Daily camera., 1897-07-19

done wrong in keeping back that matter
from Hendricks. It's cowardly.'
"You could tell them nothing that
would help them, and it would only
place you under deeper SUSPICION" the
lawyer replied.
"My God! I'd just as soon be in a
prison cell as here under the awful un-
certainty as to whether I did it or not"
"What did you say? What do you
mean?"
WILDLY walked slowly from the table
and laid his hand on his friends shoul-
der
"I am afraid I had something to do
with the murder I can't figure it out
any other way. The blood on the cur
tain; the stain you found on the chair;
my dim recollection of taking hold of
the chair; the drop of blood on my cuff
why, my hand-it was the right hand,
you know-must have been absolutely
wet with it,
care, you fool enough to think you
could have killed man in your sleep
without being conscious of the act? Be-
sides, remember the smile on Strong's
face; you're obliged to admit"
''That's exactly what puts me on this
line" WILDLY interrupted. 81 noticed
in New York paper an interview with
DR.. Henry Lampllin, the famous hyp-
motto expert, in which he said casually
that from what he read of the case he
Judged that my uncle was hypnotized
by the murderer. Well, Warrenton,
am sure if | were to tell him what oc
Cured to me that night he would say
that I was also Observation-Disclosures
haps-I was made to do the deed for
some one else. Such things have been
done. Old man. that is what is trou-
bling me. 1t is awful"
Theirs was silence for moment; then
the colonel sold:
I'll tell you what would do, Alfred.
l don't think you could have been un,
der any influence that night; but ifyou
are going to brood over the matter this
way till you are insane, l propose that
we have DR.. Lampllin to come down
here and give us his opinion. He is said
to be wonderful man, and he may, at
all events, give you some peace of mind.
He is said to be making marvellous cures
among Incorporate people, and chill
lren naturally oepraved, through what
he calls hypnotic suggestion. From
what | hear of him / believe he can be
trusted even in such delicate matter as
this"
Whidby's face frightened. That's
'ust what I want" he said. Anything
S better than suspense. He may be
lble to tell me whether 1 actually did
the deed. If he can assure me that it
was not my hand that held the knife,
ne is welcome to every dollar of my
uncle's estate"
"Oh, he won't break us; his prices are
not high; he does a great deal for no pay
at all. But 1 shall write him at once,
and report to you as soon as his reply
comes. Ibelieve hypnotism is wonder
full thing, but something tells me that
it could not be carried to the extent you
fear. Besides, you may not have been
hypnotized at all; you may have been
slightly disturbed by the fellows move
ments in Strong's room, and got up half
! awake and gone-after the murder-to
! his bed to reassure yourself. 1t may
have been then that you got your hands
| in the blood without knowing it"
"Ah, you give me the first bit of hope
have had" cried WILDLY. write to
| 7 4 i bar "
"I'll get him as soon as he can come "
the colonel promised, and he rose to go.
At the door he turned back.
Il am trying to work up little clew
for myself" he said. 81 am fond of this
sort of thing. I'd give anything to beat
this expert detective and run our man to
The ground without consulting him.
BY the way, you and 1 might try to
think of some motive for the crime. The
others are doubtless losing valuable
time in suspecting you. Now, do you
happen to remember if your uncle ever
had an enemy?"
mot that 1 know Of" WILDLY
answered. Il don't think he could. He
was an easy-going man, and lived very
quietly--that is, since l have known
him. Years ago, when he was young
man, believe he had rather an adven-
turous life in the gold-mines out west
| somewhere. You know he made his
start there. He has never told me much
about those days. In fact, l have often
thought he was oddly silent on the sub
Jet. 1t seems to have been the only part
of his history that he has not talked to
me freely about"
do you know of any poor relation
that may have troubled him for aid il
any way?"
"No. But why do you ask? don't
understand"
"I can't tell you now, but 1 am search
ing for a motive for the crime. Ever
if you could have been hypnotized, there
would still have to be a motive for The
crime. If the murderer was skillfu-
hypnotist he was no fool, and the mo-