The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-01

$500
nprtalIy Injured. and was brought
That !. Alexancer BARS version Of
tho tragedy r. 5e.,5..a. ,y.,..- .,..s,
las understand It."
Well. It's ingenious"
But untrue?"
I'm one vital particular. at least"
Are you at liberty to state what
II is7'
"wnfrid Blair never was brought
home"
'Ah7 In any case. Alexander Blair
Is striving to conceal some scandal,
the nature of which I have no wish
added that he suspects a third per-
son, an artist, resident not far from
his place, of being his sons assaiiant."
Francis Sedgwick."
You know the man7"
ut is on his behalf that ! am act
ing" replied Kent
My informant, however, inclines
to the belief that Alexander Blair is
wrong: that Wilfrid Blair killed the
woman and then inflicted mortal
wounds upon himself. Perhaps you
would better see my informant for
yourself"
Unnecessary, thank you. Mr.. Blair
is not telling quite all that he. knows.
Nevertheless, the theory which he pro-
pounds as to his sons assailant Is nat
ural enough from his point OF view.
Although" added Kent thoughtfully,
"it will be most unfortunate IL 1t leads
him to distrust Mrs. Blair"
Marjorie? Am I to infer that her
good name is involved?" demanded
the old man.
Hardly her good name. Mr.. Blair
believes--if I correctly follow his
mental processes-that Francis Sedg-
wick met his son on the night of
the tragedy, by chance or
otherwise. and that in the encounter
which he believes followed, Wilfrid
Blair was killed. Unfortunately, some
color of motive Is lent to this by the
fact that Sedgwick had fallen desper-
ately in love with Mrs Blair"
Impossible. Marjorie is not the
woman to permit such a thing"
Without blame to her, or, indeed,
to either of them. She also believes
now that sedgwick killed her hus-
band"
'And-and she was interested in
your friend?' asked the old scholar
slowly.
II fear-that is, I trust So
you trust so? With this horror
standing between them!"
1T must be cleared away" said
Kent earnestly. "Circumstantiai evil
dence is against Sedgwick: but 1 give
you my word, sir, II Is wholly impos-
sible that he should have killed your
niece's husband"
ITO doubt your certainty would be
crassly stupid. And are you hopeful
Of clearing up the circumstances?
There / want your aid. The night
Of the tragedy a person wearing a
dark garment embroidered with silver
stars was on Hawkill Heights. I have
reason to believe that this person
came there to meet some one from
the Blair place: also, that he can tell
me, II can find him. the facts which
1 lack to fill out my theory. 1t is to
run him down that I have come to
Boston"
"A man wearing a dark garment
embroidered with silver stars" said
the philosopher. Surely a strange
garb in this age of sartorial ortho-
doxy."
Not for an astrologer."
"Ah; an astrologer! And you think
he came from Boston?"
II think" said Chester Kent draw
ing some newspaper clippings from
his pocket. that somewhere among
these advertisements, taken from the
newspapers which are subscribed for
at Hedgerow House, he is to be found"
There / ought to be able to help.
Through my association with the &C.
cult society have investigated many
Of these gentry. Great rascals. most
of them"
Whom would you consider the
most able of the lot?"
The old man set q finger on one OF
the clippings. Preston Jax." said he,
rs the shrewdest of them all. Some
times have thought that he had dim
flashes of real clairvoyance. Be that
as 1t may, he has a surprising Glen
tile of which he makes the most. for
he is a master-hand at cozening wo-