Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-14
CHAPTER XXX-Continued.


ously. Richey had picked up a paper
| weight and was tossing ii from hand to
hand; when ii slipped and fell TO the
floor a startled shudder passed through
the room.
There was something glittering in
there" Sullivan resumed. land on i'm
pulse I picked it up. Then I dropped
the curtains and stumbled back to my
own berth"
Where you wiped your hands on the
bed clothing and stuck the dirk into the
pillow" Hotchkiss was seeing his care
fully built structure crumbing to pieces
and he looked chagrined.
Il suppose I did-Tm not very clear
/ rallied little I saw a Russian leather
wallet lying in the aisle almost at my
| feet. and. like fool. I stuck it, with the
bit of chain, into my bag.
Il sat there. shivering, for what seemed
hours. 1t was still perfectly quiet. ex-
| cept for some one snoring. i thought
that would drive me crazy.
1.-The more I thought of it the worse
| things looked. The telegram was the
| first thing against melt would put the
police on my track at once, when 1t was
discovered that the man in lower ten had
| been killed.
Then T. remembered the notes, and I
| took out the wallet and opened it,
He stopped for a minute. as IL the re-
| calling Of the next occurrence was al
most beyond him.
Il took out the wallet" he said. SIM
| ply. land. opening it, held it TO the light.
| In gilt letters was the name, Simon Har-
rington.'
The detectives were leaning forward
| now. their eyes on his face.
Things seemed to whirl around for a
while. / sat there almost paralyzed. WON
| dering what this new development meant
for me.
"My wife. knew. would swear l had
killed her father: nobody would be likely
| to believe the truth.
do you believe ME now?' He looked
| around at us. deflantly. IL am telling
the absolute truth, and not one of you
| believes me.
| After bit the man in lower nine got
up and walked along the aisle toward the
| smoking compartment. heard him go
| and. leaning from my berth, watched him
| out of sight.
1T was then I got the idea of chang
| ing berths with him, getting into his
| clothes and leaving the train. / give you
| my word I had no idea Of throwing sus-
picion on him.
| Alison looked scornfully incredulous.
| but felt that the man was telling the
| truth.
| Il changed the numbers of the berths
| and it worked we'll. I got into the other
mans berth and he came back to mine.
The rest was easy l dressed in his
enthusiastically, they fftted-and jumped
| the train not far from Baltimore, just
| before the wreck
There is something else you must
clear up" I said. why did you try to
| telephone me from M, and why did
you change your mind about the mes
sage?"
He looked astonished.
You knew 1 was at M" he stam-
mered.
yes, we traced you. What about the
messenger
..yEon ~ uas this way-of course did
not know your name, Mr.. Blakeley. The
| telegram said. Man with papers In lower
| ten, car seven,' and after had made
what / considered my escape I began
to think I had left the man in my berth
| in bad way.
HE would probably be accused of the
crime. So, although when the wreck oc-
| Cured 1 supposed every one connected
| a chance that you had survived. I've not
been of much account, but l didn't want
| man to swing because I'd left him in
my place. Besides, l began to nave
| theory of my own.
| LAS we entered the car a tall. dark
! woman passed us, with glass of water
| in her hand. and / vaguely remembered
| her. She was amazingly like Blanche
Conway.
IF she, too, thought the man with the
notes was in lower ten. 1t explained
| lot. including that piece of woman's
| necklace. She was fury, Blanche Con-
way; capable of anything"
Then why did you countermand that
message?" I asked. curiously.
when I got to the Carter house and
got to bed had sprained my ankle in
the jump went through the alligator
| bag l had taken from lower nine. When
| 1 found your name ! sent the first mes
| sage. Then, soon after. I came across
the notes. 1t seemed too good to be
| true, and I was crazy for fear the mes
| sage had gone.
TAT first I was going to send them to
| Bronson; then 1 began to see what the
possession OF the notes meant to me. 1t
meant power over Bronson, money, In
fuence, everything. He was devil, that
| man."
well. he's at home now" said Nc
knight, and we were glad to laugh and
| relieve the tension.
Alison put her hand over her eyes. as
If to shut out the sight of the man she
had so nearly married. and 1 furtively
| touched one of the soft little curls that
nestled at the back of her neck.
when I was able to walk" went on
the sullen voice, Il came at once to
Washington. 1 tried to sell the notes to
Bronson, but he was almost at the end
them back to you. Mr. Blakeley. could
make him meet my figure. He didn't
| have the money"
Mcknight was triumphant.
| II think you gentlemen will see reason
| in my theory now" he said. Mrs. Con-
way wanted the notes to force a legal
marriage, SUPPOSE"
Yes"
| The detective with the small package
| carefully rolled off the rubber band and
| unwrapped it. I held my breath as he
| took out, first, the russia leather wallet
"These things, Mr.. Blakeley. we found
| in the sealskin bag Mr.. Sullivan says he
| left you. This wallet, Mr. Sullivan-is
this the one you found on the floor OF the
carr"
Sullivan opened it and. glancing at the
| Harrington"
| ded affirmatively.
land this" went on the detective-"thfsl
| is piece Of gold chain?'
"It seems to be-" said Sullivan, recoil-
| ing at the blood-stained end.
"This 1 believe. Is the dagger" He
| held it up and Alison gave faint cry
| of astonishment and dismay. Sullivan's
| face grew CHASTITY and he sat down weak
| Nv on the nearest chair.
| The detective looked at him shrewdly.
| then at Alison's agitated face.
| "Where have you seen this dagger be-
fore. young LADY," he asked, kindly
enough.
-Oh. don't ask me.'' she gasped, breath
| lessly, her eyes turned on Sullivan. Its
its too TERRIBLE!
Tell him." advised. leaning over to
| her. 1T will be found out later. any
bnu -