The Washington times., 1911-03-18
CHAPTER XVI.
The Story of the Night.

- RAYS breath all but left him in
one great gasp!
Burton turned white. His
forehead crumpled into thou
sand little wrinkles. and he stepped back
q pace and stared at the butler.
Why-why, do you know what you're
talking sbout?'' he demanded.
Pell stared at him.
Yes, sir! Ii know what I'm talkin'
about, he said faintlv.
He tottered, and Gray caught HIM
firmly. and led him to a chair: and
tEere Pell collapsed in a round heap!
Gray glanced across the room at Bur-
ton, and his eyes were positively glitter
Ing triumph. The spectacled investiga-
tor, after a last thCnderstruCk stare at
\ the individual who had sent all his
theories flying, threw up Ibis hands and
sat down with a faint, resigned smile
and Gray was leaning over Pell with a
SollCitouS:
Brace up, Pell' Brace up, old man.
Shall ] get you something to drink?"
The buffers head came up slowly.
never took drink in my life sir,
and and | air,t going to begin now! l.
We'll, all right. PcII." the detective
went or, soOthinGly. It's not very
hard to understand Just how you feel
hut you're doing the right thing. You
should have come forward before"
know that, sir" the butler
Eroaned.
And you've done the right thing in
coming directly To US, too. Have you
told anyone else-Barker, for example ?"
NO. sir! II didn't dare to tell Mr.
Barker"
"umum. All right" Gray smiled
softly and merely waited. Burton, too
was waiting, with perpleNity written
upon every line of his face: SO minute
after minute passed. until at last PelI
bIaced hard and sat up.
IL told YOU the worst while the
courage held out, sirs!" he said, with
OF course. And now let's hear the
rest of it, Gray smiled.
Pell licked his lips
'What1l they do to Mr.. Wilkes.
sir he whispered.
"Eh?" Gray contrived a broad smile
and shrugged his shoulders. You
never heard of a very wealthy man
suffering very much for anything he'd
done did you, Pell?"
1T was that one thought that
brought me here, sir" the butler said,
shakily.
Certainly. Any man with money
can be proven insane or absent or any
other old thing" the detective assured
him. IS matter of fact, although
st probably hasn't occurred to you, I'm
know. 1t wouldn't be to my interest to
kick up any great rumpus. you know"
Pell eyed him with a CLEAN of hope.
10 l - hadn't thought of that. sir"
We'll, then, tell us about it," Gray
said, easily. All We want is to know
the truth"
The butler sat back and gulped
breath. he said:
7 saw the whole thing. sir"
You We're awake that night?"
1t was the sound of loud talking
n library IN trply,
don't know how it started or when but
it must have been about l o'clock in
the morning"
Il see," Gray purred.
We'll, there's a little corridor AT the
side of the west wing that leads 10 the
pantry, and two or three other rooms
sir, and it's shut off the main corridor
by door"
a. "A door with a wooden knob where
al the rest of them are bronze?''
THAT is the door, sir. ! came up that
corridor from my own room, and with
the door just ajar, | could look into the
library"
Gray nodded briskly.
"Yes-so you could, Go on"
We'll, the three gentlemen were in
there, and Mr Norman looked as If he'd
been lying down and got up again. I
couldn't catch just exactly what they
were talking about, but II was about
passion. And I don't know what Mr..
Gerald said, but Mr.. Wilkes snatched
up the knife from the table and jumped
at him!
Listening. Burton?" Gray queried
Il am listening" said the other
Eravely.
"Mr.-Mr. Gerald looked at him just
once, and then he tore open the window
and stepped out, sir, and Mr.. Wilkes
with the dagger"
with the dagger, sir" Bell shudder-
ed. They seemed to run along the side
veranda there, as near as l could judge,
toward the front of the house. Any
way Mr.. Norman started for the front
door and opened it and went out
And what did you do?'
Il hurried into the old library on the
east side, sir, and-looked out of the
window, They were fighting out there.
There-there was just little moonlight.
and l could see 'em!''
"Who?'
Mr.. wilkes and Mr.. Gerald. sir And
then Mr. Gerald dropped fiat, all of a
sudden! Mr.. Wilkes didn't stop a sec
cnd, sir! He seemed to just lean over
Ind pick him up-and that was the last
/ could see."
"Jimminy"' commented Gray. And
where was young Deston?'
He appeared there just after they