Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-11

tor and he looked down at the river in Or
der to conceal all signs Of the excitement
that was growing within him.
Yes" muttered Professor Drummond,
'he couldn't have got out that way; but
he was dead, 1 tell you, dead"
Dr. Williams turned. He saw Louise and
Amelia, more frightened apparently than
ii the corpse of starkweather lay before
them. They were clinging to each other.
their awe-stricken gaze fixed on the profess
sor in amazed inquiry. The professor him
self was trembling violently.
There Is nothing to be gained or learned
by standing here" exclaimed the doctor.
Let us go below. Miss Drummond, II you
have spirits in the house, or even wine,
you'd better get glass for your father
Il don't need anything" protested the
professor, starting slowly toward the stairs;
but Louise had darted away at the doctors
suggestion, and when her father reached the
main floor she was waiting for him with
brandy and water
He took the drink eagerly and tossed it off
with single gulp. Meantime DR.. Williams
had quietly and quickly opened every door
near the head of the stairs and glanced into
the chambers He had felt that the pro-
fessor must be somehow mistaken about
having placed Starkweather's body on the
bed in the little room. AS he made his in
yestigation and found nothing TO suggest
that any of the other rooms had been re-
Gently occupied, his mind became more and
more bewildered, until he started down
1t is not common experience to face what
appears to be a fact and an impossibility at
the same time. Everybody, however knows
what it is to miSlay some familiar article,
a pen, book or an article of clothing, ami
to look vainly all over the house for it. One
is convinced that the missing article is
somewhere within reach, and yet what
see ms to be an absolutely thorough, sys-
tematic search fails to reveal 1t. Then the
searcher is inclined to stamp the foot and
rail- at the universe in sheer mental help
lessness.
Such condition of mind, but hundred
times more intense, was the doctors.
scientist, so far as mis- training went, he had
a horror of mysteries, and in the plain facts
OF life, be they commonplace or tragic, he
| could not admit what Is generally known
| as mystery. He would not admit one here
but when he tried to explain the situation,
| to think of causes, he found his mind in con-
| fusion, his thoughts and impressions cha
otto. He said to himself impatiently that
| Professor Drummond was crazy, that he had
| been the victim of hailucination and that
| Starkweather most likely would walk calm
| ly in upon them before morning was over.
| Before he came to the bottom of the stairs
II occurred to him that demonstration of her
| fathers insanity would be terrible blow
| 10 Louise. The professor, glass in hand,
| was leaning against a mantel over a tire
| place in the broad hall.
| ton, DOCTOR" he said; 1.-The double shock of
| this event has quite unnerved me-"
There is nothing harder to bear" re-
sponded the doctor, quietly, than that
and review this matter methodically. We
shall doubtless come to an understanding
of it that will make all clear"
I'm afraid not" said the professor du-
| biously. He hesitated a moment, and then
saying. Come on" led the way to the
dining room..
"DoctorT whispered Louise, catching
him by the sleeve, and speaking in a whis-