The Raymer enterprise., 1912-06-06

ing regarding ner future. perhaps ne
will tell me in confidence what he
thought well to hide from her"
Mungela shook her head sadly. "Ha.
ridas cannot tell her future" she re-
piled. Everything is f1nished-it is
all DONE"
In spite OF my disbelief in the whole
business. | felt unaccountably disturb
ed by this remark. However, re.
turned to Mrs. Colthurst laughing.
81 have found out nothing" said
lightly. Evidently there Is a limit
to the magiclan's powers; he cannot
foretell your future"
you mean he will not" she respond.
ed somberly. II wish | could make
him speak.
Her face looked haggard and worn.
Soon afterward she bade her hostess
good night. shook hands with me. and
left the room. had just risen on
the following morning, when to my sur.
prise my servant ushered In Charles
Holdsworth.
Halifax" he cried e1citedly. Alma
Colthurst Is dead. murdered. She was
found In her drawing room early this
morning. stabbed to the heart The
police suspect Lidderdale."
Good heavens" exclaimed. there
must be mistake. Lidderdale Is In.
capable Of such a crime"
We'll. the servants story is as
follows" said Holdworth. Alma
returned home between II and
IL last night. She found a card
from Lidderdale lying on the hand
table. with line In pencil that be
would call to see her about midnight
She told the servant that he was to
be admitted. and went up to her draw.
ing room to wait for him. He arrived
and was shown upstairs. About half.
past twelve Lidderdale left the house.
At Alma's request her maid had al.
ready gone to bed. When Lidderdale
went away. the butler extinguished the
lights in the rest Of the house. but did
not return to the drawing room, as
! Alma never liked to be disturbed, and
as rule put out the lights there her
self. On entering the room early this
morning, he found his mistress stretch.
ed on the floor. quite dead. A doctor
was summoned. and declared that she
was stabbed through the heart. and
had been dead for many hours
How terrible" cried. Holds.
worth. almost begin to believe in
chiromancy. Haridas would not tell
her future last night. and said she had
none. Yet cannot believe Lidderdale
guilty"
But think OF the circumstantial evi.
dence. He will, OF course, be arrest.
ed on suspicion. Let US go to the Met.
ropole. and find out what has hap.
pened."
On our arrival at the hotel, the man.
ager informed US that no gentleman
of that name was staying there. THE
police have already been inquiring for
him" he said. pointedly.
But here Is his visiting card" ex.
postulated Holdsworth. "He left 1t
at my house yesterday, with the name
OF your hotel scrlbbled in the cor.
ner."
Probably the name OF the hotel was
used as blind" remarked the man.
ager
This did not satisfy me. knew
that | would recognize Lidderdale II
| should see him, and when Holds
worth left | remained behind in the
entrance hall. watching the guests as
they passed in and out. But no one
In the least degree resembling the
man | sought put In an appearance,
and soon after noon went away. The
case looked black again the missing
man. The writing in the corner OF the
visiting card left At Boldsworth's house
was easily identified with some of Lid.
derdale's letters which | possessed; a
similar card had been found at Mrs.
Colthursts, with writing also In Lid.
derdale's hand. On the night OF the
2lst man answering to his descrip-
ton had called on Mrs. Colthurst, and
in the morning she was found stabbed
to the heart.
A week passed, and still the police
had obtained no trace OF the supposed
murderer. But returning home one
evening. | was almost stunned when
my servant Informed me that Lidder.
dale was waiting to see me In my lab.
oratory. rushed to the room. and
Harry Lidderdale, looking much the
same as when last saw him. came for.
ward to meet me.
How are you. Halitax?' he said,
cheerlly. II have not been two hours
In New York, and naturally you arc
the first person wanted to see. Why,
what Is the natter" he queried, oh.
serving the Mortified expression on my
face.
You have not been here two hours"
| repeated. impossible. Don't you
know what has happened7 am amazed
ut seeing you. | thought-you will for.
give me, but must speak plainly
fancied you were hiding from the po.
lice."
II hiding from the pollce!" he ex.
claimed. why what do you mean,
Halifax. Is this joke!"
Not at all" | replied confusedlv