| Show SAVED BY A SAIE it was a dark and stormy night without and I 1 drew my chair closer to the fire as I 1 sipped my tea and regaled myself with the news of the local paper As the storm and sleet rattled furiously against the window and pedestrians hurried by anxious to reach a place of shelter thankful that I 1 was not obliged to leave my comfortable home for the night this I 1 said as my eye alighted on a startling paragraph mysterious mr john randolph one of our old and wealthy citizens was this morning found dead in his room having been murdered during the night by some unknown person edgar morton a clerk in his employ and who report says was soon to be married to his daughter has been arr esteil for the murder and circumstances are said to be strongly against him now although I 1 am usually among the first to hear of criminal news from the nature of my business this was the first intimation I 1 had received that such a murder had been done this seemed very strange as I 1 was on the very best of terms with mr randolph and his whole family and so this is the way that edgar morton repays the benefactor of his youth and poon to be eatherl yet no I 1 cried 1 I will stake my life on that young mans innocence As I 1 spoke there came a gentle tap at the door followed almost immediately by the entrance of a lady deeply veiled who at once threw aside her veil disclosing to me the features of my deceased friends daughter cecil randolph excuse me mr ferguson for entering uninvited but urgent business must be my only excuse be seated miss randolph I 1 said rising and banding her a chair oh mr Ferguso nl she sobbed forth burying her face in her bands that I 1 should ever be obliged to come to you on such an errand as this I 1 endeavored to quiet her and partially succeeded when I 1 drew from her what ew facts she knew regarding her fathers j death he retired last night at the usual hour apparently in good spirits and no bound was heard during the night to cause any alarm in the morning as he failed to appear at breakfast a servant was dispatched to summon him knocking at the door and receiving no answer he finally opened it and advanced into the room what a sight did he then behold I 1 my poor father lay upon his bed with his throat cut from ear to ear death must have come to him suddenly BO suddenly as to prevent any outcry and the unknown assassin bad no trouble in making his escape but I 1 said 1 I cant see why any one should suspect edgar of the murder that is the most mysterious part of the sad affair this morning when edgar was told of the murder he turned very pale reeled and would have fallen to the ground had not support been given him some of the ignorant beholders of this scene thought his actions denoted guilt and an officer was summoned who at once insisted on searching his room A razor on which was several spots of blood was found concealed under the carpet together with an old suit of clothes belonging to edgar which was be spattered with blood this was considered sufficient evidence to warrant his arrest and he now lies in jail charged with the awful crime of murder oh mr ferguson if you can do anything to save him and at the same time bring the guilty perpetrator of the deed to justice I 1 will amply reward yon do you know of any enemies of your father or of edgar who would be likely to commit such a crime either for robbery or revenge I 1 asked Oh slip replied it was not done for robbery as everything in the room was as mcfather my father leftie the night before his watch aad pOcketbook the latter containing a good sum of money were found under his pillow where he always placed them so that the crime must have been committed to gratify a fiendish thirst for revenge now then who of all your acquaintances could do such a thing 1 I cannot possibly say my father had not an enemy in the world to my knowledge or edgar either unless perhaps it might be conrad smithers my fathers bookkeeper and head clerk but it would be impossible for him to do such a deed what reason have you for suspecting that he is not edgars friend only this some time ago conrad whom we have always regarded as ona of the family proposed for my hand and I 1 told him it was not mine to give 1 I suspected aa much he muttered and then while his face grew darkas night and hie features assumed an appearance pe arance perfectly fearful he continued but yon shall never become the wife of edgar morton while I 1 have life to prevent it he then turned and abruptly left my presence I 1 was much alarmed and thought of speaking to my father abbat it but afternoon he returned an begged my forgiveness for the words he had nse dand made each professions of sorrow in regard to them that I 1 freely forgage him and have since thought no inore of the matter the fact is quite clear to me I 1 said 1 I know this fellow well and the sort of comp compare aae sh jac ba A jax surprised to find that he committed tho murder now then I 1 want to see the body of your father and the room in which the deed wag done well mr ferguson she said rising and preparing to accompany me you will find everything as it was when first discovered the officer decided not to disturb anything until after the inquest which takes place tomorrow forenoon wrapping myself up in my greatcoat we set out and after a brisk walk of ten minutes reached the handsome residence of my companion I 1 was at once shown to the room of the murdered man and then began making such an examination as only a detective knows how to make circumstances of the most trivial character which would be overlooked by an ignorant person are often seized upon by a skillful detective and sometimes constitute the most damaging evidence of guilt in this case however everything had been done in alie most skillful manner and I 1 could not succeed in making any discovery I 1 was about to leave the room in despair when glancing toward the bed I 1 noticed what appeared to be a slight scratch on the neck of the murdered man just above the gaping wound which had so cruelly let out his lifes blood on examination I 1 found it to bo nothing more than a hair which had in some manner probably become loosened from the head of the assassin and had settled on the neck of the victim where it now lay a silent yet truthful witness pointing ont the guilty wretch to the eye of justice the hair was of a deep red color which was totally unlike that of any of the household it was indeed the same color and shade as that of conrad smithers I 1 placed it carefully in my pocketbook book and saying nothing to any one of my discovery started for the residence of smithers intent on doing a little acting I 1 found him as his attendant said ill in bed and on no account must he be disturbed this sickness is but a stratagem I 1 thought to divert suspicion telling the woman that I 1 wanted to sea him but for a moment on the most urgent business she finally reluctantly consented to my entrance I 1 found him lying upon a bed apparently in great pain in my youth I 1 had studied medicine and was consequently well informed in such matters and saw at once with a quick glance that he was only feigning sickness he started up somewhat angrily as I 1 entered but I 1 silenced him with a motion of my head conrad smithers this is a desperate game you are playing but it will avail you nothing what do you mean ho exclaimed springing to his feet his illness all gone 1 I mean that the game is up and the murderer of john randolph is discovered thrown completely off his guard as I 1 had anticipated he sank into a chair and burying his face in his hands sobbed out bostl lost do you confess the murder then 1 I do be answered now that concealment ceal ment is no longer of use I 1 took him at once into custody and soon had the satisfaction of seeing him change places with edgar morton conrad smithers was tried for the murder and knowing that any defense would be useless after his confession to me he pleaded guilty and threw himself upon the mercy of the court which sentenced him to imprisonment for life it needs scarcely to be explained that the villain smithers had found an eunity of visiting edgar mortons Mor tons room in his absence and possessed himself of the razor and the articles of clothing after the commission of the murder he had returned to the apartment and deposited the blood stained evidences of his crime thus incriminating edgar about a year after an invitation to the wedding of cecil randolph and edgar morton who live most happily together and never ceased thanking me that edgar was saved by a hair new york evening world |
