, 1910-06-23

fiye O'Clock IN the morning. 1t was
evident that Underwood had never
gone to bed. The shooting had &C.
CURED either while the angry dispute
was going on or after the unknown
visitor had departed. The barrel Of
the revolver vas still warm, showing
that It could only have been dis
charged a few moments before. Sud-
denly 1t flashed upon him that Under
wood might have committed suicide.
But 1t was useless to stand there
theorizing. Something must be done.
He must alarm the hotel people or
call the police. He felt himself turn
hot and cold by TURF as he realized
the serious p~redicament In which he
himself was placed. II he aroused
the hotel people they would find him
here alone with a dead man. Suspi-
cion would at once be directed at him,
and It might be very diff cult for him
to establish his innocence. Who would
believe that he could have fallen
asleep in a bed while a nan killed
himself in the same room7 1t sounded
preposterous. The wisest course for
him would be to get away before any
body came.
Quickly he picked up his hat and
made for the door. Just as he was
about to lay hand on the handle there
was the click of a %iatchkey. Thus
headed of, and not knowing what to
do, he halted in painful suspense.
The door opened and a man entered.
He looked as surprised to see How
ard as the latter was to see him. He
was clean-shaven and neatly dressed.
yet did not look the gentleman. His
appearance was rather that of q serv.
ant. All these details flashed befere
Howard's mind before he blurted out:
who the devil are you?"
The man looked astonished at the
Howard shook his head. There was
n pathetic expression of helplessness
on his face.
81 didn't kill him." he faltered. 81
was asleep on that sofa. l woke up.
It was dark. / went out. l wanted to
get home. My wife was waiting for
me-"
Now I've caught you lying" inter
rupted the captain quickly. You told
the coroner you saw the dead man and
feared you would be suspected of his
murder, and so tried to get away I'M
seen" Turning to his men, he added:
"How is that, Maloney? Did the pris-
oner say that?"
The sergeant consulted his back
notes, and replied:
Yes, Cap, that's what he said"
Suddenly Capt. Clinton drew from
his hip pocket the revolver which he
had found on the floor nea the dead
mans body. The supreme test was
captain would now play his trump
card. 1t was not without reason that
his enemies charged him with employ
ing unlawful methods in conducting
his inquisitorial examinations.
stop your lying!" he said fierce
ly. Tell the truth, or Wen keep you
here until you do. The motive is
clear. You came for money. You
were refused, and you did the trick"
Suddenly producing the revolver,
and holding It well under the light,
30 that the rays from the e%lectrolier
fell directly IN its highly polished
surface, he shouted:
Howard Jeffries, you shot Robert
Underwood, and you shot him with
this pistol"
Howard gazed at the shining sur
face Of the metal as II fascinated. He
spoke not a word, but his eyes be-
came riveted on the weapon until his
face assumed a vacant stare. From
the scientific standpoint, the act of
hypnotism had been accomplished.
In his nervous and overfatigued state,
added to his susceptibility to quick
hypnosis, he was now directly under
the influence of Capt. Clinton's
stronger will. He was completely re-
ceptive. The past seemed all a blur
on his mind. He saw the flash of
steel and the police captains angry,
notwithstanding face. He felt he
was powerless to resist that will n
longer. He stepped back and gave
a shudder, averting his eyes from the
binding steel. Capt. Clinton quickly
followed VI his advantage:
You committed this crime, Howard
Jeffries!" he shouted, fixing him with
q stare. To his subordinate he
shouted: Didn't he, Maloney?"
"He killed him all right echoed
Aaloney.
His eyes still fixed on those of his
victim, and approaching his face
close to his. the captain shouted:
"You did it, Jeffries! Come on,
up! Let's have the truth! You shot
Robert Underwood with this revolver.
You did it, and you can't deny it! You
know you can't deny it! Speak," he
Numbered. you did it,"
Howard, his eyes still fixed on the
Shining pistol. repeated, as If recit-
Ing a lesson:
81 did it,"
Quickly Capt. Clinton signaled to
Maloney to approach nearer with his
notebook. The detective sergeant
took his place imml lately back of