The Yale expositor., 1911-11-16

"ouiu prove more prOHtaDle TO attach
herself. In fact, Mrs. Sanford had
had frequent visitors; she was an at
tractive woman, and it was not hard
to believe that some of them must
have fallen in love with her. But that
any OF these had murdered her
seemed quite unlikely. The particu-
lar rival of whom Sanford spoke was
quite unknown to Mrs. Sanfords ac-
quaintances; If such an one existed,
his identity had been skilfully con-
cealed. To discover him seemed an
impossibility. There was no letter,
no shred of evidence, pointing to such
a man.
In my perplexity turned to Crewe.
If anyone could help me run down this
mysterious suspect I knew this man
could. He had solved many a per-
picking problem for me through the
aid Of his wonderful visualizing pow
ers. No image that passed before the
camera-like eyes of Peter Crewe was
ever forgotten.
Let us begin by assuming that
such a man exists" said Crewe, when
he had heard my story attentively.
Are there any photographs of men in
Mrs. Sanford's apartment"
There were dozens of photographs
of both men and women. In fact Mrs.
Sanford had had hobby for collect.
ing photographs of all her acquaint-
ances. The apartment had been
sealed by the police, but, upon obtain
ing an order from the authorities, we
were enabled to enter. We found pho
tographs all round the sitting room.
'If 1t is one of these" l said, mo-
body knows which one"
THAT is immaterial, so long as it is
one of them," said Crewe, focusing
his eyes upon each in turn. He re-
mained thus for several seconds in
front of each photograph, as though
some time were needed for the action
of the light to impress the images
indelibly upon the retina.
Now" said Crewe, "the probabili-
ties are that she met him in the mov-
ing picture company for which she
posed. Actresses and actors general
ly form close corporation, and we
may almost take it for granted that
they belonged to the same trade. By
the way, Langton, the photograph that
we are looking for is probably not
here"
Not here?" I calculated.
NO." he said, pointing to the velvet
mantel cover. DO you see anything
strange there? Surely you must, for
it is almost impossible to keep a Sc
cret from velvet"
Il see some dust" | said.
"Look here-and herc-and here"
said Crewe impatiently. DO you see
that faint line along the nap of the
velvet? That is where a photograph
stood for several weeks, but stands no
longer. Observe that there is an edg-
ing of dust on either side of it.. And
here, and here, these photographs be-
side it once stood, but they were re-
Gently moved up about an inch and a
half closer. Langton, the murderer
undoubtedly took away his photo
graph and moved up the photographs
on either side in order to cover the
gap left by the removal. 1t was in
genious, and would have bafled the
police. But velvet tells it's own tale,
and all the rubbing in the world
would not have erased those creases
In the nap. We are, then, bent upon
the search for man whose photo
graph is not here-Mrs. Sanford's
only friend whom we have not seen.
1t simplifies matters enormously"
"How?" 1 asked.
"In the first place 1t bears out your
theory as to the existence of such a
man, whom we have hitherto only as
sumed to exist. Secondly, we know
all Mrs. Sanford's friends but him.
Consequently, when we see him in the
moving pictures we know him instant
ly. But it is essential, in order to
verify certain suspicious that enter
tain, that we should see the knife"
THAT can be done," I said. "It Is
in the custody of the police, but have
the right of inspection. Let us go
round to police headquarters imme-
diately."
No demur was made to our examin-
ing the weapon, although detective
remained at hand while we looked at
it. 1t was formidable affair, and one
which had evidently been put to use
by it's Malay owner before it crossed
the seas to become the property of
the luckless actress. It's blade curled
in a succession of waves, and 1t was
as keen as the finest razor. Upon
the right side, when held blade up
ward, appeared the bloody glove
prints.
'If them was only finger prints.
now," said the detective, wed know
who done It instantly. Fingers is
never the same, but gloves battles u.s."
"On the contrary" said Crewe, 'T
think we shall run the murderer to
earth with equal facility"
you've got him, that's why" said
the detective, chuckling. Gents, it's
as clean a case against the accused
as we've handled this year."
mot IL he knows how to pitch
Quoits," said Crewe, sharply.
whats that you say?" asked the
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