The Glenwood post., 1911-04-08


understand, Mr. Blakeley, that
thought you were In lower ten, with
the notes."
l nodded curtly.
I'm not trying to defend myself"
he went on. II was ready to steal the
notes-I had to. But murder!"
He wiped his forehead with his
handkerchief.
well, I slipped across and behind
the curtains. 1t was very still. The
man in ten didn't move. although my
heart was humping until I thought he
would hear It.
perfectly dark, and came across a
bit Of chain, about as long as my I'm
ger. 1t seemed a queer thing to md
there, and it was sticky, too
He shuddered, and could see ALI
sons hands clenching and unclenching
with the strain.
"All at once 1t struck me that tho
man was strangely silent, and think
lost my nerve. Anyhow, I drew the
curtains open little, and let the light
fall on my hands. They were red,
blood-red"
He leaned one hand on the back Of
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 1t
nervously. Richey had picked up a
paper-weight and was tossing it from
hand to hand; when it 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 1t 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 in.
| to the pillow" Hotchkiss was seeing
his carefully built structure crumblinS
to pieces. and he looked chagrined
II suppose did-I'm not very clear
about what happened then. But when
I rallied a little saw Russia leath-
er wallet lying in the aisle almost at
my feet, and. like fool. stuck It,
with the bit of chain, into my bag.
| II sat there, shivering. for what
seemed hours. 1t was still perfectly
quiet, except for some one snoring. I
thought that would drive me crazy
The more I thought Of 1t the worse
things looked. The telegram was the
| first thing against met would put
the police on my track at once, when
1t was discovered that the man in low.
er ten had been killed.
Then l remembered the notes, and
took out the wallet and opened r."
He stopped for minute, as II the
recalling of the next occurrence was
almost beyond him.
81 took out the wallet" he said sim.
ply. land. opening It, held 1t to the
light. In gilt letters was the name,
Simon Harrington"
The detectives were leaning for
ward now, their eyes on his face.
Things seemed to whirl around for
a while. I sat there almost paralyzed,
wondering what this new development
meant for me.
DO you believe me nov?" He
looked around at us defiantly II am
telling the absolute truth and not one
of you believes me!
My wife. knew, would swear
had killed her father; nobody would
be likely to believe the truth.
After bit the man in lower nine
got up and walked along the aisle to-
ward the smoking compartment. Il
heard him go, and. leaning from my
berth, watched him out of sight.
1T was then l got the idea Of
changing berths with him, getting his
clothes. and leaving the train. I give
you my word had no idea OF throw
ing suspicion on him."
Alison looked scornfully incredu-
lous, but felt that the man was tell.
ing the truth.
Il changed the numbers of tho
berths. and it worked we'll. got into
back to mine. The rest was easy. I
dressed in his enthusiastically. they
ftted-and jumped the train not far
from Baltimore, just before the
wreck"
There is something else you must
clear up" said. "Why did you try to
telephone me from M, and why
did you change your mind about the
message?"
He looked astounded.
You knew I was at M" hs
stammered.
Yes, we traced you. What about
the message?"
Well, 1t 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 l had made what I considered
my escape, began to think had left
the man in my berth in bad way.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)