The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-20

NO" I answered; "he has been here
but has gone away"
1T is singular that did not see him"
said Walworth II was waiting in the
lower hall"
l made no comment. The two men
stepped into the inner Office.
He could not have gotten out OF the
building" Walwoith resumed. do you
know where he went? Into some other
Office, perhaps?"
He did not tell me where he was
going" 1 answered, experiencing a singu-
lar qualification on being able to speak
the truth.
l sat in my chair by the desk, with the
best affectation of indifference that
could command. 1t was a miserable fai =
ure, as l knew by the look that Amy
turned upon me. Walworths shifty glance
ran over me like a searchlight and flashed
to all parts of the room.
I'VE thought we heard noise up here"
! said the superintendent, land Mr.. Wal
worth suggested:
He paused.
"Yes?" said l. "What did Mr.. Wal
worth suggest?''
That the sound was a pistol shot"
rejoined the lawyer, land that you were
an enemy of Harberts."
He had dropped his smooth manner
and he seemed to have thoroughly made
up his mind.
You are insane" said I, with weak
assumption of anger.
Il smell powder smoke" he contin-
| ued, and there is blood on the floor.
| He pointed to the place where Har-
bert's head had lain. Outland stoo~e ed
down to look, while Walworth turned on
more electric lights l knew not how
to interpose an objection.
This needs investigation" said the
superintendent,
Go ahead and investigate" I rejoined.
But If you really wish to know what
has happened ] will tell you; my revolver
was accidentally discharged, and 1 am
wounded"
l drew back the coat with which
had replaced the light one, and showed
the blood stains beneath.
"A revolver does not go off twice by
accident" said Waiworth. 1--WE heard
two shots. I am afraid that the first was
better aimed than the second. A suicide
shoots with an unsteady hand"
So he believed 1 had killed Harbert and
had then attempted to escape the conse-
quences. 1t was plausible, and my blood
ran cold
"Harbert is certainly not here" contn-
ued the lawyer, land there is but one
place in the building where he could have
gone if this mans story is true.
Precisely" responded Walworth. He
did not say he was going there, and .im
reasonably sure that he did not. But we
will cover that point. And then, Mr..
Cheever we shall look to you for an ex-
planation,'
He walked away, followed by Outland.
Amy and / looked at each other helpless
ly. l knew that Walworth had no sus-
picion of the truth; he merely recognized
a iNb baH
to him-that Harbert had gone to see Os-
valid, perhaps for help after an encounter
with me. Harbert had tried very hard to
make friend of Oswald. II may be that
he was really attracted to the chemist.
but l had thought 1t more probable that
he had made the mistake of supposing
that he could get information from my
friend that would be useful in his cam
paign against me.
Fate had arranged all the details of the
situation with admirable forethought. Be-
yond a doubt l was doomed to the mis-
cries of fight against the law, If not to
actual penalty of murder. 1t was incon-
ceivable that in the brief time at his dis
posal Oswald had made any dispositi n
of Harbert's body. If he had been rash
enough to begin a chemical process upon
it, then he and l were both involved in
most terrible net of suspicion. 1t came
to me then for the first time that Os-
valid had acted entirely outside the bound
of ordinary human conduct in entering
with me into this affair of deadly peril.
When a man, utterly desperate as l had
been asks his friend for help, 1t seems
natural 10 him that it should be grant
| ed. And thus / had accepted Oswald
tremendous sacrifice as no great wonder.
Amy and / followed OutlaHd and Wal
worth into the hall and up the stairs.
| 1t was an absurd thing to do. but we
were beyond our own control. Upon the
floor above the scrubwoman was busily
at work.
us anybody in Mr.. Oswald's room?"
| the supeIintend- Mt asked h-r?
mo enc but himself, SIR, / guess"
1 said the woman. "Nobody's gone in since
| I've been here, and nobodys come out
| except Mr.. Cheever."
| In the larger laboratory we heard
| Oswald's three assistants singing, as
they often did at the close of the day,
| but not a sound came from his own
room. Outland tried the door.
"In just a second" called Oswald,
| cheerfully.
Almost at once the door was opened,
| We all filed in.
| Well, upon my word" exclaimed the
| chemist. This is an agreeable surprise,
Miss Romano, I'm del GIFTED to see you.
You're not looking very we'll S down,
! gentlemen, all. what can 20 LOT you!
| My eyes, which, with the a. vous strain,
were sore in their sockets, roamed around
| the room. There was not a place in it
where a man could hide a tall hat. Yet
| Herbert's body had disappeared. Could
| Oswald have taken it into the main labor
| atory? Impos lib e; he would not trust
| such a secret to three men.
1--WE were looking for Mr.. Herbert"
| said Walworth. Have you seen him?"
q
| ago." replied Oswald, II gu, SIS he'd come
| from your office, Cheever. l don't know
where he is now. Miss Romano, I'm
afraid the vapors in this room are too
much for you. 1t smells a little like
a draft from the Internal regions. That's