Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-22

lips dry and his face pale. 81 came here"
"To kill Sir Simon Jane" cried Mrs. Gil
roy, turning to the housemaid. Don't you see
who it lisp"
Jane staggered forward supported by the cook
"Lor'," she gasped in terror, ''it's Bernard
| Whatever did YOU"
''You know him., them" asked the officer
Yes! he's been making love and visiting me
for the last week?"
81 thought So" cried Mrs. Gilroy, triumph
antly. Cook"
Il know him too" said the cook, keeping well
out of the way. TITS the young soldier courts
Jane. Bernards his name"
Il was never in this house before" said Gore
| quite unnerved.
4Is your name Bernardo asked the police
man.
eyes! but"
'Then you are guilty"
''He is-he isl" cried the housemaid "He was
here this evening but went away at six Sir
Simon said he would see him after ten. Oh,
Bernard, how could you'll" sobbed Jane.
Mrs. Gilroy," cried the young man, over
whelmed with horror, you know | am inno-
cent"
mo" she said fercely and with her eyes on
his face "You came to see Sir Simon after ten.
/ let you in myself | waited below while YOU
spoke with Sir Simon and you left fifteen min
utes ago. l went upstairs to see my master. He
was dead-strangled. | out calling murder,
and you were almost on the doorstep"
Il had only just come"
Come back, you mean," said the officer.
"To see if poor master was dead" shrieked
the cook.
"Oh, Bernard Bernardo sobbed Jane. chow
could you kill hm Lor'! that l should have
kissed murderer"
"Hark!" said Mrs Gilroy, raising her hand,
footsteps. The other police are coming Take
him away to Jail, officer"
'Ths is a trcka trap" cried Bernard, strug
Cling to get free. "I never was in the house be-
fore"
'You have visited in the kitchen for over
fortnight" said Jane, weeping copiously.
Someone like me has, but not me. Look we'll
girl Am ! the man."
Bring him under the lamp, policeman" said
Jane, hesitating.
"Nol" said Mrs. Gilroy, pushing the house
maid back, there is no time. Here are the po-
lice We must go upstairs and see Sir Simon
Miss Randolph is at the theatre with Mr.. Beryl
Ah-harki"
There was sound of approaching wheels, and
moment afterwards carriage drove up. Out
of it stepped Lucy and julius. They entered the
hall and looked amazed, as they well might, on
seeing Bernard in the grip of the policeman, and
the alarmed women around him.
whats this?" asked Julius.
Bernard" cried Lucy, running forward,
"what have you done?"
Murdered his grandfather miss" said the
policeman.
Lucy uttered wild shrek and sprang up the
stairs, followed by the cook and housemaid But
Mrs. Gilroy still held her ground and caught
hold of Beryl's arm. Keep him fast, sir" She
said savagely. ''He came this night and mur.
dered the master"
Julius, it is a lie"
81 hope so" said Beryl, who looked pale and
startled; ''but you know you quarreled with
my uncle"
''Ah, did he?' said the policeman, and felt
for his pocket-book. In doing so, he slightly re-
laxed his grip, and Bernard was quick to take
advantage of the chance.
Had he but reflected for a moment he would
have stood 6is ground and have faced the worst;
but with the accusing face of Mrs. Gilroy before
him, and memory of the housemaid's evidence
and Beryl's enmity, he decided hastily to fly
In a moment ne laid the policeman fiat on his
back by quick wrestling trick, and darted out
into the street.
Mrs. Gilroy ran to the door shrieking murder,
and the word was heard by three or four police
men who were tramping hurriedly along in the
wake Of the breathless page. At once they real
lied the situation, and plunged into the fog after
the flying form of the soldier. The page fol
lowed also, but speedily returned with the news
that the fugitive was running towards High
street
"I hope not" said Beryl, who was standing in
the hall much disturbed. "After all, he is my
cousin"
"And murderer" added the housekeeper.
"Wait here. policeman"
"But he's got away said the officer, con.
siderably rufhed by the escape. 81 must fol.
low"
"The others are after him" said Julius draw
ing him back "You can't follow in the fog.
IT'S thicker than ever Mrs Webber"
"Oh, what's the matter?" asked trembling
voice, and white face appeared at the window
of the carriage which stood at the door "Mr.
Beryl!"
"Sir Simon has been murdered by his grand
SON." said Julius, running down the steps and
speaking quietly.
Mrs. Webber threw herself back into the car
riage and shreked ooh, horrible Drive away
drive away.
mo! moi" said Beryl, anxiously. "Lucy is up
stairs with the corpse. Come and take her away
She can't remain here"
eyes, | know" said Mrs. Webber, recovering
from her momentary alarm, and getting hastily
out of the carriage. Games, where is Francis?"
"He's gone off after the murderer, num-" said
James, touching his hat; ''but for the orses I'd
have gone also.
"'Wait-wait," said Mrs. Webber, hurrying up
the steps. "IIow terrible-poor Sir Simon.
Where is the body?" she asked, shuddering.
'In the sittingroom on the first floor" said
Mrs Gilroy
''Where the red light is?' asked the lady.
'pThere is no red light" said Mrs, Giroy.
"But I tell you there is" said Mrs. Webber.
'I saw it when l heard the horrid cry of MUIR
der"
"The red light" said Julius starting 'I won
der,-he hurried outside and looked up to the
dark front of the house There's no red light,
Mrs Webber." he called out