Evening star., 1909-09-01

ence on John Altenburg. or the man Clay
ton. and he had not the least idea where
Clayton was
Then, exclaimed Grimbleshaw. tri-
umphantly. were working on theory
that Horace, who was anxious before
everything 10 clear his father. came here
and murdered the man whom lie regarded
as the only possible witness to clear his
father. What kind of a theory do you
call that
Judith looked AT him and almost gasped-
Il hadn't thought of it that way be-
fore she said
But isn't that it, demanded Grimble-
shaw. Isn't it,
1T looks that way admitted Judith
why are you afraid 10 say il is that
way?" asked Grimbleshaw. gently. while
in his earnestness lie leaned forward and
just touched her hand with the tips of
his fingers.
Because / am afraid to-. she whis-
pered. I'm afraid it can't be So
Where is Clayton?" asked Grimble-
shaw.
! Nobody seems to know" said Judith
Indeed. so far as we know. he may be
dead long ago.
why. I'd want corroborative evidence
if Horace himself tod me he murdered
John Altenburg,i'' said Grimbeshaw. with
some resentment at the imbecility of the
theory sounding in his voice oh but
about Your father" he added. recalling
that she had said they came to get him.
lutely gone" she answered, with a touch
of fear in her tone
Cone. he repeated. DO You mean
that he actually was no. here when you
arrived?
Exactly. We went To mothers rooms
where he was 10 remain, and they We're
empty. You did not sec anything of him
when you came'" She asked. as if sud
den thought came to her from his ques-
ton
Nothing Indeed, | knew nothing of
his being here until j got that letter on
which / came to warn YOU. Did you go
direct to your mothers rooms when you
got here?"
AS soon as Horace had cut the tele-
phone wire.
What. was it Horace who cut that
wire?"
''Why. yes. Twas this way: We left
our horses back of the barn, ready in
case we had to leave suddenly. Then we
came across to the rear door and were
just going in when Horace stopped sud
denly and said. Well not have him call
ing in help till we've got what we want
from him. Wait in the passage and I'll
go round and cut the telephone wire He
opened the door and i stepped into the
passage. 1t was sort of creepy waiting
there. and it seemed long time before
he got back. When he did he said. John
Altenburg is in the kitchen and the rest
of the house is dark, and that isn't light
by long shot. Just candle. We went
in. expecting to find father downstairs
waiting, but 1t pitch dark. Horace
ran upstairs and found that room dark
and empty too. ] was frightened, and
think Horace was too, but he put a
bolder air He couldn't have gone to
talk to John Altenburg alone, could he?'
/ asked. Impossible he said, but /
knew by his tone that that was the very
thing he was afraid of. IN find out in
a minute lie added. He wasn't gone
over three minutes, when he came back.
looking terribly pale and frightened, and
said Something has happened. John
Altenburg is hurt and we must get him
up TO his room. We are the only people
in the house | knew by that that father
wasn't there, and l knew. too without
his saying 1t, that he thought father had
hurt John Altenburg. OF course. j was
more frightened when l saw how badly
he was hurt, hut ] braced myself to the
work and we rot him upstairs
But when." demanded Grimbleshaw,
in whose mind one fact demanding ex-
PLANTATION had held dominance over all
others. did your brother telephone me-"
He didn't telephone you at ALL she
replied. Didn't / tell you he cut the
wire before we went into the houSe?'
Then the message had been sent be-
fore you got there, Who in time
and he stopped short. startled by the ex-
preston of her face. OF course her father
was the man at the telephone, and, of
course: but he stopped there with his
thought and caught his breath.
(To be continued tomorrow