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TTEARST’S SUNDAY AMERICAN. ATLANTA, HA., SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1313.
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTER^.
T HE ht»nd r^ti1»l*nr« of P!!n* Vm Bumnm In
Gnunerry Fark a-djolna that of Miwn Amelia
Bntterworth a lady of Indepordent niMn* and
*p1rit, who tella'the atory At midnight, paering through
her cnrtalna, Miaa Bntterworth eras a rah drWe up with
a young man and woman, who enter the Van Burnam
liouee. Ten minutes later she aeea the young man leare
the house alone and walk rapidly away. Knowing the
house to ha vacant, owing to the ahaenro of Silas A an
Burnam In Europe, this midnight incident astonishes
Mias Bntterworth
Next morning she is present when a policeman,
summoned hv Mrs Boppert, a acnih woman, discovert
the dead body of a young woman lying under a heavy
piece of fallen furniture.
Detective Oryre, nurnmoned frotn Police Headquar
ters. arrives with a physician. Miss Bntterworth tells
of the midnight incident the jonnr woman's companion
seemed t-n reeenhh* one of the Van Burnam sons—-
Franklin or Howard. the latter nnderatood to he
estranged from his family, owing to an unanitable mar
riage, and spending the summer with his bride In Con
nectlcut. Tt was Franklin Van Burnam who spent bis
nights at Dong Branch who had sent Mra. Boppert to
make the house ready for his father and sisters, arriv
ing to-day. A clock which had fallen with the cab!
net under which the dead girl lay had stopped at three
minutes to five.
The rabinvt being raised. Miss Bntterworth sees
that tha body is clothed In a new, blue serge dress, and
that the hat - lying crushed under IV—has been worn
but once, revealing but one prick of a hatpin.
Franklin Van Burnam arrives and soon his father.
There la mystery In their muttered mention of "How
ard.'' Miss Bntterworth also secs mystery in the men
ncr of Mrs. Boppert, the scrub woman. A crowd gath
ers Miss Bntterworth invites the Van Burnam daugh
ters to her house. From her window- just as the body
of the dead girl is basing carried out to an ambulance
she sees Howard Van Burnam drive up. His face Is
ghastly white.
The desd woman's features being rrnshv.d out of
recognition and her clothing being now and unfamiliar,
noward deniee that she was his wife Miss Butterworih
finds the head of the broken hatpin with which the
victim was stabbed to rival h Detective Oryce finds
another hat in the house much more expensive than
the one worn by the murdered woman. At the inquest
the landlady of the Howard Van Htirnams at Haddam,
Conn., testifies that tho,young wife left alone for New
York, In an attempt to win the favor of her father In
law on hla arrival from Europe
(Continued From Lest Sunday.)
“No; It was of too untempered stool to hare
boon manufactured for any thrusting or cut.
ting pnrposos. It was of the commonest kind,
and had broken short off In the wound. It was
the end only that I found.”
“Have von this end with you—the point, I
moan—which you found Imbedded at the base
of the dead woman's brain7’
"! have, sir.” and he handed It over to the
jury. As they passed it along, the Coroner re
marked :
“Later we will show you the remaining por
tion of (lie Instrument of death,” which did
not tend to allay the general excitement. See
ing this. I lie Coroner humored the growing In
terest by pushing on Ids inquiries.
••Doctor.” he asked, "are you prepared to
Ray how long a time elapsed between the In
fliction of llils fatal wound and those which
disfigured her?”
"No, sir. not exactly; but some little time."
Some little time, when the murderer was in
the house only Ion minutes! All looked their
surprise, and, ns If the Coroner had divined
this feeling of general enrlosity, he leaned for
ward and emphatically repeated :
“More than ten minutes?”
The doctor, who had every appearance of
realizing the Importance of his reply, did not
hesitate. Evidently his mind was quite made
up.
"Tes: more than ten mlnntes. ”
This was the shock I received from his tes
timony.
1 remembered what the clock had revealed
to me. but T did not move a muscle of my fnce.
1 was learning self-control under these repeated
surprises.
“This Is an unexpected statement,” remarked
the Coroner. “What reasons have you to urge
in explanation of it?"
“Very simple and very well-known 'ones; at
least, among the profession. There was too
little blood seen for the wounds to have been
inflicted before death or within a few mlnntes
after it. Had the woman been living when
they were made, or even had she t>een but a
short time dead, the floor would have been
. deluged with blood gushing from so many and
1 * such serious injuries. Rut the effusion was
slight, so slight that I noticed it at once, and
came to the conclusions mentioned l>efore I
found the mnrk of the stab that oeeasioned
death.”
When the Coroner again proceeded it was to
remark;
“The ease is complicated by these discover
ies; but we must not allow ourselves to l>e
daunted by them. Iel me ask you if you found
any marks upon this body which might aid in
its identification?”
"One: a slight sear on the left nnkle."
"What kind of a scar? Doscrilie It.”
"It was such as a bnrn might leave. In shape
It was long and narrow, ami it ran up the limb
from the ankle lame."
“Was It on the right foot?”
“No; on the loft.”
| * "Did you call the attention of any one to
this mark during or after your examination?”
“Yes; I showed it to Mr. Oryce. the detec
tive. and to my two coadjutors; and 1 spoke of
it to Mr. Howard Van Rurnam, son of the gen
H tIonian in whose house the body was found.”
It was the first time this young gentleman's
name had been mentioned, and it made my
blood run cold to see how many sidelong looks
and expressive shrugs it caused in the motley
assemblage. Rut 1 had no time for sentiment:
the Inquiry was growing too interesting.
“And why," asked the Coroner, “did you
mention it to this young man in preference to
pi tit hers?”
i “Because Mr. Cryce requested me to. Re
| cause the family as well as the young man
himself had evinced some apprehension lest she
deceased might prove to be his missing wife,
and this seemed a likely way to settle the ques-
11on.”
“And did It? Did he acknowledge it to be a
mark he remembered to have seen on his wife? 1 ’
“He said she had such a sear, but he would
” not acknowledge the deceased to he his wife.”
|! “Did lie see the sear?”
“No; he would not look at it.”
"Did you invite him to?”
"I did; hut he showed no curiosity.”
Doubtless thinking that silence would best
emphasize this fact, which certainly was an
rstonishing one. the Coroner waited a minute.
Rut there was no silence. An indescribable
murmur from a groat many lips filled up ttie
gap. I felt a movement of pity for the proud
family whose good name was thus threatened
in the person of this young gentleman.
"Doctor,” continued the Coroner, as soon as
the murmur had subsided, "did you notice the
color of the woman's hair?”
“It was a light brown.”
“Did \«u sever a lock? Have you a sample
Jrfj of this hair here to show us?”
“I have. sir. At Mr. Cryee's suggestion I cut
off two small looks. One I gave him and the
other I brought here."
1 "Ia“t me see it?”
Tin- doctor passed it up. and In sight of ev
il cry one present the Coroner tied n string around
H It and attached a ticket to 1t-
"Tliat is to prevent all mistakes." explained
this very methodical functionary, laying the
•< I; aside on the table In front of him. Then
he turned again to the witness.
“Doctor, we are indebted to you for your
valuable testimony, and, as you are a busy
i man. wi will now excuse you. Let Dr. Jacobs
Ie lie called.”
As this gentleman, as well as the witness
I™ vlfollowed him, merely corroborated the
^datein. nts of the others, and made it an ac
cepted fad that the shelves had fallen upon
o Isslx of the girl some time after the first
aid hail liecn Inflicted. I will not attempt to
1 r eir testimony The question now aci
nus whether they would eudeamr
to fix the time at which the shelves fell by the
evidence furnished by the clock.
CHAPTER VIII.
Important Evidence.
T,' VIDENTLY not, for the next, words I heard
were: “Miss Amelia Butterworth!” *
As my examination before the Coroner only
brought out the facts already related, I will
not burden you with a detailed account of it.
One portion alone may he of interest. I was
lielng questioned in regard to the appearance
of the couple I had seen entering the Van
Rurnam mansion, when the Coroner asked If
the young woman's step was light or If It be
trayed hesitatlop.
1 replied: “No hesitation, she moved quickly,
almost gaydy."
"And he?"
“Was more moderate, hut there is no slg
nifiealion In that; he may have been older."
“No theories, Miss Butterworth: it is facts
we are after. Now, do you know that he was
older?"
"No, sir.”
“Did you get any idea as to his age?"
"The Impression ho made was that of being
a young man.”
“And his height?”
“Was medium, and his figure slight and ele
gant. He moved as a gentleman moves; of
this I can speak with great positiveness.”
“Do you think you could identify him, Miss
Butterworth. if you should see him?”
I hesitated, as I pereelved that the whole
swaying mass eagerly awaited my reply. I
even turned my head because I saw others
doing so; but I regretted this when I found
that I, as well as others was glancing toward
the door tieyond which the Van Burnams were
supposed to sit. To cover up the false move 1
had made—for I had no wish as yet to center
suspicion upon anybody I turned my face
qntekly hack to the crowd and declared in as
emphatic a tone as I could command:
“I have thought I could do so if I saw him
under the same circumstances as those in which
my first Impression was maflo. But lately I
have begun to doubt even that. I should never
dare to trust to ray memory In this regard."
The Coroner looked disappointed, and so did
the people around me.
“It is a pity,” remarked the Coroner, “that
you did not see more plainly. Now, how did
these persons gnin an entrance into the house?”
I answered in the most succinct way possible.
I told them how he had used a door key In
entering, of the length of time the man stayed
Inside, and of Ids appearance on going away.
I also related how I came to call a policeman
to Investigate the* matter next day, and cor
roborated the statements of this official as to
the appearance of the deceased at time of dis
covery.
The inquiry now took a turn. The name of
Miss Ferguson was called. Who was Miss Fer
guson? It was a new name to most of us, and
lier face when she rose only added to the gen
eral curiosity. It was the plainest face Imag
inable, yet It was neither a bad nor unintelli
gent one.
“What Is your full name, and where do you
live?” asked the Coroner.
‘jMy name Is Susan Ferguson, and I live in
Haddam, Connecticut,” was her reply, uttered
in such soft and beautiful tones that every
one was astonished. It was like a stream of
limpid water flowing from a most unsightly
looking rock. Excuse the metaphor; 1 do not
often indulge.
“Do you keep hoarders?”
“1 do; a few, sir; such as my house will ac
commodate.”
“Whom have you tiad with you this sum.
mer?"
1 know what her answer would be before
she uttered it: so did a hundred others, but
they showed their knowledge in a different
way. I did not show mine at all.
“I have had with me,” said she, “a Mr. and
Mrs. Van Burnam from New York. Mr. How
ard Van Burnam Is his full name, If yon wish
me to tie explicit.”
“Any one else?”
A Mr. Hull, also from New York, and a young
couple from Hartford. My honse accommo
dates no more.”
"How long have the first mentioned couple
been with you?”
"Three months. They came In June.”
"Are they with you still?”
“Virtually, sir. They have not moved their
trunks; but neither of them Is in Haddam at
present. Mrs. Van Burnaui came to New York
last Monday morning, and in the afternoon her
husband also left, presumably for New York.
1 have seen nothing of either of them since."
(It was on Tuesday night the murder oc
curred.)
“Did either of them lake a trunk?”
"No, sir."
“A handbag?"
"Yes: Mrs. Van Burn lm carried a hag, but
it was a very small one.”
“Large enough to hold a dress?”
“Oh. no, sir.”
“And Mr. Van Burnam?”
"He carried an umbrella; 1 saw nothing else.”
"Why did they not leave together? Did you
hear any one say?”
"Yes; 1 heard them say Mrs. Van Rurnam
came against her husband's wishes. He did
not want her to leave Haddam. hut she would
and tic was none too pleased at it. Indeed
they had words about it, and as both our
rooms overlook the sumo veranda, 1 could not
help hearing some of their talk."
"Will you tell us what you heard?”
“It does not seem right" (thus this honest
woman s]mke), “but if it’s the law. I must not
go against it. I heard him say these words:
'I have changed my mind. Louise. The more l
think of it, the more disinclined 1 am to have
you meddle in the matter. Resides, it will do
no good. You will only add to the preudiee
against you. and our life will become more
unlicarable than it is now.'”
"U£ what were they speaking?"
He could.
At which the Coroner motioned to an officer
and a pile of clothing was brought forward from
some mysterious corner and laid before the wit
ness.
Immediately expectation rose to a high pitch,
for everyone recognized, or thought he did, the
apparel which had been taken from the victim.
The young man, who was of the alert, nervous
type, took up the articles one by one and exam
ined them closely.
As he did so, the whole assembled crowd
surged forward and llghtnlnglike glances from a
hundred eyes followed his every movement and
expression.
“Arc they the same?” Inquired the Coroner.
The witness did not hesitate. With one quick
glance at the blue serge dress, Hack cape and
battered hat, he answered in a firm tone:
“They are.”
And a clew was given at last to the dreadful
mystery absorbing us.
The deep-draw n sigh which swept through the
room testified to the universal satisfaction: then
our attention became fixed again, for the Coro
ner, pointing to the undergarments accompany
ing the articles already mentioned, demanded if
they had been included in the order.
There was as little hesitation in the reply
given to this question ns to the former. He rec
ognized each piece as having come from the
establishment. "You will note." said he, “that
they have never lioen washed and that the pencil
marks are still on them.”
“Very good.” observed the Coroner, “and you
will note that one article there is torn down the
back. Was it in that condition when sent?”
“It was not. sir.”
“All were in jierfoct order?"
“Most assuredly, sir."
"Very good, again. The jury will take cogni
zance of this fact, which may lie useful to them
in their future conclusions. And now, Mr. Calla
han. do you notice anything lacking here from
the list of articles forwarded by you?"
“No. sir.”
"Yet there is one very necessary adjunct to a
woman’s outfit which is not to be found here."
“Yes. sir. the shoes: but I am not surprised at
that. We sent shoes, hut they were not satisfac
tory and they were returned.”
heads drew together very eagerly over it, and
some whispers and a few knowing looks passed
between them. Finally one of them spoke:
“It Is written in a very odd hand. Do you
call this a woman’s writing or a man’s?”
“I have no opinion to give on the subject," re
joined the witness. “It is intelligible writing,
and that is all that crimes within my province."
I expected to see the man Clapp called next,
but I was disappointed in this. The name ut
tered was Henshaw, and the person who rose In
answer to it was a tall, burly man with a Bhock
of curly black hair. He was the clerk of the
Hotel D , and we all forgot Clapp in our
eagerness to hear what this man had to say.
His testimony amounted to this:
That a person by the name of Pope was reg
istered on his books; that she came to his house
on the 17th of September some time near noon.
That she was not alone; that a person she called
her husband accompanied her, and that they had
been given a room, at her request, on the second
floor overlooking Broadway.
“Did you see the husband? Was it his hand
writing we see in your register?”
“No, sir. He came into the office, but he did
not approach tli? desk. It was she who regis
tered for them both, and who did all the busi-
jness, in fact. I thought it queer, but took it for
granted that he was ill, for he held his head very
muon down and acted as If he felt disturbed or
anxious.”
“Did you notice him closely? Would you he
able to identify him ou sight?”
“No, sir. I should not. He looked like a hun.
dred other men I see every day: medium in
height and build, with brown hair and brown
mustache. Not noticeable ii any way. sir, ex
cept for his hang-dog air and evident desire not
to be noticed."
“But you saw him later?”
“No, sir. After he went to his room he stayed
there, and no one saw him. I did not even see
him when he left the house. His wife paid the
bill and he did not come into the office.”
“But you saw her well; you would know her
again?”
“Perhaps, sir: but I doubt it. She wore a
thick veil when she came in, and, though I
“Ah, I see. Oflicer. show the witness the
shoes that were taken from the deceased.”
This was done, and when Mr. Callahan had
examined them the Coroner Inquired if they
came from his store. He replied no.
Whereupon they wore held up to the Jury and
attention called to the fact that, while rather
new than old, they gave signs of having been
worn more than once; which was not true of
anything else taken from the victim.
This matter settled, the Coroner proceeded
with his questions.
“Who carried the articles ordered to the ad
dress given?”
“A man In onr employ named Clapp."
“Did he bring back the amount of the bill?”
“Yes, sir; less the five dollars charged for the
shoes.”
“What was the amount, may I ask?”
“Here Is our cash book, sir. The amount re
ceived from Mrs. James Pope, Hotel D , on
the 17th of September, Is, as you see, seventy-
five dollars and fifty-eight cents.”
“Let the jury see the book; also the order.”
They ^-ere then handed to the jury, and If
ever I wished myself in anyone’s shoes, save my
own very substantial Mips, it was a? that mo
ment. I did so want a peep at that order.
It seemed to interest the jury also, for their
say that this is what we want,’ he declared
might remember her voice, I have no reootlee-
tlon of her features, for I did not see them."
"You can gtve a description of her dress,
though; surely you must have looked long
enough at a woman who wrote her own and her
husband’s names In your register for you to re
member her clothes.”
“Yes, for they were very simple. She had on
what is called a gossamer, which covered her
from head to toe, and on her head a hat wrapped
all about with a blue veil.”
“So that she might have worn any dress un
der that gossamer?"
“Yes. sir."
”And any hat under that veil?”
“Any one that was large enough, str."
“Very good. Now. did you see her hands?"
“Not to remember them.”
“Did she have gloves on?”
“I can not say. I did not stand and watch
her, sir.”
“That is a pity. But you say you heard bar
voice?"’
“Yes, sir.”
“Was it a lady’s voice? Was her tone refined
and her language good?”
“They were, str.”
“When did they leave? How long did they
remain in your house?”
"They left in the evening; after tea, I should
say."
“How? On foot or In a carriage?”
“In a carriage; one of the hacks that stand
In front of the door.”
“Did they bring any baggage with them!"
“No, sir.”
“Did they take any away?" i
“The lady carried a pared,"
"What kind of a parcel?"
“A brown-paper parcel, like Clothing done up.*
“And the gentleman?"
“I did not see him”
“Was she dressed tha same in going aa in
coming?”
“To all appearances, except b«T hat. That
was smaller.”
“She had the gossamer on atm, thaf
"Yes, sir." **
“And a veil?”
“Yes, sir."
“Only that the hat tt covered wi
"Yes, sir.’
"And now, how did you account to
for the parcel and the change of hat?**
"I didn’t account for them. I didn’t
anything about them at the time; but since I
have had the subject brought to my mind I
find It easy enough. She had a package deliv
ered to her while she was in our honse, or rather
packages; they were quite numerous, I believe."
“Can yon recall the circumstances of their
delivery?”
“Yes, s ! r; the man who brought the packages
said that they had not been paid for, so I ah
lowed him to carry them to Mrs. James Pope'*
room. When he went away he had but on#
small parcel with him; the rest he had left”
"And this is all you can tell us about thl«
singular couple? Had they do meals In your
house 7’
“No, sir; the gentleman—or I suppose I should
say the lady, sir, for the order was given In her
voice—sent for two dozen oysters and a bottle of
ale, which were furnished to them
In their rooms: but they didn't
come to the dining room.”
“Is the boy here who carried up
those articles?”
“He Is, sir.”
“And the chambermaid who at
tended to their rooms?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then yon may answer this
question, and we will excuse you.
How was the gentleman dressed
when yon saw him?”
“In a linen duster and a felt
hat.”
"Let the Jury remember that
And now let us hear from Richard
Clapp. Is Richard Clapp In the
room?"
“I am, sir,” answered a cheery
voice: and a lively young man with
a shrewd eye and a wide-awake
manner popped up from behind a
portly woman on a side seat and
rapidly came forward.
He was asked several questions
before the lending one which we
all expected; but I will not record
them here. The question which brought tha re
ply most eagerly anticipated was this:
“Do yon remember being sent to the Hotel
D with several packages for a Mra. James
Pope ? ’’
“I do, sir.”
“Did you deliver them in person? Did ywe
see the lady?”
A peculiar look crossed his face and we all
leaned forward. But his answer brought a
shock of disappointment with it
“No, I didn't air. She wouldn't M m b.
She bade me lay the things down by (be d*»
and wait In the rear ball till the oeilefl mer
“And you did this?"
“Yes, sir."
“But you kept your eye on th* do**, ^
course?”
“Naturally, sir. ”
“And saw- ”
"A hand steal out and take in the tbtnga*
“A woman’s hand?”
“No, a man’s. I saw the white cuff."
“And how long was It before they called you?”
"Fifteen minutes, I should say. I heard a
voice cry, ‘Here,’ and seeing their door open. I
went toward It. But by the time I reached it it
was shut again, and I only heard the lady say
that all the articles tint the shoes were satlsfac
tory, and would I thrust the Mil in under the
door. I did so, and they were some minutes
counting out the change, but presently the door
opened slightly, and I saw a man’s hand holding
out the money, which was correct to the cent
‘You need not receipt the hill,’ cried the lady
from somewhere in the room. ‘Give him the
shoos and let him go.’ So I received the shoes
in the same mysterious way I had the money,
and, seeing no reason for waiting longer, pocket,
ed the bills and returned to the store.”
He was followed by the chambermaid, wfi ■
testified that she was in the room once while
they were there; that she saw them both thn..
hut did not catch a glimpse of their faces; Mr.
Pope was standing In the window almost en
tirely shielded by the cnrtnlns, and Mrs. Pop"
was busy hanging up something In the ward
robe. The gentleman had on his duster and tic-
lady her gossamer; It was but a few minutes
after their arrival.
Questioned In regard to the state of the room
after they left It, she said that there was a lot
of brown paper lying about, marked B. Altman,
hut nothing else that did not belong there.
(To Be Continued Next Sunday.)
Copyright, 18B7, by Ann* K Rohlfii. Publish””,
It. F Putnam’a Sons, New York and London.
I opened the register and took from it the head of a broken hatpin. ‘I should
Why, what did this mean? We had all ex
pected a very different description.
"It wall made fashionably, and the sleeves—
well, it is impossible to describe the sleeves.
She wore no wrap, which seemed foolish to me,
for we have very sudden changes sometimes in
September.”
"A plaid dress' And did you notice her hat?”
“Oh, I have seen the hat often. It was of
every conceivable color. It would have been
called bad taste at one time, but nowadays—"
The pause was significant. More than one
man In the room chuckled, but the women kept
a discreet silence.
"Would you know that hat if you saw tt?”
“1 should think I would.”
The emphasis wus that of n countrywoman,
HDd amused some people, notwithstanding the
melodious tone in which it was uttered. But it
did not amuse me; my thoughts had own flown
to the hat which Mr. Gryce had found In the
third room of Mr. Van Burnam’s house, and
which was of every color of the rainbow.
Tl:c discovery that Sirs. Van Burnam had
lietn differently dress.d on that day from tr.e
young woman found dead in the Van Burnam
parlors hud acted as a shock upon most of the
spectators. They Were just beginning to recover
from it when Miss Ferguson sat down. The
Coroner was the only one who had not seemed*
at a loss. Why, we were soon destined to know.
CHAPT ER IX.
The Order Clerk.
A LADY* well known in New York society
was the next person summoned. She
was a friend of the Van Rurnam family, and had
known Howard from childhood. She had not
liked his marriage: indeed, she rather partici
pated in the family feeling against 1t. but when
young Mrs. Rurnam came to her house on the
preceding Monday and liegged the privilege of
remaining with tier for one night, site had not
had the heart to refuse her. Mrs. Van Rurnam
had therefore slept in her house on Monday
night.
Questioned in regard to that lady's appear
ance and manner, she answered that her guest
was unnaturally cheerful, laughing much and
showing a great vivacity: that she gave no rea
son for her good spirits, nor did she mention her
own affairs in any way—rather took pains not
to dii so.
“How long did she stay?”
"Till the % next morning.”
“And how was she dressed?’’
"I do not know." “What did she say?”
“Oh, she uttered a torrent of words that had
less sense In them tlmn feeling. She wanted
to go, sin- would go, she had not changed her
mind, and considered that her impulses were
as well worth following ns his cool Judgment,
she cried, ’knowing me as you do, and lining
and meant them should lie a change, even if
It were for the worse. Rut she did not believe
It would he for the worse. Was she not pretty?
Was she not very pretty when in distress and
looking up thus? And I heard her fall on her
knees, a movement which called out a grunt
from her husband, but whether this was an
expression of approval or disapproval I can
not say. A silence followed, during which i
caught the sound of his steady tramping up
and down the room. Then she spoke again in
a petulant way, ‘It may seem foolish to you,’
she cried, 'knowing me as you do. and being
used to seeing me in all my moods. Rut to
him it will lie a surprise, and I will so manage
it that it will effect all we want, and more,
too, perhaps. I—I have a geains for some
things, Howard, and my better angel tells me
I shall succeed.’ ”
“And what did he reply to that?”
“That the name of her better angel was Van
ity; that his father would see through her blan
dishments ; that he forbade her to prosecute
her schemes: and mnclj more to the same effect.
To all of which she answered by a vigorous
stamp of her foot, and the declaration that she
was going to do what she thought best in spite
of alt opposition: that it was a lover, and not a
tyrant, that she had married, and that if he did
not know what was good for himself, she did,
and that when lie received an intimation from
his father that the breach In the family was
closed, then he would acknowledge that if she
had no fortune and no connections, she had at
least a plentiful supply of wit. T’pon which he
remarked: 'A poor qualification when it verges
upon folly!’ which seemed to close the conver
sation, for I heard no more till the sound of her
skirts rustling past my door assured me she had
carried tier point and was leaving the house,
lint this was not done without great discom
fiture to her husband, if one may Judge from
the few brief but emphatic words that escaped
him liefore he closed his own door and followed
her down the hall.”
"Do you remember those words?”
“They were swear words, sir; I am sorry to
say it. but he certainly cursed her and his own
folly. Y'et I always thought he loved her.”
“Did you see her after she passed your door?”
"Yes, sir; on the walk outside,”
“Was she then on the way to the train?"
“Yes, sir.”
“Carrying the bag of which you have
spoken ?”
“Yes, sir: another proof of the state of feeling
between them, for he was very considerate in
his treatment of ladles, and T never saw him do
anything ungallant before.”
“Y’oii say you watched her as she went down
the walk?”
"Yes, sir: it is human nature, sir; I have no
other excuse to offer.”
It was an apology I myself might have made.
I conceived a liking for this homely, matter-of-
fact woman.
"Did you note her dress?’’
“Yes, sir; that is human nature also, or rather
woman's nature.”
"Particularly, madam; so that you can de
scribe it to the jury before you?”
“I think so.”
"Will you. then, he good enough to tell us
what sort of a dress Mrs. Van Burnam wore
when she loft your house for the city?’
"It was a black and white plaid
slik, very rich ”
“Just as Miss Ferguson lias described.”
"Did she bring her handbag to your house?"
“Y’es, and left it there. We found it 1n her
room after she was gone.”
"Indeed ! And how do yon account for that?”
“.She was preoccupied. I saw It In her cheer
fulness. which was forced and not always well
timed.”
“And where is that bag now?” *
“Mr. Van Rurnam lias it. We kept it for a
day, and as she did not call for it sent it down
to the office on Wednesday morning.’’
"Before you had heard of the murder?”
“Oh, yes, beforp I had heard anything about
the murder.
“As she was your guest, you probbaly accom
panied her to the door?”
“I did, sir.”
"Did you notice her hands? Can you say
what was the color of her gloves?”
“I do not think she wore any gloves on leav
ing; it was very warm, and she held them in
her hand. I remembered this, for I noticed the
sparkle of her rings as she turned to say good-
1 bye.”
"Ah. you saw her rings!”
"Distinctly.’’
“So that when she left you she was dressed In
a black and white plaid silk, had a large hat
covered with flowers on her head and wore
rings ?”
“Yes, sir.”
And with these words ringing In the ears of
the jury the witness sat down.
YVliat was coming? Something Important, or
the Coroner would not look so satisfied or the
faces of the officials about him so expectant. X
waited with great but subdued eagerness for the
testimony of the next witness, who was a young
man by the name of Callahan.
He was the order clerk at Altman’s.
As he acknowledged this, T seemed to have
some faint premonition of what was coming.
His evidence was short, hut very much to the
point. On the 17th of September, as could he
verified by the books, the firm had received an
order for a woman’s complete outfit, to he sent
C. O. D. to Mrs. James Pope at the Hotel D -,
on Broadway. Sizes and measures
and some particulars were stated,
and as the order bore the words “In
haste” underlined upon it, several
clerks had assisted him in finding
this order, which, when filled, had
been sent by special messenger to
the place designated.
Had be this order with him?
He had.
And could he identify the arti
cles sent to fill it?