The Washington times., 1913-04-24

\ any white Just her face ana the manu-
that shaded the candle She made
| little noise in her throat, and at that
| / began running. l don't know Wnere
| / went. / got lost in the passages. And
| when the lightning showed where
was 1 was in the room where hao
killed her."
There was another silence. broken at
| last by jeffrey, and the strangeness OF
! what he said fairly made me gasp.
"A Photographic plate, he SAID
| looking out at nothing in the intensity
of his concentration. To Bartons terri
| flying vision he wasn't apparently CIV
| ing a thought. I'D like to see that. /
wish you had it here
At that moment there came a thun-
dering knock at the door. and without
waiting for an invitation to enter, Ricn-
ards burst in upon us. The open door
hid the bed, and for a moment he didn't
see Barton. But the sight Of Jehrey
seemed to be enough to finish him..
WELL he said grimly, you aren't
the man I'm looking for. but I guess
you'll do. You've butted in on the po-
lice just once too often. And running
on your coat and come along. I'd have
got my man II 1t hadn't beer for
He had got little farther into the
room by then and he caught his first
glimpse of the rest Of us, Including
ratherUshe's very pretty that way-and
it was the sight of her really that pre-
vented MIN from noticing Barton on the
bed. for he stopped short and caught
his breath and backed up little.
Excuse me-" he said.
"Oh. that's all right" said Gwen
dolyn, Were very glad you've come"
I'VE are, indeed" Jeffrey corrob-
GRATED politely. las for our having
man, Richards. unless perhaps out of
the river a couple weeks from now.
Somebody else would have got him first.
We saved him for you. We're glad
you've come to claim MIN. for we didn't
know quite what to do with him.
As he concluded he nodde toward the
bed whre Barton lay. Richards looked
and gasped. Where did you find him?'
he Nmanded.
Instead of answering. Jeffrey spoke
you until we get through with this busi-
ness Go along with Richards. Keep
your head and don't worry. I'll let
you know how things come out
Il suppose. according to your theory.
he doesn't even know what he's wanted
for" said Richards. The sight Of Bar
ton had restored his good humor i'm
mediately.
"On the contrary" Jeffrey answered
coolly, hes been under the impress
Fournier himself. He has told us all
about it I've just. been trying to con-
vince him that he was mistaken"
Mistaken" Richards roared, and
then stood staring speechless. I've
seen some nuts In my day, but you're |
the prize. I've got to hand It to you |
Convince him that he's mistaken"
He stepped out into the corridor and
nodded to two detectives who were
waiting there. Come in,' he said. |
I've got Barton"
He seemed to agree with Jeffrey that
1all would he tha hest nlaca
though i doubt If he was much better
convinced of his mistake than Rich
ards himself. He got up stiffy, and / |
picked up his coat to help him into it. |
of the side pockets.
plate?"
II must have put It in my pocket
without knowing" he said, and handed |
II over to Jeffrey. |
"Here!' said Richards "You can't
do that"
Send Barton along with your men
ana wait minute" said Jeffrey. From |
the quiet authority of his tone he might |
ards hesitated an instant, then gave a |
confirmatory nod to his men. Barton /
went out quietly between them.
Well?" demanded Richards, as 1 |
closed the door behind them. |
Just minute" Jeffrey repeated
He tore the paper off the plate and /
stared at it rather blanky. There was
Claire Meredith in her white satin gown ;
posed just as she had been in the por-
trait.
That French photographer must have
sent him the plate as we'll as the print"
/ commented. Il wonder why he did |
that"
Jeffrey pulled a little steel measuring
tape out OF his pocket and began very
carefully. measuring the plate. Rich
ards shifted his feet uneasily. Jeffrey's !
nonsense" always worried him. But
by the look in my friends face there
was no nonsense about this.
He shut up the tape absently and put |
il in his pocket, then went on staring
at the negative He was holding il /
s!antwise now, so that the light reflect I
cd instead Of shining through. i shall 1
never forget the expressions that cross
ed his face. Doubt at first and then |
surmise, and then sort Of wide-eyed, Il
certainty. The rest of us L
were hardly breathing. and at last even
Richards was gazing at him in involun-
tary fascination.
ITS not a French plate" he said at
last, more to himself than to the rest
Of us. 1T measures in inches. not in
H
Richards uttered a grunt of disgust
.Is that all you've kept me waiting for?
What does IL matter whether II meas
ures in yards or in quarts?' n
It's not ALL" said Jeffrey, and his
voice rang like a bell. Its not all. but
it's enough"
It's a photograph Of Irene, isn't It?
asked Richards.
Yes. It's a photograph of Irene
Fournier." II
Then he caught his breath. But
we've got to be quick" he said.
He laid down the plate and began
into his overcoat. You'll
come with u.s." he said to Richards II
was meant for a question. but the ur-
gency of il made 1t sound more like an
order II
Where to?'
TO Beech Hill. You've got motor
boat. We can go in that. It's shorter by n
river than II Is BY road. II
What DO you want to go there for?
There's no one there but DR.. Crow, and
he'll most likely have gone back to bed
by this time. And how do you know n
I've got q uotor.boat?"