The Washington times., 1911-03-17

roFDes was confronted by big, pow
eTful man?'
II have stated that"
And that in spite of that, there
was no real struggle%
There were no signs of a strug-
gle" Gray admitted.
And still you attached no signifi-
canoe to Fitch's remark that the dag
ger could not have been thrust more
exactly into the heart if the murderer
had used an anatomical chart?"
'Eh? Mo-"
Then, since there is no mortal rea-
geor, you must believe that young
Forbes stood perfectly still and al
lowed some one without anatomical
knowledge to feel about locate his
heart. and stab him there, without a
protest?"
"What?" Gray stared.
Gray
The other obeyed.
You know where 1t is, don't you?"
I've been using it for some years" "
Gray smiled.
But if you came on me in the dark
and wanted to make a lightning stroke
exactly at my heart would you be able
To find it?"
"Well-"
And. looking at It from another point,
try. if you can, to imagine that you
want to stab yourself to death. Never
mind the reason-suppose it's some alb
solutely compelling reason, and you
must do IT. You have knife in your
hand, and you must make a quick job
Of It. Where does the knife go, in
stinctively? Into the hearth"
Gray did not have time to utter the
hesitating remark before. Burton's force
full conclusion:
That's why I say that. unquestion-
ably as result of his previous over
Nhelming terror of murder, or some
thing of the sort, Forbes ran into some
formidable danger that night-a danger
that was probably no danger at all. He
was simply, literally scared to death!
In the overpowering fright of the in
stant, he gave way to impulse and took
the surest way of escape. He stabbed
himself"'
Gray thought for several minutes, and
he ended Wit a benevolent smile at his
There are a few holes In your rea-
soring."
II admit that there seem to be-"
After the giant unknown watched
him stab himself. he, knowing that he
out of the way as quickly as possible,
picked up the body and threw it into
the lake
"On the contrary, Forbes stabbed him.
self in that summer house and toppled
into the lake, where actual death oc-
CURED. You forget this: l hold that
Forbes witnessed Norman's murder by
the same man who choked him.
And ran TO the summer-house?"
'PurSued-yes.
Gray laughed aloud.
Then, If he ran that far, why didn't
he keep on running and get out of dam
ger altogether? In spite of his nerves,
he was an outdoor man and In fine
shape physically. He could run like
deer, in all proba bility! And
why is it not thinkabIe that. supposing
his terror to have been overwhelming.
he tainted from fright when Wilkes
choked him? That would give unlimited
time for locating his heart"
And Norman, you imagine, was kill
ed in the house?"
certainly"
"Then-unless you're going to out
Burton yourself, my friend, and hold
that your criminal returned to the
house after watching Gerald kill HIM
self-how the dickens could Norman.
being already dead, lock the place up?"
He waited a moment for a reply that
did not come. Then he threw up his
hands with:
No use, Burton. There's nothing In
any of that-no motive, no sense, no
reason. Usually your conclusions have
a little gem secreted somewhere among
them. This bunch hasnt-that's all"
He faced the spectacled stare for a mo-
facts this time. We have the makings
of a good circumstantial case. Wen
have to work on that and get right
down to the bottom of every possible
Wen have to fine-comb
this section for an eye witness, if one
exists. Wen have To-
The telephone bell across the room
tinkled briskly, and Gray hurried over.
A moment he listened; then:
Yes, send him up, of course"
Unknown vsitor!'' he smiled at
Burton. Refuses to give his name or
business, but must see us at once"
Silently they waited, as seconds grew
to a minute, and further seconds
Come i'm Gray said, sharply.
The door opened slowly. One glance
about the place and a man stepped IN
quickly and shut the door behind him:
and as they stared hard at the long
coat and the hat pulled over the face,
the hat came off. and they were look
Ing at Pell, the butler!
The face of the prematurely old man
was more than pallid; it had taken on a
grayish tinge not unlike that OF death
furtive, and Pell was trembling from
head to foot.
"Gentlemen!' he cried, thickly. Il
can't keep 1t quiet no longer!''
What The pair were at his side,
electrified.
''D'ye know who killed Forbes?' Gray
cried, hoarsely.
yes, sir!' The butler steadied him
self against the detectives arm.
well, who? Who? Who"'
"It was Mr. Wilkes Deston, sir!" the
outler choked.