Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-31
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ing that l am the murderer of the unknown woman
Indeed You We done worse, even, than | had
feared Tell me-"
In brief outline, Sedgwick told of the moonlight in
tervew. Kent gripped at his lobe and for time
sought silently to draw Qualification of IDEAS from it.
"Do you know, he said at length Il shouldnt wonder
if Blair really thought YOU the murderer?'
Il would declared Sedgwick savagely. "He knows
who murdered that woman 1t was his own son, whom
he pretended to bury for blind" And the artist pro-
ceeded to outline eagerly his newly developed idea.
"Thats interesting theory" said Chester Kent
slowly "a very interesting and ingenious theory I'll
admit to you that something of the sort occurred
to my mind early in the development of the mystery;
but forsook it because of one fact that rather initiates
against its probability
what is that?'
The fact replied Kent with slow smile, that
Wlfd Blair dead before his father learned of
the tragedy of Dead Mems Cove.
CHAPTER XVIII. Chance Takes a Hand
SUITCASE at his side, Chester Kent stood on the
platform of the A1artindale Center station waiting
for the morning train to Boston. Before him paced
Sedgwck, with face of storm.
"Ths is something must do for myself, the artist
declared with that peculiar faness of obstinacy which
goes with assertion repeatedly made. Not you
any other man, do it for me-
Not yOu other man. should attempt 1T at
all now, retorted the scientist.
That's the view of the pedant,' cried Sedgwick.
"What do you know of love?"
Nothing, except force obstructive to reason"
"But, Chef, must see her again! pleaded Sedgwck;
II must"
Exhibit that tact and delicacv which YOU displayed
at your last meeting, broke in Kent CURLY. Asking
a woman to marry you, on the day of her husbands
burial"
at wasn't her husbands burial"
"She supposed it was
Sedgwck checked his nervous pacing "DO YOU think
so? You believe she wasn't party to that CHASTITY
fraud?"
certainly not. She attended the funeral ceremony
in good faith. In belief the real circumstances of
Blairs death unknown to her they toto
YOU
Assuming always that he is dead Your confidence
being so sound it must be based on something. How
did he come to his death?
"If knew that shouldn't be going to Boston to
suit astrologer.
"Have you still got astrology on the brain? Go ahead
then And he repeated obstnately "am going back to
Hedgerow House."
"If were employed to work this case, observed
Kent dspassonately, a should throw it up right here
and now. He took long strong pull at the extension
end of his ear, and whistled bar two of "Rdi Pag
acci." "Do you know 571 at the Eyre?' he
asked abruptly
."No. Yes; do, too. That's your temple of white
silence, isn't it?'
Correct. Humor me thus far. Give this card to the
clerk. Get the key. Go to that at Lie
down your back with your eyes open and think for
hour by the watch If at the end of that time you
still believe you re right, go ahead. Will you do it,?
agreed. It's bargain. But it won't change my
mind
"A bargains bargain. 1t won't need to, said Kent
Mr.. Alexander Blair, he will have put your
Lady of Mystery the morning train that
leaves for Boston by one of the other roads. 0r
If not-why, you may take your chance VI
"Tricked!" said Sedgwick. well, l owe you -
too much to go back agreement. But