The Curved Blades

rible? What can I

nd her air of eager, intense sympathy

olences did not seem acceptable. The overdressed, forward-mannered widow continued to direct her attention

icy air would have deterre

ul news. For we are neighbors after all, though not so very well a

eyelids fell slightly, with

aid to our dear Count, we must run over at once, the

ue been given vocal powers the eff

e unabashed visitor, "I kno

ined to hear no more; "and I must beg to be excused, Mrs. Fr

l not detain you. The Count and I mer

will be pleased to answer your inquiri

and as Count Charlier sprang to hold the door open for

ed at Mrs. Frothingham's intrusion, but have I not a right to call? Was I not suc

e kinder, "but I am not sufficiently acquai

tell me of the sad affair. I have heard no d

sit here." Pauline indicated a recessed seat in the hall and the pair sat there. She recounted briefly the story of the trag

weapon. "How could any one attack the charming lady! And t

strange part.

gave Pauline a thrill of disgust at his cold-bloodednes

it, is divided betwee

sin? Mr.

nection. I mean my first cou

iss Carrington refer to

rlier, do you remember hearing my aunt say, last ev

ber, Mis

ny idea wha

how coul

y questio

d: "It is not pleasant to say such things, but since you ask, I may be permit

e-hoped that her rega

ay be

night you mig

honor

u tell

e lived I cannot say, but I did not, last evening, say a

en as a hint that some time, say, in the near

have do

t to ask, but you have answered my rather imperti

Anita. "Pauline," she said, "I wish you would come back and listen

ne, returning to the library and looking at

ing,-nothing, I mean, of consequence,

me hear it and

rning, and looking from my bedroom window, which faces this house, I saw a ma

s?" and Pauline looke

. He was to all app

as it not dark at that

, you know, and it shone b

u to discern t

stealthily climbed out and skirting the bushes

ation, Mrs. Frothingham; I dare say you ou

bout such things! But,-if you w

oolly; "You will find a policeman in the hall w

a way to include the lady and the Coun

s. Frothingham, and Anita nodd

othingham, and he devoted his own attention to Count Charlier

to his friendship with the unfortunate lady

"I was a friend, yes; I may have aspired t

out if Miss Carrington's strange reference to something ab

y. But all that has no beari

d you go away from h

out mi

t direct

am's, where I am a

ou ret

es

in your bed

hat are you implying? That

sir. I ask you but one que

love from his pocket and

t, examined it minut

returning it; "that

and the Inspector put th

uder; the weapon, this 'black-jack'; the motive, robbery. Why the robbery was not achieved and what is the meaning of the unexplained circumstances of the whole affair, we do not yet know. They are matters to be investigated, but

cal man, and he was truly glad for himself that in addition to finding

, and it is a pity, Miss Stuart, that you erased that footprint on the floor! But it would have been of doubtful use, I dare say. We have found faint tracks of the powder on the steps of the staircase, and though the last ones are almost indiscernible they seem to lead t

ener. "That girl is a sly one! I caught her this morning, tryin

ked the I

get it away, there must be some reas

rally, Estelle would do up the rooms, and would, of co

ught nothing of it. But she took the glass of milk, in a furtive, stealthy way, that made me look at her. She turned red, and trembled, an

yed at being interfered with in her work

t girl is entirely innocent, what I said won't hurt her. But s

the tray in good order in the room,-though it was discovered an hour later, upset,-wh

er was committed at two or three o'clock, how is it that M

ay. The doctors cannot be sure until the autopsy is completed of the exact

e did upset that tray herself," sa

Inspector Brunt peered

doctor," said Pauline, reminiscently, "that

iland, "I told you no

débris, this;" and Pauline held up to view a

r hair. Anita has gold-colored ones, and I do not use these fine wire ones

may

e at seeing Aunt Lucy, and in her trembling excitement loosened and dropped this hairpin. Dou

eaker. "You've got it all fixe

this crime, I secured what may or may not be a bit of evidence. As Mr. Haviland has said, if Estelle is entirely innocent of any complicity in the matter, these things can't hurt her. But it would scarcely b

thing," remarked Anita; "it seems unfair, to say the lea

by the entrance of the Co

"that the cause of Miss Carrington's

the others sat with receptively blank

e find in the stomach unmi

's frightened whisper;

of poison?"

at is why we have been so long. The tests are difficult of performance. But, it is over, and we repor

poison herself!" crie

?" said Inspector Brunt,

wo o'clock," asserted the Coroner; "the blow o

ble!" sa

or mark, nor was there any blood from the cut scalp. In addition we have the poison found in the system,

en self-administe

rescribed for her, knowing full well she would not take my prescriptions because of her detestation of taking medicine. When remedies have been really necessary, I have had to administer them while with her, and a difficult task it was. Moreover, my pat

his poison instanta

f hour to an hour after the d

on was taken in the neighborho

he Coroner, "ab

e-struck, gasping way, and her great blue eyes