Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-07-02

notes. had 10. But murderl"
He wiped his forehead with his
handkerchief.
We'll, I slipped across and behind
| the curtains. II was very still. The
man I'm ten didn't move, although my
heart was Humping until thought he
would hear II.
] II felt around cautiously. II was
perfectly dark. and I came across a
BIT Of chain. about as long as my fin
! ger. Il seemed a queer thing to find
/ there, and it was sticky, too"
He shuddered. and 1 could see All
sons hands clenching and unclenching
with the strain.
"An at once II struck me that the
man was strangely silent. and think
I lost my nerve. Anyhow, I drew the
curtains open a little. and let the light
fall on my hands. They were red.
blood-red"
He leaned one hand on the back OF
1 the chair. and was silent for a mo-
ment, as though he lived over again
the awful events OF that more than
awful night
The stout detective had let his cigar
go out; he was still drawing at Il
neryously. Richey had picked I'D a
paper-weight and was tossing II from
hand TO hand; when it slipped and fell
to the floor. startled shudder passed
| through the room.
There was something glittering IN
there" Sullivan resumed. and o. I'm
pulse 7 picked It up. Then 7 dropped
| the curtains and stumbled back to my
own berth"
Where you wiped your hands on
the bed clothing and stuck the dirk in
70 the pillow Hotchkiss was seeing
his carefully built structure crumbling
TO pieces. and he looked chagrined.
It suppose did-Tm not very clear
about what happened then. But when
] rallied a little 7 saw a Russia leath-
or wallet lying IN the aisle almost at
my feet and. like a fool. I stuck Il,
with the bit Of chain. into my bag.
Il sat there. shiverinF. for what
| seemed hours. II was still perfectly
quiet, except for some one snoring. 7
thought that would drive me crazy.
The more 7 thought OF Il the worse
| things looked The telegram was the
first thing against met would put
the police on my track at once. when
Il was discovered that the man in low
er ten had been killed
Then 7 remembered the notes, and
I took out the wallet and opened g."
He stopped for minute. as n The
recalling or the next occurrence was
| almost beyond him
Il took out the wallet" ne said sim
ply "and. opening f.. held 81 20 tho
light In gilt letters was the name.
Simon Harrington "
The detectives we're leaning for
ward now. their eyes on his face.
Things seemed 20 whirl around for
a while. sat there almost paralyzed.
wondering what this new development
meant for me.
My wife. / knew, would swear I
had killed her father: nobody would
be likely 20 believe the truth.
DO you believe me now?" He
looked around az us dehantly. II am
telling the absolute truth. and not one
Of you believes me.
After a bit the man in lower nine
got up and walked along the aisle To-
ward the smoking compartment. I
heard him 60, and. leaning from my.
berth. watched him out OF sight.
1t was then I got the idea OF
changing berths with him. getting his
clothes. and leaving the train. I give
you my word 1 had no idea OF throw
! Ing suspicion on him"
Alison looked scornfuuy incredu-,
lous. but felt that the man was tell
ing the truth.
i changed the numbers OF the
berths. and IL worked well. I got into
the other mans berth, and he came
back 20 mine. The rest was easy.
| dressed in his clothes-luckfly. thew
htted-and jumped the train not far
from Baltimore. Just before the
wreck"
There is something else Won must
clear up" said Why did you try 20
telephone me from NJ, and why
did you change your mind about the
message?"
He looked astounded.
| You knew was at M" he
stammered
Yes. We traced you. What about
| the message2"
] Well. IL was this way: OF course.
l did not know your name, Mr.. Blake
ley The telegram said: Man with
papers in lower ten. car seven and
after I had made what I considered
my escape. began TO think I had left
the man in my berth in a bad way.
He would probably be accused OF
the crime. So, although when the
wreck occurred I supposed everyone
connected with the affair had been
killed. there was a chance that you
had survived. I've not been OF much
account, but / didn't want a man to
swing because ! left him in my place.
Besides, / began TO have a theory OF
my own.
AS we entered the car a tall, dark
woman passed US, with a glass of wa
ter in her hand. and vaguely remem-
bered her. She was amazingly like
Blanche Conway.
II she, too. thought the man with
the notes was in lower ten, IL ex-