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Speaker 1: The Parthian shot by Robert peel Noble. The last note

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of the baritone's impassionate song had died away almost before

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missus Reynolds had finished the closing bars of the accompaniment.

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She turned from the piano to the singer. You are

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in fine voice tonight, Charles, she said, but something has

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given me a headache this evening, and it has been

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steadily getting worse. You will excuse me, I know, she

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continued as she arose. A night's rest will make me

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all right. I'm so sorry, Certainly I'll excuse you. Why

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didn't you tell me sooner, said Charles harding as they

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walked to the door. I'll just have a smoke chat

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with John before I go, and perhaps he will forgive

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me for my vocal disturbance. Too bad. He doesn't enjoy music,

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he added, as they went up the stairs. Yes, isn't it,

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she replied. He's like a blind man walking over diamonds.

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The beauty of music does not exist for him. She

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paused before the door of her husband's den. Good Night,

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she said, as she moved away. Good Night. I hope

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you will feel better in the morning, said Charles, turning

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to enter John's room. Missus Reynolds was keenly conscious of

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her headache as she closed the bedroom door behind her,

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but she was suffering even more from the memory of

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that which had caused it. She and Charles were to

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appear on the program of a musicale on the following

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Friday evening, and had been having frequent rehearsals this. It

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seemed at dinner that evening was the cause of her

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husband's recent fits of sulkiness and ill humor. Not that

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he had been a cheerful companion at all times during

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the past year, but of late he was even worse,

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and this evening why it was absurd her husband was

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apparently almost ready to forbid Charles the house. The man

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was jealous, her husband actually jealous. She could laugh even now,

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but for the memory of his stormy words and self

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incited anger. What if she and Charles had been engaged

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at one time the quarrel over nothing. It was true,

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and her subsequent marriage to John had ended all that,

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and John should realize it and be more sensible. If

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John could only enjoy music and would be a little

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more companionable. How long she had been asleep, she did

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not know, but she awoke in terror. Could it have

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been the noise of a passing automobile tire which had

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so alarmed her that she found herself sitting up in

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bed before she was fully awake. With a fast beating

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heart and with trembling hands, she slipped out of bed

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and opened the door. John, she called, then again, more loudly, John, Oh, John,

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and ended with a sob. What if, my god, what

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if he did? She moaned, and ran to the open

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doorway of her husband's den. A piteous, hard, invading scream

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came from her lips. Not Charles, but John lay sprawled

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upon the floor, now stained with blood. Staggering and clutching

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the banisters. She half ran, half fell down the stairway

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and out through the door to the sidewalk. Help, Oh help,

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she screamed. Won't somebody help? She moaned? What's the matter?

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Came from the corner across the street as the speaker

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started toward her. My husband, Oh help me, she continued

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to moan. The man who had responded to her call

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had almost to carry her, half fainting as she was,

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as he accompanied her back into the house. There he

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managed to get her upstairs and to bed, which she

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had left in so great alarm. Where's the telephone? The

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words were quick, almost curt Passing the open door of

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mister Rennol's room, he had seen what lay upon the

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floor hallway downstairs. Came from the lips whose trembling could

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not be controlled. Get a doctor, Get a doctor. Feeling

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that she was in greater need of medical aid than

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was her husband, he ran down the stairs hurriedly called

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the nearest physician and obtained his promise to come at once.

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He then called another number police station. This is when

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sends somebody here at once, number seven thirty four Walnut Street.

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Man killed. I think looks like murder. I'll wait here.

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Running up the stairs again, he found missus Reynold's in

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the hall, weakly strugg into her kimono and walking with

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uncertain steps towards the doorway of her husband's room. I

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must go to him, she cried. Wait, he said kindly.

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If there is anything you can do, I will tell you.

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But unheedingly she followed him into the room and stood

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pale and open mouthed, wringing her hands and staring at

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the form upon the floor over which Wynd was now stooping.

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We must wait for the doctor, he said gently, he

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will be here soon. As he finished speaking, doctor Morris

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entered do something. Doctor quick, cried the frantic woman to

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the physician, already making his examination deftly and silently. After

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a brief interval, doctor Morris arose slowly. He is past

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my help, Missus Rynolds, he said, you must lie down

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and let me do something for you. Two men, a

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policeman who had come up the stairs while doctor Morris

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was helping Missus Reynolds to her room, entered the room

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of tragedy, exchanged words of recognition with Win, and listened

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to the latter's account of what had followed his chance

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appearance upon the scene. Bullet wound, murmured the second man,

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who was evidently a city detective and who was inspecting

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the body and its surroundings. Clothing must windows locked, didn't

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find any gun. Guess it's murder. Sure enough? Were the

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outside doors locked when missus Rendles ran out? Anybody else

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in the house? I don't know, Johnson said to Winn,

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You'll have to ask Missus Reynolds. Johnson turned to doctor Morris, who,

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after administering a sedative to Missus Rendols, had left her

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in the care of the maid. What do you make

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of it, doctor asked Johnson. The bullet, as it seems

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to be, has entered a point a little higher than

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the heart, and, judging by the distance to which the

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blood has spurted, has severed an artery, probably the aorta.

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The autopsy will determine the matter. One of you had

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better notify the coroner at once. You do that, dan

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requested Johnson, turning to the policeman. Then he again bent

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over the body. Hum came from him in a thoughtful

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surprise as he picked up a half smoked, broken cigar

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which had been lying under the edge of the dead

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man's coat. Portina, he said, reading the name of the

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brand upon the cigar, band I just wonder. Stepping over

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to a rather large humidor at one side of the

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room and opening it, he examined the contents, three different brands,

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but no Portinas, he informed. When I must question Missus Reynolds,

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she is very nervous, rejected Doctor Morris. Is it necessary

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to talk to her now? Just two questions, said Johnson,

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as he went across the hall to the room which

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he had seen Missus Randal's enter. Missus Reynolds, did you

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find the front door locked as you ran out of

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the house this evening, he asked. Yes, no, I just

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turned the knob. She replied, who was with your husband

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this evening? Missus Reynolds was the next question. A look

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of horror swept over her face. He didn't do it, Charles,

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wouldn't hurt anyone, she protested Charles, who continued the questioner

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Charles harding, But I know he didn't do it. I

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know he didn't, brokenly asserted Missus Reynolds. That remains to

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be seen. I won't trouble you anymore, though, he said,

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and returned to the room where the body lay. The

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doctor had gone. Johnson, having completed his inspection, asked the

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policeman to await the coroner and went to headquarters. Wynn

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remained and made an examination on his own account. He

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inspected all parts of the room, peering into places which

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seemed very unpromising. From under the couch, he picked up

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a small brass plumb bob attached to a string, regarded

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it thoughtfully, and put it into his pocket. Quietly. He

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left the house. The next morning. As he was about

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to leave his apartments, Wynn received a call from his

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friend Charles Harding. Have you seen the morning papers? The

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latter asked excitedly. No, why was the reply? Mister Reynolds

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has been murdered and I was with him last night,

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exclaimed Harding. I'm sure I was followed on my way

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over here. What shall I do? What kind of cigar

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do you smoke? Charlie Partinez, said the other, staring, But

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why do you never mind? You go about your business

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just as if you were not being followed. You may

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be arrested, but don't let that worry you too much.

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I'm going to get busy right away, if that's any

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comfort to you. Harding shook him by the hand. Thanks,

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old fellow. I'm glad I've got you to count on.

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I'll have to go now, Wynn said, the sooner I

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find out about this. If I can, the better it

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will be for your peace of mind. While Harding was

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on his way to his office, nervously aware that he

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was still being shadowed, Wynn was directing his steps up

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Walnut Street, absorbed in thought and unconscious of passing acquaintances.

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At the home of Missus Randalls, he rang the bell.

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Tell Missus Randalls, he said to the maid as he

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presented it card that it is absolutely necessary for me

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to see her. For a few moments. As missus Reynolds entered,

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paled and grief stricken, Wynn arose, I am very sorry

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to disturb you just at this time, Missus Reynolds, but

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in the interest of our common friend Charles Harding, it

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is necessary for me to learn everything I can from

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you which may have a bearing upon your husband's death.

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Charles couldn't have done such a thing, mister Wynn. He's

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incapable of it. I agree with you, said Wynn, but

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if I am to clear him before others, I must

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learn all the facts possible, even those which look damaging.

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Had you been asleep just before you ran out of

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the house last night, Yes, I had gone to bed

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with a headache after rehearsing some music with Charles, and

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he had gone to John's room. You heard no quarreling

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or noise of a struggle. No, except for the noise

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that awakened me, the shot, I suppose, She added with

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a shudder. Was there any reason why your husband and

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Charlie Harding should have quarreled? Missus Reynolds hesitated, then spoke quickly.

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There was no reason mister Wynn, unless you should call

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Charles unreasonable jealousy or reason. Charles and I had to

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practice together a good deal lately, and John didn't like it.

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Who was in the house last evening beside you and

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mister Reynolds and Charlie only the maid the other servant.

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The man doesn't sleep in the house. Had mister Reynolds

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any enemies that you know of? Had he any trouble

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with anyone? Not that I why? Yes, he had. He

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had discharged our former servant for drunkenness. The man became

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very angry and abusive when he left. What was his name,

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Carl Hansen? Do you know his address? No, mister Reynolds

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secured him through an employment agency. Is anything missing? Money? Jewelry?

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I don't think so. Did you find the front door

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locked when you started out for help last evening? Not

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with a key or with the bolt? I turned only

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the knob to open the door. The inside knob works

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with a spring lock, so the door must have been locked,

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and the outside knob it takes a key to open

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the door from the outside. Then how could anyone have

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gained entrance last night? Missus Reynolds? The other outside doors

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and the windows downstairs were all locked, Missus Reynolds became

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even more pale. Did Carl Hanson have a key to

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the house house? When asked, he did have, said Missus Reynolds,

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breathing more easily, but returned it. Couldn't he have had

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a duplicate made? Though? Yes, now, Missus Reynolds, I won't

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keep you any longer, but I will ask permission to

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inspect your husband's room again and perhaps some other parts

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of the house. Missus Reynolds having acquiesced when first verified

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her statements as to the locks on the front door

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and then revisited her husband's room. It was nearly noon

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before he left the house, walking briskly and with no

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trace of the absorbed manner which he had brought with him.

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Late in the afternoon, he learned that the autopsy performed

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on mister Reynolds confirmed the opinion of doctor Morris, and

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that the bullet had been found one of thirty two caliber.

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He was also informed that his presence as a witness

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would be required at the coroner's investigation the next morning.

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At this investigation, the testimony brought out the fact that

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mister Reynolds had died from the effects of a bullet wound,

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that the condition of his clothes indicated a struggle with someone,

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That no weapon had been found. That the windows of

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mister Rentol's room were found to be locked when examined

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by the officers, That all the windows downstairs and the

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outside doors except the front door opened by Missus Reynolds,

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were found to be locked when examined immediately after the tragedy.

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That this front door was also locked against any outsider

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just before it was opened by Missus Reynolds. That the

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stub of a cigar of the kind smoked by mister

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Harding had been under mister Renol's body, That the band

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of the cigar was not to be found in mister

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Rentol's stock of cigars, and in act seemed not to

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be on sale at any of the cigar stores in

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the city. That mister Harding was the last person known

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to have been with mister Reynolds before the latter's death,

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And that mister Reynolds had objected to the frequency of

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mister Harding's calls upon Missus Reynolds and had entertained unfriendly

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feelings towards mister Harding on this account. To Harding, who

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with pale face sat listening intently. The presentation of these

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facts had been anything but reassuring. His only comfort had

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been the expression of assurance upon the face of Wynn,

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who now addressed the coroner. I should like to introduce

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further evidence, proceed, said the deputy. After the officers who

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had been sent to the Reynold's house had completed their examination,

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said Wynn. I made a further inspection of the room

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where the body was found under the couch. I found this,

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he continued, holding up the object. It is, as you see,

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a small plumbob, such as is used by masons and carpenters.

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What in particular aroused my interest, however, was the fact

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that the stout court attached to the bob had a

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short piece of thread tied to it at the loose end,

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and the fact that the plumbbob was found under the

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davenport on the floor, which the maid informed me had

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been swept on the day that mister Reynolds met his death.

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The maid further informed me that she was positive that

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the plumbob was not on the floor at the time

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when the floor was swept, and that she had never

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seen it before. Although I was unable to see any

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connection between this plumbob and the death of mister Reynold's.

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I had the feeling that there was a connection, and

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returned to the rentl's house the next morning with the

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hope of being able to find it. From what I

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asked myself, had the plumbbob been suspended, why had it

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been fastened as apparently it had been, by a thread

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tied to the cord, instead of being fastened directly by

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the court itself. And why was it thrown or left

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on the floor of the room used by a man

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as orderly as mister Reynold's was known to be. These

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questions I succeeded in answering. I found a short piece

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of thread tied to the lower end of the vertical

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tube of the electric light chandelier, which is in the

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center of mister Renol's room. I also found that the plumbbob,

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if it had been attached at this point, would have

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cleared the floor by about a foot just over the chandelier.

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In the attic of this room, there was a short

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section of flooring which apparently had been removed and replaced

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some time after the flooring had been laid. This I

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removed and under it I saw the end of a

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rifle which had been thrust down into the tube of

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the chandelier below. Harding sank back in his chair and

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relaxed with a sigh of relief. But the coroner and

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the others present continued in their positions of rigid attention.

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The stock of the rifle continued when had been cut

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off in order to make concealment under the floor possible.

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The trigger was connected to an electromagnetic device. Also concealed

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under the floor. In the floor of mister Reynol's room

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was a pushbuton, supposed to be no longer in use,

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but that it was connected with the electromagnet above. I

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proved when by pressing this push button I was able

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to release the previously raised gun hammer. Gentlemen, in the

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that rifle I found this, said Wynn impressively, as he

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held up another small object. It is the empty shell

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of a thirty two caliber cartridge. Your imagination can tell

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you the rest. Shortly after Charles Harding had left the house,

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mister Reynolds attached the plumbbob to the chandelier and lay

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upon the floor so that his heart would be just

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under the plumbbob and therefore directly in the line of fire.

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He pulled the cord, breaking the thread close to the chandelier,

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of course, concealing the bob and cord by throwing them

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under the couch, but with the slightest change in his

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position on the floor, pressed the button with an outstretched arm.

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That any living man is responsible for his death, I

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cannot believe, nor can you, I think, in the face

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of these facts, it may be more charitable for us

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to believe that mister Reynolds, mentally unbalanced by the worry

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over his impending financial difficulties known to a few of

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his friends, sought nothing but relief in death, while trying

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at the same time to avoid the stigma of suicide.

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But it is difficult not to entertain the idea that

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mister Reynolds, actuated by jealousy, purposely removed Charles Harding's cigar

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stub from the ashtray to the floor, purposely disarranged his

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own clothing, and purposely chose that time for pressing the

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push button, when the bullet which was discharged into his

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own body should serve as a Parthian shot at the

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man who had been in his room a few minutes

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before Wind's evidence led to an immediate verdict of suicide,

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and every one hastened to shake Harding's hand. Although Harding

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held no one's hand in as long a grasp as

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he held Winds, his eyes rested upon the black gowned

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figure of Missus Reynolds, whose face expressed relief as well

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as grief. Was not something else fleetingly expressed there too, gladness, joy.

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Harding started toward her as she was about to leave

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the room, then checked himself abruptly. Better wait, he thought,

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and turned away to win the end of the Parthian

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shot by Robert pl Noble