So! so! it was her neck that had been pierced, and not her heart. Mr. Gryce had at lowed us to think It was the latter, but It wa* not this fact which stupefied me. but the skill and'diabolical coolnees of the man who had !»■ Meted this death-thrust. After order had been restored, which I wfH say was very goon, the Coroner, with an added gravity of tone, went on with his questions "Did you recognize this bit of steel as be longing to any instrument In the medical pro* fession?” Continued Next Sunday