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public demand。
The gentlemen looked at each other and agreed that there was no help for it but to hurry the supper； and walk to the railway stationa distance of between five and six milesin time to catch the last train。
While the meal was being prepared； the rain held off for a while。 The dark man asked his way to the post…office and went out by himself。
He came back in about ten minutes； and sat down afterward to supper with his companion。 Neither the landlord； nor any other person in the public room； noticed any change in him on his return。 He was a grave； quiet sort of person； and （unlike the other one） not much of a talker。
As the darkness came on； the rain fell again heavily； and the heavens were black。
A flash of lightning startled the gentlemen when they went to the window to look out： the thunderstorm began。 It was simply impossible that two strangers to the neighborhood could find their way to the station； through storm and darkness； in time to catch the train。 With or without bedrooms； they must remain at the inn for the night。 Having already given up their own room to their lodgers； the landlord and landlady had no other place to sleep in than the kitchen。 Next to the kitchen； and communicating with it by a door； was an outhouse； used； partly as a scullery； partly as a lumber…room。 There was an old truckle…bed among the lumber； on which one of the gentlemen might rest。 A mattress on the floor could be provided for the other。 After adding a table and a basin； for the purposes of the toilet； the accommodation which Mr。 Rook was able to offer came to an end。
The travelers agreed to occupy this makeshift bed…chamber。
The thunderstorm passed away； but the rain continued to fall heavily。 Soon after eleven the guests at the inn retired for the night。 There was some little discussion between the two travelers； as to which of them should take possession of the truckle…bed。 It was put an end to by the fair gentleman； in his own pleasant way。 He proposed to 〃toss up for it〃and he lost。 The dark gentleman went to bed first； the fair gentleman followed； after waiting a while。 Mr。 Rook took his knapsack into the outhouse； and arranged on the table his appliances for the toiletcontained in a leather roll； and including a razorready for use in the morning。
Having previously barred the second door of the outhouse； which led into the yard； Mr。 Rook fastened the other door； the lock and bolts of which were on the side of the kitchen。 He then secured the house door； and the shutters over the lower windows。 Returning to the kitchen； he noticed that the time was ten minutes short of midnight。 Soon afterward； he and his wife went to bed。
Nothing happened to disturb Mr。 and Mrs。 Rook during the night。
At a quarter to seven the next morning； he got up； his wife being still asleep。 He had been instructed to wake the gentlemen early； and he knocked at their door。 Receiving no answer； after repeatedly knocking； he opened the door and stepped into the outhouse。
At this point in his evidence； the witness's recollections appeared to overpow er him。 〃Give me a moment； gentlemen；〃 he said to the jury。 〃I have had a dreadful fright； and I don't believe I shall get over it for the rest of my life。〃
The coroner helped him by a question： 〃What did you see when you opened the door？〃
Mr。 Rook answered： 〃I saw the dark man stretched out on his beddead； with a frightful wound in his throat。 I saw an open razor； stained with smears of blood； at his side。〃
〃Did you notice the door； leading into the yard？〃
〃It was wide open； sir。 When I was able to look round me； the other travelerI mean the man with the fair complexion； who carried the knapsackwas nowhere to be seen。〃
〃What did you do； after making these discoveries？〃
〃I closed the yard door。 Then I locked the other door； and put the key in my pocket。 After that I roused the servant； and sent him to the constablewho lived near to uswhile I ran for the doctor； whose house was at the other end of our village。 The doctor sent his groom； on horseback； to the police…office in the town。 When I returned to the inn； the constable was thereand he and the police took the matter into their own hands。〃
〃You have nothing more to tell us？〃
〃Nothing more。〃
CHAPTER XXV
〃J。 B。〃
Mr。 Rook having completed his evidence； the police authorities were the next witnesses examined。
They had not found the slightest trace of any attempt to break into the house in the night。 The murdered man's gold watch and chain were discovered under his pillow。 On examining his clothes the money was found in his purse； and the gold studs and sleeve buttons were left in his shirt。 But his pocketbook （seen by witnesses who had not yet been examined） was missing。 The search for visiting cards and letters had proved to be fruitless。 Only the initials； 〃J。 B。；〃 were marked on his linen。 He had brought no luggage with him to the inn。 Nothing could be found which led to the discovery of his name or of the purpose which had taken him into that part of the country。
The police examined the outhouse next； in search of circumstantial evidence against the missing man。
He must have carried away his knapsack； when he took to flight； but he had been （probably） in too great a hurry to look for his razoror perhaps too terrified to touch it； if it had attracted his notice。 The leather roll； and the other articles used for his toilet； had been taken away。 Mr。 Rook identified the blood…stained razor。 He had noticed overnight the name of the Belgian city； 〃Liege；〃 engraved on it。
The yard was the next place inspected。 Foot…steps were found on the muddy earth up to the wall。 But the road on the other side had been recently mended with stones； and the trace of the fugitive was lost。 Casts had been taken of the footsteps； and no other means of discovery had been left untried。 The authorities in London had also been communicated with by telegraph。
The doctor being called； described a personal peculiarity； which he had noticed at the post…mortem examination； and which might lead to the identification of the murdered man。
As to the cause of death； the witness said it could be stated in two words。 The internal jugular vein had been cut through； with such violence； judging by the appearances； that the wound could not have been inflicted； in the act of suicide； by the hand of the deceased person。 No other injuries； and no sign of disease； was found on the body。 The one cause of death had been Hemorrhage； and the one peculiarity which called for notice had been discovered in the mouth。 Two of the front teeth； in the upper jaw； were false。 They had been so admirably made to resemble the natural teeth on either side of them； in form and color； that the witness had only hit on the discovery by accidentally touching the inner side of the gum with one of his fingers。
The landlady was examined； when the doctor had retired。 Mrs。 Rook was able； in answering questions put to her； to give important information； in reference to the missing pocketbook。
Before retiring to rest； the two gentlemen had paid the billintending to leave the inn the first thing in the morning。 The traveler with the knapsack paid h