The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-25
aiow.. with the inevitable motion d

The arm rose higher until the muz-
zie of the pistol giared. like n baleful,
lusterless eye, into Kent's face In
stead of making any condemnation
With the sherifrs revolver. the scientist
turned on his heel. walked to Sedg-
wick. and handed him the weapon.
\ I'm going to open the coffln. Frank"
he announced. That pistol of Mr..
/ Blair's is a target arm. 1t has only
one shot"
True" put in its owner, but I can
score one hundred and twenty with 1t
at hundred yards range"
'If he should fire, Frank. wing him.
And then, whatever happens, get that
casket open. That Is the one thing
you must do--for me and yourself"
But he may kill you" cried Sedg-
wick In an agony of apprehension.
HE may; but / think he won't"
Wont he!" muttered the older man
on an indrawn breath I'D rather 1t
was the other scoundrel. But either
or both"
sedgwick stepped to within two
PAGES of him blair" he said with
snarl. ''you so much as think with
that trigger finger, and you're dead!'
mo, no killing Frank" counter
manded Kent I'm his place, you'd
perhaps do as he is doing"
Don't take any chances, Mr.. Blair"
besought the sheriff. They're des-
perate characters. Look what they
| done to mel"
There's a testimonial" murmured
Kent as he picked up his spade. for
one who has always worked on the
side of law and order"
He worked the blade crafty under
the lid and began to pry. The cover
gave slightly. Mr.. Blair's pistol sank
to his side. III should have shot be-
fore warning you" no said bitterly.
| Violating graves Is. i suppose, your
idea of a lawful and orderly proceed
ing"
The rend!nc crackle of the hard
heavy wood was his answer. Kent
stopped. and struggled up. bearing a
shapeless. heavy object in his arms.
The object seemed to be swathed in
sackng. Kent let it fall to the ground,
where 1t Topped and lay. "All right"
said he, with a strong exfaalation of
relief. II knew n must be. And yet
we'll. one never In absolute in certainty.
And If ia been wrong. think. Frank.
we could probably have used that
gun on ourselves. You can drop it
now. Come over here
Courageous though Sedgwiok was,
his nerves were of highly sensitive
order He shuddered back. II don't
believe / can do it. Chef
You must AS a witness. Come.
Brace up!"
Setting the bull's-eye lantern down,
Kent produced "a pocket-knife. Sedg-
wick drew long breath. and. walking
over. crouched, steeling his nerves
against the revelation that should
, come when the cords should be cut
and the swathtngs reveal their con-
, tents. III / keel over. don't let me
. tumble into the grave" he said sim
ply, and choked the last word off from
becoming cry of horror as he beheld
his friend drive the knife-blade to the
HIT in the body, and then whip It
across and down ward with a long rip
ping draw under which the harsh
. cloth sang hideously.
open your eyes. Look! Look!"
. cried Kent. heartily.
A strong trickIe of sand flowed out
: of the rent in the sack and spread
l upon the ground.
THAT is ALL" said Kent.
RELIEF clamored within Sedgwick
for expression. He began TO laugh IN
short choking spasms
QUIET warned Mr.. Blair. In q
broken tone of appeal. ''Y ou've found
out the secret. God knows what you'll
8 do with 1t. But there are innocent
= people in the house. I see ligh
. stirring there now. VEL must de
| w mat 4 may " eHtEAeI tilSIi
A glimmer shone from the ground
floor of one of the wings. Thither Mr.
, Blair ran, calling out as he went
l When he returned. his face was like
mask.
? Now" said he. what lie this mat
ter? Blackmail 2"
>. Kent's face withdrew. as it were
' behind his inscrutable half smile
Peace. II you WILL said he. "A truce
at least"
Il should like to know just how
, much you know"
AN offer will tell you whenever
you are ready to tell me all that yol
e know. l think we are mutually II
need of each other
II wish you were at the bottom OF
that pit" retorted the other grimiy
You and your scoundrel of a friend
with you"
Thank you for myself" said sedg-
4 wick. IF you were twenty years
] younger ] would break every bone
4 in your body for that"
4 STEADY. Frank" put in Kent
has been through what Alexander
Blair has been through tonight. Mr.
Blair" he added. you've refused my
I offer. 1t is still open. And as ar
extra. I will undertake, for Mr.. Sedg.
wick and myself. that this nights
affair shall be kept secret And now
h the next thing Is to cover the evi-
3 dence. Spades, Frank"
The two men took up their tools.
I'm spell YOU" said Alexander
I Blair.
While the sheriff. mourning softly
over his fractured wrist, sat watch
ing the house in case of alarm, the
I scientist. the painter and the trus
magnate. sweating amid tho nameless
graves. hurriedly reinterred the sack
of clean sand which bore the name OF
i Wilfrid Blair.
And now" said Chester Kent, pet.
ting his blistered palms, as the last
shovelful OF dirt was tamped down
"Ill take you back with me, Mr.
Sheriff, to Sedgwick's place, and dc
the best l can for YOU till the morn
ing. About o'clock we'Il find you
unconscious below the cliffs where
you fell in the darkness. Eh7'
Despite his pain. the sheriff grinned.
Il guess that's as good as the next
lie he acquiesced You fight fair
professor
Then answer me fair question
l What were you doing at Hedgerow
I House tonight2"
why. you see" drawled the official
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