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