A Conflict of Evidence

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1297, 10 April 1905, Page 4

A Conflict of Evidence

I ' ' By Rodrigues Ottqleng Author of "An Artist in Crime,"

OHAPTERXI (Continued) ' Mr. Barnes knew that this was not true and that her first intention hud boon to destroy all trace of the use of tho pistol, mi was plainly proven by her having cleaned the barrel, Ho know also thai . she was at present following out. the plan ' whioh she had formed after she had seen him pick up the cartridge-cap in her room, the first step ia whioh had been to replaci the empty shell w'th another, Her examination «as continued. " Did you remove anything . else from the room where the corpse lay ?" " I did." • . • This reply was a complete surprise tr Mr, Barnes, lie know that Mr, Tupper . was alluding to the paper upon w' ich, .■ they thought, was written the name of tho murderer, and he was astonished to .find that she appeared about to admit its ppsase«s;oi), tlie fiwt question was - "Will you kindly.stuto what, that wa», 1 and why you took it ?" 11 It was a medallion locket, I took tbat nfcobecause his mine." Mr Barnes now understood why Bhe , had admitted taking something, since it was not the paper, He was, nevtrtheless, curious about this new point. ' " Where did you find this locket ?" asked Mr Tapper. : "I noticed that my uncle had hisfisi tightly closed, as though holding something, and, forcing it open. I removed the ' lookot.' 1 . . ' V . " Have Jon it with you'?" "Yes, sir 1" Taking it from her bosom, ! she handed it lo him. Mr Tupper examined it closely, and opened it. ■ Looking at tho portrait which it contained lie asked—- •' Do you know whose likeness this is ? 1 . •' " It is mine. It was taken whet: I was quite a child." : • Mr. Tupper was about to pass the tiinv ket to the Squire, when something attracted. his attention, and sorutinising it 1 more carefully, be droppeait intohispocket and asked— Miss Lewis, I tbink'you said this. be> . longs to you?" ' ; " Yes sir, though I have not had. it for . some time," .' V ... How oan you be sure tha* this is youvs't Has it your; name, or any other, mark bj which you would know it ?" 1 "No, thero is no name on-it, but 1 know that it is mine, for, as you see, it ii ; of peculiar pattern. I,have been' tolo , .that my mother had it made specially foi . my picture, and it has been in my, poss : e'ssion, exoept lately, a« long as I can re> : member.": , : y . : ' Mr Tupper pondered a second; but said no more on this subjeot at that time. Noi did he pursue the point about the piece o: - ■ paper directly, but determined to approact that by another method, . . . "Now then, Miss Lewis, we fill g( ' back to the meeting across the river, i you please. Did you meet Mr rMatvelbut stop, you have already admitted at muob, Tell us whether you v. left'him or • the other side or whether he crossed ovei with you P" ■ . "We I rowed back; tc the farm. , •' " Tlien yon loft him across the river ?" • " Yes, sir." " Did he say where be meant to go ?" , "ToEpping." " ■ . This seemed doubtful to Mr Barnos ir ■ tho face of the fact that ho had founc Mirvol at Portsmouth!; but then he remember,ed that Joseph Harrison had tes •; tified to mating Marvel at Eppirig on iht i morning after the murder. Mr Teppoi continued " Did he say where he would go aftei that 1" " Ho ■ did not lay out a route, and fur nish mo with a complete plmof bis move ments for the future. He did, howevei mention tbat he would return to Epping from which place he had come that night <; '! Do you think that he proceeded tc ■ tbat place immediately after leaving you ?' Virginia was very cautious, now tbat thi subject involved information about bei lover. " How should I be able to replj definitely said she.. "Do you know, then, whether ht crossed the river and visited the bouse, after parting with yon?" "Ishb'ildsay not, as I took the boat. 1 ; "Do you mean to say that you did nol see him after you left him at the maple tree?". /' - " I mean to say that I have not seer him since then." . ' " Theii why should he have crossed the . river?" , - ■; " What makes you think that he did so?" • V,'",, "I do not think!. I know!" , y " You cannot kpow unless you saw bim, , and that is impossible." - "Miss Lewis,there was snow on the . ground, and not only do I know from bis ~footprints that he visited the farm, but tbat he actually went to the very door by , which you had re-entered,- Of course, I cannot know that be went in, for, unfortunately, there ty no snow within, as with- . out."' Virginia was silent, and despite her ' strong control of her features jt was evi : : dont that sho was troubled. . r " Now then," said tho lawyer, " tho , question arises wfiy did Mr Marvel -visit . your house at that late hour ? You say ho did not ee? yon. Gould it be that ho sought' your uncle, hoping to esec| a ' reconciliation," ' ,( That Mr Marvel should have sought ■ my unolo at that hoijr is preposterous. You say that he did come to the house, which I doubt, but even though he ,did ' not succeed in seeing me, is it hot more probaole that if was object to do so ?" "Ifso, how.is ittbat:he did not sue- ■' ceed ?*' -" v: ."-V:' "I retired as soon as I reached botre, and did not hear, anyono.: enter after me ■ That is why I doubt you theory! for I am a light sleeper." ; • Mr Tupper now executed a bold move, Taking the Vtbicn Mr Barnes had found in the parlour of the farm bouse, be ; folded it so that oily the first, half of the sentence could' be r< ad. Approaching Virginia he suddenly, held it up before her eyes and said— , ' " Did you ever see this before ?" v • This was so unexpected, that Virginia • was thrown off her guard. At the first glance she smoibered an exclamation, and hurriedly put' her hand to her breast. Instantly, however, her agitation passed, and she replied quite calmy— -. "No! Never!" ' I believe you, for had you done so, it . would never have reached my hands Now please take ii and examine it closely." She did so and then said: "It looks!

like my uncle's writing, and it would seen that he tried to communicate to us the name.of his assailant." ■; :. "Precisely, and more, he made anothei attempt, and—succeeded. Miss: Lovfis the secotid paper is in your possession I' ■ "Yon arq mistaken," Bhe replit d, coldy, .."lam'not. ;I say, not only did.yot take that but yonhave it,;6ecreteo about your person, at this very miimte,' Virginia" answered by a half scornfu smile. Mr Barnes nliowed some little ex citoment. He was' accustomed to,dea' with wary orimiiidls, but.liad.nevermetf ' woman so provokingly self-possessed at thieone. V.Come, Miss Lewis," said Mr Tupper "ii is useless tn df.ny what I'siy, I set c trap for you deliberately,'- and ; you mn .OHUght, in'spue of ail jour; : srengib ol will. When I showed jou t'.at.paper, 1 Well knewyou -had no ideatlnit ii. existed andtheefore myobject was. to ire whal you would do, Wiev'ng that j our' -fir's) glance would make youthink it was thi other paper, Asl expected, you at onoc feared.thai you bad lost it, and inbtmctively felt for it. in the bosom of your dresß." "Didl?" with anhrugor.ihenhoulders ..MrTupper looked, at hor.a 'moment, and then, with his eyes still intently upon her he-said; ''Call Walter Marvel I" . To be continued.