Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-08
CHAPTER X.

OIJCH ruin as had been wrought in
- Sedgwick's studio was strictly
localized The easel lay on the
floor, with its rear legs crumpled.
Around it were scattered fragments
of the glass upon which the painter
had set his labor of love. A high,
old-fashioned chair faced the wreck
age On its peak was hung a travel
ing cap. Looping across the back
sprawled a Norfolk jacket belonging
to Sedgwick. Chester Kent lifted the
coat, and, after swift survey, let 1t
drop.
did you leave that there?' he
asked.
IT hung it across the back of the
chair, answered Sedgwick.
North window closed?"
Eyes, as You see it now"
And west one open?"
Nothing has been changed, tell
you. except this" Sedgwick's hand,
outstretched toward the destroyed
portrait, condensed itself iDvolun-
tarily into a knotty fist.
1.-The lock OF the door hasn't been
tempered with" said Kent. "As for
this open window" he leaned out.
looking around, ANY man gaining ac-
cess here must have used a ladder.
which is unlikely in broad daylight"
How about a pass-key for the
door,"
There's a simpler solution nearer
at hand, I fancy. You didn't chance
to notice that things fhave happened
to the coat, as well as to the easel"
"Then the invader went through the
coat, and. not finding what he was
looking for, smashed my picture
cried Sedgwick.
Through the coat, certainly
certainly" agreed Kent, with his
quiet smile. Now hang it across the
chair-back just as it was, please"
Sedgwick took the Norfolk Jacket
from him. why. there's a hole
through it!'' he exclaimed.
Exactly; the path of the invader"
"A bullet!"
Fright again. Instead of murder
ing, as you pine to do, you've been
murdered. That the picture was de-
troyed is merely a bit of Ill for
tune. That you weren't inside the
coat when the bullet went through 1t
and cut the prop from your easel is
bit of the other kind. Hang up the
coat, please"
Sedgwick obeyed.
There said Kent, viewing the re-
suit from the window. "At a distance
of, say, quarter of a mile, that ar
rangement of coat and cap would look
uncommonly like man sitting in a
chair before his work. At least /
should think SO. And yonder thicket
on the hillside" he added, Hooking out
of the window again, sis just about
that distance. and seems to be the
only spot In sight giving a straight
range. Suppose we run up there"
Sound as was his conclusion, Sedg-
wick was painting when he brought
up at the spot, some yards behind his
long-limbed leader. As the scientist
had surmised, the arrangement of
coat and cap in the studio presented
at that distance an excellent similar
crum of the rear view of a man
lounging in a chair. Bidding the ar
list stay outside the copse, Kent en-
tered on hands and knees and made
extended exploration. After a few
moments the sound of low, lugubrious
whistling was heard from the trees,
and presently the musician emerged
leading himself by the lobe of his
ear.
Evidently you've found some
thing" commented Sedgwick. who
had begun to comprehend his friends
peculiar methods of expression.
Nothing"
"Then why are you so pleased with
YOURSELF"
THAT is why"
Because you've found nothing?"
EXACTLY"
1T seems an easy system" oh
served the artist sarcasticaIly.
$50 it is, to a reasoning being. I'm
satisfied that some one fired a, shot
from here. The marksman-a good
one-saw you. as he supposed, jerk te
the shot as If with a bullet through
you, and went away satisfied