The Washington times., 1911-02-22
away here carefully. because be

He opened a drawer of the table and
felt around for little. Then, finally,
he brought forth an unfolded sheet of
note paper, with an inconspicuous John
Deston, Stedmore, N. Y.," engraved
at the top and few lines of clear
writing He handed It to the lawyer,
and without excitement Barker read
half aloud:
Dear sir: In spite of the repeated
warnings which you have been good
enough to give me, have no fear"
Barker nodded. "I remember hearing
about this. now"
Ihat was merely a personal letter
to some friend or business connec-
tion.' Norman said. somewhat uneasi-
ly. Father paid no attention to
threats"
Yet is 1t not at least curious that
we found him bending over Just this
letter, cold in deathT"
Curious enough. perhaps, II you
wish to look at 1t that way: but n
Mr.. Deston had ever finished that let
yer. you would have found that 1t re-
lated to some minor business Item"
But he did not finish it-and to me
the queerest thing is that he began
1t at all! Uncle John always had
several hours of warning, before those
attacks. 1t was his habit, Invariably,
TO go to bed: Yet he must have felt
perfectly we'll. or he would not have
were around that morning you re-
member. Uncle had visitor-a
stranger. Pell brought him in here
and Pell did not see him go out. And
wet day, we found the window wide
open. and"
Showing simply that Mr. Deston
felt the need of air." Barker said.
And there were two wine glasses
on the table empty"
But. my dear boy. Pell brought in
those glasses and the sherry at Mr.
Deston's order"
Very true. And PeII or some one
else removed them and washed them
before anyone could think to have
them saved for examination" Gerald
stated.
The lawyers eyebrows went up once
more, and his smile was calm and Of
the sort intended to soothe and humor
so that we have complete plot,
eh? A stranger-and by the way,
dozens OF people used to come here
you know. whom Pell had never seen
at the house before-a stranger ar
rives. hints at sherry, manager to
poison poor Mr.. Deston's glass. and
thus we have the complete plot"
That comes very near to being my
honest belief"'
Then suppose we forget your hon
est belief for good and all, and talk
And do not believe that the mat
ter has ended there" Gerald added
hoarsely. ct believe that whatever
enemies were threatening Uncle John
are menacing us-one or perhaps all
of us-at this moment"
Hey" Barker cried. in bewilderment.
II believe that they were not satisfied
with uncle's death. They're carrying
the vengeance on to us! Snort If you
that men have been sneaking about
these grounds for the last month.
watching, and watching. and watching"
For what" the lawyer snapped.
THE chance to strike at one of us, as
they struck at Uncle John. Oh! I'm not
altogether crazy, you know. I've seen
the same man-out there-twice during
the past week. Once he ran from be-
away beyond the lake. and
And to make a long story short"
Barker supplemented. you are suffer
ing from a consuming terror of being
hurt, somehow or other, in a fashion
You cannot explain
IF you want the truth, I have a prem
onition-no. not a premonition. I know
as we'll as know that I'm sitting here
that I am marked for murder. I
know"
We'll. there are several ways of at
tending to little feelings like those" the
lawyer observed, dryly, "and we-eh?"
His jaw dropped as he caught the ex-
preston upon the nephew's face. The
brothers, too started forward on the
instant. and from Gerald's lips came a
very, very quiet:
Don't move, any of you!'
What"
lust be still. as you are"' His voice
was quite still, but his hands were
trembling violently. Some one Is
stealing along-on the little varanda on
this side Of the wing The attempted
unconcern OF the smile became CHASTITY.
II hear nothing. Gerald" Norman
said Suppose"
Then, there-there at the window"
Forbes shot from his chair and sent 1t
banging to the floor. and his arm point
ed wildly toward the big panes. That
face! Look, Look! Look
Continuation of This story VIII Be
Found I'm Tomorrow Issue
of The Timeso