Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-11
CHAPTER XXI.
The Disclosure.


intervening time to looking over the re-
ports Of the coroner's inquest. and in
asking me questions about ali the peo-
pie who were connected with the AFFAIR
Burroughs" he said. at last. every
one who is interested in Joseph Craw-
ford's death has suspected Gregory Hail.
except one person. Not everybody said
they suspected him, but they did, all the
same. Even Miss Lloyd wasn't sure that
Hall wasn't the criminal. Now, there
Just one person who declares that Hall
did not do it and that he is not impll-
Gated Why should this person feel SO
sure of Halls innocence? And. further
more, my boy. here are few more I'M
portant questions. In which drawer OF
the desk was the revolver kept?'
1.-THE upper right hand drawer" l re-
piled.
II mean, what else was in that
drawer?''
| If Mr. CraWfords stocks and bonds.
do you mean stock certificates and
actual bonds?''
mo: merely lists and certain data re-
ferrins to them e the T bank
And the will-where had that been
kept?"
I'm a drawer on the other side Of the
desk. I know all these things; because
ford. I have been through all the papers
| of the estate
well. then. Burroughs. let US build up
the scene. Mr.. Joseph Crawford. s-ter
goes to his office. Naturally he takes
out his will, that he thinks Of changing.
| and-we'n say-it is lying on his desk
when Mr.. Lemuel Porter calls: He talks
Of other matters and the will still lies
there unheeded. 1t is there when Miss
Lloyd comes down later. She has said
so. It remains there until much later
when Philip Crawford comes. and, after
discovering that his brother is dead. sees
the will still on the desk and takes it
on the desk and takes that. too. Now.
granting that the murderer came between
the time Miss Lloyd left the Office and
the time Philip Crawford came there.
then it was while the murderer was
present that the drawer which held the
pistol was opened the pistol taken out
and the murder committed. Since MI
Joseph Crawford showed no sign OF fear
not burglar or an unwelcome intruder,
but q friend, or an acquaintance, at least.
His visit must have been the reason Tor
opening that drawer, and that not to get
the pistol. but to look at or discuss the
papers contained in that drawer The pis-
tol thus disclosed was temptingly near
the hand of the visitor. and. for some
reason connected with the papers in that
drawer, the pistol was used by the Wis
litor-suddenly, unpremeditatedly, but with
deadly intent at the moment
"But who" began.
"Hush," he said. II see 1t all now-or
almost all. Let us go to Philip Craw-
ford's at once-before it is time to go to
Miss Lloyd's."
We did so. and Fleming Stone, in a
short business talk with Mr.. Crawford.
learned all that he wanted to know. Then
We three went over to Florence Lloyd's
home
Awaiting us were several people. The
district attorney, Of course. and Lawyer
Randolph. Also Mr.. Hamilton and Mr..
Porter, who had been asked to be pres
ent. Gregory Hall was there. too. and
from his crestfalien expression couldn't
help thinking that he had had an un-
satisfactory Interview with Florence.
AS we ali sat round the library Fleming
Stone was the principal speaker.
He said: II have come here at Miss
Lloyd's request to discover, If possible.
the murderer of her uncle. Mr.. Joseph
Crawford. I have learned the identity of
the assassin. and, II you all wish me to,
will now divulge 1t"
Mr.. Goodrich, and his voice trembled
little, for he knew not where the blow
might fall. But after Fleming Stones
wonderful detective work In the case OF
gregory Hall Cne QlStTlCC dttOTucy Lett
full confidence in his powers.
Sitting quietly by the library table.
with the eyes Of all the company upon
him. Fleming Stone said. in effect. to
them just what he had said to me. He
told Of the revolver In the drawer with
the financial papers. He told how the
midnight visitor must have been some
friend or neighbor, whose coming would
in no way startle or alarm Mr.. Craw-
ford. and whose interest in the question
of eforkc deanorafe
And then Fleming Stone turned sudden
" to Lemuel Porter and said: Shall
go on, Mr.. Porter. or will You confess
here and now?'
It was as IL q thunderbolt had fallen.
Hitherto unsupported. the guilt Of Lemuel
Porter was now apparent beyond all
doubt. White-faced and shaking. his
burning eyes glared at Fleming Stone.
hoarse, Missing tones. II feared you and
I was right to fear you. I have heard of
YOU before. l tried to prevent your COM
ing here, but I could not. And / knew
when you came that I was doomed
doomed!
Yes" he went on. looking around at
the startled faces. Yes. I killed Joseph
Crawford. II I had not he would have
that-and Philip Crawford, too. I had no
thought Of murder in my heart. I came
here late that night to renew the request
l had made in my earlier visit that even
lHS-IIIdl Joseph CTdWIOTO WOulQ unlOdu
his X. Y. stock gradually, and In that
way save me. / had overtraded: had
pyramided my paper profits until my az
fairs were in such q state that q sudden
drop OF ten points would wipe me out en-
tirely. But Joseph Crawford was ada
mant to my entreaties. He said he would
see to 1t that at the opening Of the
market the next morning X. Y. stock
should be hammered down out of sight.
Details are unnecessary. You lawyers
and financial men understand. It was in
his power to ruin or to save me and he
chose to rvin me. / know why, but that
concerns no one here. Then, as by
chance, he moved a paper in the drawer
and l saw the pistol. In moment of
blind rage I grasped it and shot him.
Death was instantaneous. Like one in a
dream, laid down the pistol and came
away. I was saved. but at what a cost!
No one. think, saw me come or go. I
was afterward puzzled to know what be-
came Of the pistol and Of the will, which
lay on the desk when was there. These
matters have since been explained. Philip
Crawford is as much a criminal as I. I
shot q man. but he robbed the dead. He
has confessed and made restitution. so he
merits no punishment. In the nature Of
things cannot do that, but can at
least cheat the gallows."
With these words Mr.. Porter put some
thing into his mouth and swallowed it.