were returned.'
'Ah, I see. Officer, show the witness the shoes that were taken from the deceased.'
This was done, and when Mr. Callahan had examined them, the Coroner inquired if they came from his store. He replied no.
Whereupon they were held up to the jury, and attention called to the fact that, while rather new than old, they gave signs of having been worn more than once; which was not true of anything else taken from the victim.
This matter settled, the Coroner proceeded with his questions.
'Who carried the articles ordered, to the address given?'
'A man in our employ, named Clapp.'
'Did he bring back the amount of the bill?'
'Yes, sir; less the five dollars charged for the shoes.'
'What was the amount, may I ask?'
'Here is our cash-book, sir. The amount received from Mrs. James Pope, Hotel D-, on the seventeenth of September, is, as you see, seventy-five dollars and fifty-eight cents.'
'Let the jury see the book; also the order.'
They were both handed to the jury, and if ever I wished myself in any one's shoes, save my own very substantial ones, it was at that moment. I did so want a peep at that order.
It seemed to interest the jury also, for their heads drew together very eagerly over it, and some whispers and a few knowing looks passed between them. Finally one of them spoke:
'It is written in a very odd hand. Do you call this a woman's writing or a man's?'
'I have no opinion to give on the subject,' rejoined the witness. 'It is intelligible writing, and that is all that comes within my province.'
The twelve men shifted on their seats and surveyed the Coroner eagerly. Why did he not proceed? Evidently he was not quick enough to suit them.
'Have you any further questions for this witness?' asked that gentleman after a short delay.
Their nervousness increased, but no one ventured to follow the Coroner's suggestion. A poor lot, I call them, a very poor lot! I would have found plenty of questions to put to him.
I expected to see the man Clapp called next, but I was disappointed in this. The name uttered was Henshaw, and the person who rose in answer to it was a tall, burly man with a shock of curly black hair. He was the clerk of the Hotel D-, and we all forgot Clapp in our eagerness to hear what this man had to say.
His testimony amounted to this:
That a person by the name of Pope was registered on his books. That she came to his house on the seventeenth of September, some time near noon. That she was not alone; that a person she called her husband accompanied her, and that they had been given a room, at her request, on the second floor overlooking Broadway.
'Did you see the husband? Was it his handwriting we see in your register?'
'No, sir. He came into the office, but he did not approach the desk. It was she who registered for them both, and who did all the business in fact. I thought it queer, but took it for granted he was ill, for he held his head very much down, and acted as if he felt disturbed or anxious.'
'Did you notice him closely? Would you be able to identify him on sight?'
'No, sir, I should not. He looked like a hundred other men I see every day: medium in height and build, with brown hair and brown moustache. Not noticeable in any way, sir, except for his hang-dog air and evident desire not to be noticed.'
'But you saw him later?'
'No, sir. After he went to his room he stayed there, and no one saw him. I did not even see him when he left the house. His wife paid the bill and he did not come into the office.'
'But you saw her well; you would know her again?'
'Perhaps, sir; but I doubt it. She wore a thick veil when she came in, and though I might remember her voice, I have no recollection of her features for I did not see them.'
'You can give a description of her dress, though; surely you must have looked long enough at a woman who wrote her own and her husband's name in your register, for you to remember her clothes.'
'Yes, for they were very simple. She had on what is called a gossamer, which covered her from neck to toe, and on her head a hat wrapped all about with a blue veil.'
'So that she might have worn any dress under that gossamer?'
'Yes, sir.'
'And any hat under that veil?'
'Any one that was large enough, sir.'
' Very good. Now, did you see her hands?'
'Not to remember them.'
'Did she have gloves on?'
'I cannot say. I did not stand and watch her, sir.'
'That is a pity. But you say you heard her voice.'
'Yes, sir.'
'Was it a lady's voice? Was her tone refined and her language good?'
'They were, sir.'
'When did they leave? How long did they remain in your house?'
'They left in the evening; after tea, I should say.'
'How? On foot or in a carriage?'
'In a carriage; one of the hacks that stand in front of the door.'
'Did they bring any baggage with them?'
'No, sir.'
'Did they take any away?'
'The lady carried a parcel.'
'What kind of a parcel?'
'A brown-paper parcel, like clothing done up.'
'And the gentleman?'
'I did not see him.'
'Was she dressed the same in going as in coming?'
'To all appearance, except her hat. That was smaller.'
'She had the gossamer on still, then?'
'Yes, sir.'
'And a veil?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Only that the hat it covered was smaller?'
'Yes, sir.'
'And now, how did you account to yourself for the parcel and the change of hat?'
'I didn't account for them. I didn't think anything about them at the time; but, since I have had the subject brought to my mind, I find it easy enough. She had a package delivered to her while she was in our house, or rather packages; they were quite numerous, I believe.'
'Can you recall the circumstances of their delivery?'
'Yes, sir; the man who brought the packages said that they had not been paid for, so I allowed him to carry them to Mrs. James Pope's room. When he went away, he had but one small parcel with him; the rest he had left.'
'And this is all you can tell us about this singular couple? Had they no meals in your house?'
'No, sir; the gentleman-or I suppose I should say the lady, sir, for the order was given in her voice-sent for two dozen oysters and a bottle of ale, which were furnished to them in their rooms; but they didn't come to the dining-room.'
'Is the boy here who carried up those articles?'
