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

observation over his, began to hold him
cheap. II had been the criminal should
have feared Stalbridge far more. His
acuteness was well known. and his appe-
tite for revenge eQua1ed that Of a savage
He had suffered deeply by my uncle's
death, and he would never rest, felt as
sured. until he had seen the author Of that
injury in the hands Of the executioner.
Have you formed any theory OF the
crime?" I asked Stalbridge.
He did not answer.
: What do you think about it?" the detec-
tive asked of me.
Il am puzzled by one circumstance" said
]. 1.-THE surgeon tells me that my uncle was
stabbed to the heart. Yet he was alive
when we entered. Therefore, the murder
must have been committed within very
few seconds. Indeed believe that heard
my uncle cry when the blow was struck.
How, then, could the murderer have wash
ed the blood from his hands? We entered
at once
That's just the point that bothered me
at first" said Johnson. "but it's clear
enough now. The wound in the head was
inflicted first. 1t was the blood from that
wound which stained the murderer's hands.
He washed them and probably he was on
the point of leaving the room. when you
came, and blocked his escape. At the same
moment, your uncle, who had been lying
unconscious and was supposed by the GRIM
iral to be dead, rega;ned his senses. He
staggered to his feet. The criminal, as he
fed across the room to reach the other
where the window Is, was confronted by his
victim. Then he struck the second and
fatal blow. and escaped as Mr.. Davis fell
dying How does that strike you. gentle
men?"
He looked at us with frank inquiry.
There was nothing Of the typical air of
mystery about him. His method. any
enc could see, was to ask questions, and
rut the facts together, taking all the help
he could get. I regarded his theory as
very strong, and my confidence in him was
restored.
But the motive?" said l.
1T was undoubtedly robbery" said the
detective you will observe that there is
tlood upon these papers on the desk 1t
will be found on examination that one
which should be there is missing. Then
we shall have a real clew to the MUIR
derer."
Stalbridge sprang toward the desk. He
hurriedly scanned the papers.
You are right" he said. '"There is a
paper missing; and it's disappearance will
be very convenient for the 2Ith street rail-
road people"
He turned to me with a CLEAN of intelli-
gent triumph in his eyes. and then pointed
to the towel over the corner of the glass.
"Your friend Norman Is very tall man."
he said; six feet tall, I believe"
MIR. STALBRIDGE IS AMUSED, AND
STARTLED.
'Your friend, Mr.. Stabridge, is a wonder
full man."
So said Detective Johnson to me on the
evening of the day Of the murder
l was too deeply interested in learning
what Stalbridge had done to think of pro-
testing against his being called my friend
After leaving the scene of the crime for
the purpose of conveying the dreadful news
to my aunt and my cousin, had known
scarcely anything of the progress Of the
case. The detective had promised to report
to me at my uncles house, and had been
impatiently awaiting his coming 1t was
about O'Clock when he was shown into
the drawing room and he responded to my
eager question with praise of Stalbridge
What has he Gone?" I demanded HAS
he found the murderer"'