Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-06


Well said Dick, resumng his seat, what
next?'
Mrs Gilroy. came out. screechns Murder
She dragged me upstairs and into the sitting
room"
Did you notice il there was a red lamp in the
Window"
No. I was too Mortified by the sight Of my
dead grandfather. | loosened the handkerchief
round the throat"
That was bandana. Sir Simon's own and
was produced at the inquest. What about the
one over the mouthY
The one stepped in chloroform? | don't
know. I had it in my hsnd when Mrs Gilroy
accused me. Then lost my head. / must have
dropped it."
Commission looked disappointed. "That's
pity" said he. 81 fancied you might have un-
consciously taken it with you. You see, it was
white handkerchief and Sir Simon never used
one of that color If there happened to be a
name on the corner"
ut would be that of the assassin. Is that
what you mean?"
Eyes, that is what mean. The assassin must
have used his own handkerchief"
why do you think that?"
Dick made an impatient gesture. "Why, 1t s
the most natural thing he would do" was his
reply He enters the room, and talks with Sir
Simon. In his pocket he has the handkerchief
stepped in cholroform and uses it unexpectedly.
It's as clear as day"
why do you think the assassin is a man.!
"I'll tell you that later. Go on"
There's nothing more to say. Mrs. Giroy
said that | the assassin and tried to hold
me. The policeman came and arrested me-
Seeing what fix was in 1 bolted."
"You should have stood your ground" in
sisted Dick.
Bernard rose and in his turn paced the room
Man alive, how could l do that?" he said irri
tably. "The position was dangerous enough to
appall the bravest man. made dash for lib
erty, SO that | might have time to think out
my position. How gained this refuge you know.
And here 1 have been thinking since how
to extricate myself from the dilemma and prove
my innocence. / can't see how to do it, Dick.
can't see how to act"
STEADY, old boy. Come and sit down and
we'll thresh out the NATTER
He led Bernard back to the chair, into which
the poor fellow threw himself with weary sigh
Commission could not but acknowledge that the
case against his friend was very strong
tits plot" said Conniston at length, while
Bernard gazed despairngly into the burning logs
"This fellow who resembled you and who took
your name is the assassin"
How do you make that out?"
"Whyl He was in the kitchen before six and
was sent for by your grandfather. He at once
left. Then he came back after ten and was ad-
mitted by Mrs. Gilroy, who might have made
mistake"
"She could not mistake another man for me-
II don't know. This fellow evidently was
your double, or at least was made up to resem-
BILE you. But that would not be easy" added
Commission, staring at his friend, "for you have no
beard mustache, and it is difficult to make
up like another chap without such aids At least
/ should think So And remember the lamp in
the hall did not give very good light-so Dur
ham told me- The housemaid saw you only in
that light, and therefore might have mistaken
you for the fellow who courted her. Mrs. Gil
roy
"She saw me in the full glare of the light in
the sitting-room She recognized me-"
Eyes. But according to her evidence she only
admitted your double just after ten and intro
duced him into the sitting-room. She did not
see him save under the hall lamp
"That is true But my grandfather would
soon detect the imposition
"Quite right" rejoined Dick, smoothly, che
did, and then the assassin murdered him after
sitting him with the chloroform."
"But you forget my grandfather was pas
sionate He might and probably would
have made a scene. Mrs. Gilroy below would
have heard the and would have come up y
"She may be lying when she declares she heard
nothing" admitted Dick. "On the other hand.
the assassin may have crossed directy over TO
placing the handkerchief at once over his mouth
Then he could strangle him at his leisure and
clear out, as he did"
''And then Mrs. Gilroy runs up, finds the dead
and rushes out to accuse me. must have been
brought in the nick of time" said Bernard, iron.
ically. NO. Dick there's more in it than that.
Mrs. Gilroy is in the plot whomsoever contrived
it."
''why, Bery contrived it. He wanted the
money"
''Was he in the house at the timer"
''No. He didn't commit the crime himself if
that is what you mean. He with Miss Randolph
was at the Curtain Theatre, which is near
Crimea Square. He drove up quietly in Mrs.
Webber's carriage lust when the row was on y
eyes" Bernard passed his hand across his
forehead. 81 should have remembered that.
was in the hall at the time with the hand of the
policeman on my shoulder. But have grown Sd
confused, Dick, that It's all like dream"
"A nightmare rather But why do you think
Mrs. Gilroy is"
''Is in the plot Because, before she accused
me, she said to herself, but loud enough for me
to hear, It's the only wayl'
''Ha ho" said Commission, excited, you car
swear to that"
"Of course can. But 1 can't swear in tn,
dock, and that is the only place I'm likely to oc
cupy should be caught"
'Is Mrs. Gilroy friend of Beryl's?"
Il can't say that she was ever anyone's friend
She even seemed to hate my grandfather, al
though he was so good to her. She and Luc,
were always quarreling, and though she behaved
civily to me, was-as said before-never sur
of her"
"You can certainly be sure of her now. Blu
1 can't help thinking Beryl had something TO d.
with this plot He had lot at stake I hav
heard tales about his gambling that would opel
your eyes. Durham made it his business to fin,
out when he heard that Sir Simon intended Il
disinhert you in favor of Beryl"