The Argosy — page 3: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THREE THEORIES OF A CRIME, 195 sufficiently to bear this transportation, and I hoped that by the following morning it would be so incrusted that it would submit, without danger of disintegration, to a more minute examination. The possibility of a clue in that indistinct imprint of a hand seemed to me, upon due reflection; so utterly remote that I hesitated about informing my chief of the circumstance, which fact accounts for the following meager outline of the case entered in the secret blotter of the department : Bella Seaford, aged about twenty two. Brunette. Beauty above the average. Found dead in room 47, Baxter Building, 8.30 p.M., October 4th, 188—. Bullet hole through heart. Body discovered by Charles Nolan, janitor of building. Supposed to have been a trained nurse. Crime evidently occurred previous night. No marks of identity on the clothing. No letters or other indications of her home or history found in her effects. Jewels and valuables untouched. Position of body, and the fact that no weapon was found, indicate murder. JOHN BRIGHT, DETECTIVE. That was my busy night. By diligent inquiry I ascertained that the woman had represented herself as a stranger in the city, upon applying for a room at the Baxter Building. I visited the janitor. ‘“ Nolan,’’ I inquired, ‘‘ when did you first see her ?’’ ‘“ The first day she came, Mr. Bright. ‘That was a week ago last Tues- _ day.’’ ; ‘Did you talk with her?’’ ‘Not much.”’ ‘‘ What did she talk about? Describe your first meeting with her.’’ ‘Well, first she said that she was in the habit of taking care of her own room, and that she would not want my wife to look after it.”’ ““ You had already proffered your wife’s services ?’’ I asked. “Yes, sir. We always do.”’ ‘“ Was that all the conversation? ’’ ‘That was all at the time, sir. The next day she inquired the way to the Samaritan Hospital, and I directed her.’’ ‘Did she give any reason for going there? ”’ ‘‘ Yes, she said she was a trained nurse in search of a position.’’ ‘“Did she at any time mention where she was from ?’’ eh MET. ‘“ Have you any idea whatever where she came from ?’’ ‘“ No, but I judge she was from some small city, as my wife had to explain to her about the mail chute. She had never seen one before.’’ ‘“ Why did she wish to know?’’ I asked. ‘‘ Did she mail a letter?”’ ‘Yes.”’ ““Did vou see it?”’ ‘No, but my wife might have.’’ I found Mrs. Nolan. With a woman’s curiosity she knew something at least of the letter. ‘Certainly, Mr. Bright. I will cheerfully give you all the information at my command. A letter? Ves, she mailed a letter. It was—let me see— it was Wednesday morning. She inquired of me on the stairs the direction to the nearest mail box. I told her about the mail chute, and showed her Eomicbooks (S@) ~