Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-25


semi-private rooms in fashionable clubs the
world over. 1t was papered in deep ma
room. The furniture and wainscoting were
of heavy oak. Upon one side of the room
was the door, hung with rich oriental
portiere. Upon another were two broad
windows overlooking the archaeological
square. Upon another there simply hung
en- etching or two in broad white and gilt
frames.
Upon the fourth was an antique mantel
with oaf paneling. Over this mantel hung
q beautiful copy in oils of the Beatrice
Cenci, with those calm. lucid eyes follow
ing every movement of the inmates Of the
room.
Through the disposition of the whist play
ers Roger Laroue sat with his back to the
mantel, and the Beatrice Cenci gaZed down
upon the top of his head.
The game had been in progress since mid
night.
one Of the players, at the end ola GER
tain hand, touched an electric bell, and
moment later a club waiter appeared.
Alfonso. some more brandy and some
cigars
"A dash of absinthe with NINE" NUT
tered Roger Laroue. absorbed in the hand
which had fallen to his lot in the new
deal.
Alfonso was not the typical club waiter.
His dress suit was irreproachable. his face
was clean shaver, his attitude was respect
full. But his cadaverous face was disquiet-
ing, and he had big green eyes that made
him an uncomfortable man to look full in
the face. He claimed to be a Pole, and
spoke English with barbarous accent.
He was not a favorite with the members,
but he had been with THE Myrtle" for
six months, and no specific fault could be
found with him. he was tolerated.
If the four young men had been less in
terested in the painted bits of pasteboard
tonight they might have noticed that AL
fonse's green eyes We're fastened upon
Roger Laroue's face during the entire time
he was in the room.
And there was an ominous light Pickering
In the depths of those catlike orbs.
The brandy and cigars were brought, and
the game proceeded. For some minutes the
silence was only broken by the shuttle and
flip of the cards upon the table.
Three was chimed by the siivery bell of
dainty ormulu clock beneath the Beatrice
Cenci
Suddenly there was sharp, swift swish
III the air like the flight of a heavy whip.
With scream of agony, Roger Laroue
threw Up his hands. raining the cards
about him, and, with single moan, drop
ped heavily to the floor
When his friends went to his assistance
he vas dead.
When one of the most skilful surgeons
in New York came to make the post-mor-
TEN this wis what he found:
y jagged wound about quarter of an
inca i'll diameter. situated in the back of
tra dead mans head almost directly over
the s!itl:re between the occiptal and pari-
e:al homes
Imbedial deeply in the brain a small.
OF lead With antimony or copper, and near
ly square in shape.
Beyond THIS. rothing.
At the inquest the only relevant testi-
mo:y was that given by the three other
card players and this was mainly mega
tive il character SO far as the question as
to wha. killed Roger Laroue was con-
carr ed.
They had seen their friend sitting before
then ore moment; had heard him scream
ard seen him fall the next. There had
been 70 report, as of q gun or revolver no
smHae, TO smell. 10 sound. saving that
mysterious sC:sAing Of the air which had
prcce led the catastrophe. There had been
Nobody else in the room but the four whist
payers nor, 50 far as was known had
tfare been anybody else IN that portion Of
t-2 cl.;b horse. the maroon-papered room
lC,rs, In tie third story
-As was the standing of thu case when
IL "'1s pGt into the tards OF Sergeant De-
T., We Stacey of Inspector Byraes' staff
far ..aict:o1.
Sly ,sas rot shreva detective by
ny 1-ears. hUt r. had acquired the re?u-
's-,D' CT hs.r2 one Of the most brilliant
:, -S-e:5 CO The METROPOLITAN force That
= 10 10y, ~ putting togetiyr in his mind
thn -rs'i':et facts cf Il puzZl;n;; case he
c.N," Lit at :fc solution as bv Inspiration,
t--ldGTt tic Troublesome EeccSSity of run
fiGg DOWN I'll manner CT insignificant
C'-U-S
Two weeks later arotter Young man was
Hi FL in the Tl1ro-n -papered room of 1.-THE
myrtle" in precisely the same way. His
name was Hughes MARION. He was a