Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-12-01
crewe did mot reply. butt drummed

case" said Sewell May ask what
hey are?"
I'VE have found several things"
Crewe answered. For instance. we
know that the bullet. instead of pass
ing from without inward. passed from
within outward. Therefore the mys-
terry Of the missing bullet is made
clear. 1t went through that hole In
the wall after 1t had passed through
Mr.. Bentley's brain. not previously"
saw the police chief smile and
whisper into Sewelrs ear. The two
detectives sat stolidly upon their
chairs.
THAT is very interesting" said
Sewell. rising. "and may or may not
be true. But understand that you
invited me here for a purpose. Have
you any further questions to ask OF
mef"
He snapped his watch ostentatious-
ly, as though he grudged each moment
spent In the presence of us amateurs.
Crewe remained silent for a moment.
more through abstraction than inso-
lence.
"only one. sir" he answered
finally.
"And what is that?" asked sewell.
sneering.
Crewe rose and placed himself be-
tween our guest and the door. He
peered into his face. why did you
change the froEt of the clock?" he
demanded indolentIy.
The effect of this question was
amazing. ALI the insolence went out
Of Sewell's face. He sank back into
his chair and pressed his hand over
his heart A BLUSH pallor spread
over his features. He could not reply.
Come. Sewell." said Crewe. more
kindly. Tell US the story of how
you killed Mr.. Bentley"
But Sewell's face remained of the
same pallor, and he stared up into
his inquisitor's countenance, his mouth
partly open, his eyes CLASSY and fixed.
He tried to reply, but instead sighed
and rolled out Of his chair upon the
floor.
It was half an hour before we could
revive him. The strain and tension
of the past month were producing the
reaction at last. While we opened
his collar and dashed water into his
face Crewe went to the mantel and
deity removed the face of the clock.
Inside. cunningly fixed and COM
pressed among the mechanism. was a
tiny, gripless pistol. whose muzzle Of
% caliber was In exact alignment
with the winding aperture. Sewell's
eyes Lit upon this when he became
conscious.
Crewe went over to him and read a
brief confession Of murder. Putting
forth his hand feebly, Sewell signed
bis name. Then we summoned an
ambulance and the two detectives
escorted him to the nearest hospital.
from which. In course of time, be was
taken to court to stand his trial and,
as I have related, found guilty. I
viii not dwell upon the details Of
the punishment; suffice It to say that
the sentence Of the law was duly car
ried into effect
It was shown at the trial with what
amazing ingenuity Sewell had worked.
How, having decided that Bentley was
to die by the very instrument which
he had stolen from him. he baited
a trap that could not fail to act
Sewell had had an electricians train
ing, and 1t was an easy matter to
connect the pistol In the clock with
a certain spot on the floor In such
d way that the pressure of foot
would complete the circuit and dis
charge the weapon. But he had done
more. That nothing untoward might
mar the success Of his scheme he had
somehow become possessed of Bent
| ley's exact height and had carried
on a long series of experiments until
he could be sure that the line Of the
bullets path would cleave the center
of Bentley's skull And only when
standing in certain exact spot would
Bentley complete the circuit. He
must have crossed and recrossed the
floor hundred times before his foot
found the terminal; he might have
lived weeks, months. even a year
but, sooner or later. coincidence would
bring about that pressure Of his foot
upon the terminal and Bentley's con-
sequent destruction.
As to the face which Sewell had
put on the clock. 1t came about in
this wise, as he confessed the day be-
fore his execution. In removing the
front, Sewell had dropped and frac-
tured the piece of porcelain which
bore the lettering Of the numerals.
He had not dared purchase another
clock, and, since the parts of the
clocks of the two rival companies
were identical. Sewell had gone to
his own factory by night. after It had
been forced to close, and. setting up
the printing dies, had printed new
front, which he afterward brought
back to the Gordonia and exchanged
for the broken portion.
How did you know that, Crewe7"
/ asked. What was the difference
between the front that Sewell printed
and that Of normal clock-of the
church tower, for instance"
TT was a singular event." Crewe
answered indirectly. "and seems to
show that Providence. or rather Ne
mesis. follows closely upon the GRIM
inal. Sewell must have seen hun
dreds Of clock fronts printed, and
yet, at the supreme moment. the