Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-21

"By heaven, Mack, you've lost him!'
If he had anything to say why didn't he
bring you up here? Or take you into one
of the rooms OF the Union lines? 1t was
fair to guess that he wanted to keep you
out of the way.
AT last you forced him back to the scene
of his crime. What must have been his
surprise and horror at finding that his vic
tim still lived! But soon he saw that IL
was to be his own salvation.
The closing door, the wound in the
heart-everything seemed to indicate that
the crime was but Just done. Then he
could prove an alibi through you
INSTANTLY the desire to convict Nor
man seized upon him. He was Norman's
rival for Miss Davis hand. and had work
ed in that cause as well as for money in
getting your uncle into his power 1t
in my favor that he should plot to convict
Norman, for he was more likely to be led
into an indiScretion. And the surest way
to keep him at IL was to satisfy himself of
his own safety-to make him over-conf-
dent. For that reason 1 worked upon you.
He would not have believed me, but he
put faith in what came to him through
YOU. He knew you to be his bitter enemy,
and nothing could sustain him much
as your confidence in his innocence.
Meanwhile 1 had Norman more less
under suspicion. 1 knew that he had been
here, though 1 was not aware that Stall
bridge was present at the same time You
forced that out Of Stalbridge and also the
very valuable and singular alibi for Nor
man."
How about the ItaIianT'
He was saved by my water clock He
could account for himself up to the time
when he entered this building, and that
time was absolutely known. II was three
minutes before eleven. The crime was COM
mtted five minutes earlier. Judge, then,
of my satisfaction when you remembered
seeing Antonel Stalbridge was with you
at that time He had just appeared. lie
| had time to leave the scene of the crime.
to leave the building by the side door, to
see You approac hing, and 10 stop you in
order that you might not find the body.
ITO Stalbridge, then, all clews lead. He
will be here presently and you shall see
how he faces the accusation"
rs he under arrest?'
mo: but he is Swallowed. He will be ar
| rested if he does not keep the appointment
which he has with me here. He is over
due"
| Johnson glanced at his watch and then
stepped TO the door: 1 saw him start. His
face suddenly flushed.
Come here" ne cried.
slender young man in rather shabby
dress stepped quickly TO the door.
Where's Stalbridge?" he gasped, as he
glanced into the room.
He hasn't been here" returned John
| son. by heavens, Mack, you've lost him.
Not on your life. L Swallowed him TO
| this ROOM"
He did not come in. The man has es-
| capped. He got onto you and took the
| alarm"
Mack. the shadow, struck his forehead
rs it possible that he got in there?' he
said, and then he pointed to the door OF
TIE vacant suite. III he did, he hasn't had
any chance to get out"
Johnson and I rushed into the rooms.
They were empty. The window opening
into the shaft was open.
by all the saints exclaimed the de-
tective. ''rhe fellow has climbed into the
back room and has heard all | have said"
We ran back and passed into the rear
| room, leaving the shadow on guard in the
hall. Stalbridge was not there, but
Were not long in finding evidence of his
presence. ON the wall beside the door
some words were scrawled in pencil. They
had evidently been written while the muir
derer stood there listening.
Thank you for these disclosures, Mr..
Johnson. Your views surprisingly ac-
| curate. 1 would like 20 remain and point
out some of your errors, but time presses,
and certain considerations urge my imme-
dia.e departure. 1 fear we shall not meet
again, il is improbable that L shall ever
return to New York. If it were not for the
distressing noise of firearms. L would open
this door and shoot You both where you
| Sit
These words had caught Johnson's eye
on his first glance around the little room.
| He read them aloud. l meanwhile had
hGSiened to the window.
.'The Internal rascal has got away" said
| the detective but he will be caught Ii
may be long chase, though, for he will
| take barrel Of money with him.
AS he spoke 1 measured with my eye the
between the Two WINDOWS. 1t was
| hazardous feat to pass from one to the
other. 1 glanced into the shaft to measure
the distance one would fall.
/ locked straight down into George Stall
bridges face. He had fallen in passing
from one window to the other, and he lay
| in the bottom Of the shaft, MORALLY hurt
His fall had been heard. though not by
us. Before could get down the stairs
ne had been taken out of the shaft. He
lived about half an hour, and was con-
| sciors most Of the time.
knowing that he fatally injured he
had no hesitation in speaking of the crime.
His story conceded perfectly with John
sons theory. Willard Davis had yielded to
Norman's pleas for fairer treatment in the
railway transaction. Stalbridge I'm the
back room, had heard all.
When Norman had gone S,albridge en-
tered. and there was brief and angry dis
cussion. which ended in my uncles touch