Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-06

= Hastily ne TeLuTneu " lHc eNcHIAS
wran. fascinating continuance OF lace
and satin unuuestionably the last CRY
of the Partisan mode. such wrap as
his wife might well have worn. But
beyond Paqulns label stitched inside
its dainty pocket it boasted no dis.
tinguIshing mark.
He stumbled hllrriedly from the
room and down the stairs, returning
to the study where Sypher's body
lay: tortured by mounting fears. he
stood and looked blankly about him,
at loss where next to turn, If almost
preternaturally alive to every sound
or sight that might afford him clue.
He fought against a suspicion
that crawled like viper in his brain.
Had he, after all, been deceived III
Sypher's niece. Miss Pynsent? Had
that innocent charm Of hers been
thing assumed, a cloak for criminal du-
plicity? Had she in reality been Des
Trebes' accomplice? Had those clear
and limpid eyes of youth, all through
that voyage been looking forward to
such scene. to such tragic ending
as this? Could she have afforded the
Frenchman the aid lie needed to con-
summate his chosen crime?
For he was now ready to believe Des
Trebes the prime mover in this terri
BILE affair; he no longer entertained
a shred of doubt that his enemy had
travelled with him from Calcutta un-
der the disguise of de Hyeres.. And
he believed the man had planned this
thing far ahead: else would he have
surely taken some overt step to pre-
vent ORourke from delivering the
ruby 10 Sypher. He OWNED acutely
that, despairing Of any further at
tempt to win the jewel from him, Des
Trebes had turned his wits to the task
of stealing it from Sypher; somebody
naturally much less to be feared than
the adventurer.
But on the other hand. if the girl
had not been Des Trebes' assistant
what had become of her? And what
of her gucst-the lady one OF whose
initials was 81
1t was not inconsistent with Dcs
should employ a gang of thugs suffi-
GENTLY large TO overpoWcr and make
away with bodily and in body Miss
Pynsent, her guest and the servants.
.tf,.o,t n'p onrEp
''Tf it be in truth my wife,"
Without presage thin but impera-
i've Standardization broke upon the
silence Of the houseof death. O'Rourke
| jumped as if shot. Somewhere in one
Of the other rooms q telephone bell
was ringing. It ceased, leaving a
strident stiffness: but before he could
move to find the instrument and an
Swcr the call. there rose a second time
that moaning sob which first he had
attributed TO an impossible source.
then, in the turmoil OF his thoughts,
| had forgotten.
He waited. listening intently. The
| telephone called again and again sub.
sided. Then a third time he heard the
groan. more faint than before, but suf-
ficiently loud TO suggest its source.
He moved warily toward the windows
and out upou the veranda-hourdcd
by the telephone. But that would
have to wait; here was more ur.
gent matter to his hand. Between the
long, insistent rings the moaning was
again audible; and this time he 10.
Gated it accurately. 1t came from the
lawn, near the edge of the yeranda.
He stepped off carefully, but almost
stumbled over the body OF man who
lay there. huddled and moaning.
"And another" whispered the adj
vcnturer, awed Faith, this Pool oil
Flame y"
He was at once completely Mortified
and utterly dumbioundcd. Nothing he
mad come upon within the bungalow
seemed to indicate that there had been
anything in the nature OF a struggle
prior to the assassination OF Sypher
lie had up 70 this moment considered
IL HOtuluS DlIl d anu Wv
ardly murder; the man had apparent.
ly been struck down from behind In TO-
tai ignorance of his danger. ORourke
had deduced that Sypher had risen
from the desk 10 put the jewel in his
safe; and that while he was so en-
gagged the ASSASSIN, till then skulkinE
outside the long windows and waiting
for moment when his victims back
should be turned. had entered and
struck. But how could he recon
Gle that hypothesis with this man who
lay welteriug and al the point Of death
! at the veranda edge?
Indeed, he could not do So But
this victim. at least, was not yet dead :;
| II ne had strength to moan, he might
yet he revived, al least temporarily.
Without delay, then. the freshman
grgsped the man beneath the armpits.
1.ftioo b;,,, ,b,