[Page 24] Rarely had New York been so stirred to its depth over a mysterious death. The newspapers published the most minute descriptions of the dead girl’s dainty silk underwear, of her exquisitely made Directoire dress, of her Suéde shoes, the silver handled La Tosca sunshade, and more particularly did they dwell on descriptions of her dainty feet and tiny hands, of her perfect features and masses of beautiful yellow hair. There was every indication of refinement and luxury about her. How came it, then, that a being of such beauty and grace could have no one who missed her; could have no one to search frantically the wide world for her? The day of the inquest came. Penelope, accompanied by her aunt and Richard, were forced to be present. Penelope[Page 25] in a very steady voice told how they found the body, and she was questioned and cross-questioned as to the reason why she should have become so interested in the sight of an apparently sleeping girl as to accost her. [Page 25] It was a most unusual thing. Did she not think that it had been suggested by the young man who accompanied her? Penelope’s cheeks burned and she became very indignant at their efforts to connect Richard more closely with the case, and she related all that had transpired after they spoke of the girl with such minuteness and ease, that it was hinted afterwards that she had studied the story in order to protect the culprit. Poor Richard came next. His story did not differ from Penelope’s, and while no one said in so many words that they suspected him of knowing more[Page 26] than he divulged, yet he felt their suspicions and accusations in every question and every look. [Page 26] A very knowing newspaper had that same morning published a long story, relating instances where murderers could not remain away from their victims, and always returned to the spot, in many cases pretending to be the discoverer of the murder. The story finished by demanding that the authorities decide at the inquest whose hand was in the murder of the beautiful young girl. Dick, remembering all this, felt his heart swell with indignation at the tones
Prev.
Back
Top