South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-08-19
CONTINUED

Suddenly mastering himself, he
seized the knob of Capt. HS.nska's
door. The latch gave way-it was
not locked. But il opened no more
than a foot or twO-scarcely enough
TO give a man passage-when some
thing blocked il from behind. In the
temporary weakness of his Will,
Tommy North shrank back from en-
tering such a place Of veritable hOr-
rOr He shouted again and now
Prof. NOll. looking in mis- bathrobe
like a strange priest of a strange
eastern rite. rushed from his room
gasping:
Whats the matter?"
The blood, the pale, gibbering. dab
bled young man, where explanation
enough. He himself opened the door
as far as it could go, and edged into
the room.
Matches, quick!" he called from
within. Tommy North found his
match case; and the mastery of an
other mind, with the example Of bet
ter courage, drew him after Prof Noll.
lie lighted a match held il up. 1t
fiared and blazed until fl burned his
fingers. 1t that hickering transitory
light they saw all that it was neces-
sary TO see.
Capt. Hanska's body blocked the
door. He lay dressed in his pajamas,
the -;hrunken relic OF what had been
a portly man-lay on his back with
his hands lifted over his head as
though lie were clutching at the air
From his breast stuck the haft of a
great knife and from the wound the
pool OF blood flowed 10 the threshold.
The match went out; and with COM
mon impulse Tommy North and Prof.
NON struggled TO see who would be
first 70 get back through that door
There followed alarms. screams, the
running OF women, Mysteries on the
part of Mrs. Moore, who had started
from bed at Tommy's first cry. Tom
my North, albeit ordinarily a brave
and resOurceful young man enough,
was Of no use in this crisis. what
with the compression of ten emotional
years into ten minutes of life. Worse
for him, the hen minded Mrs. Moore.
seeing the blood. cried, You murder
err" clutched az his coat, and fell into
a faint. Upon Prof. NOU devOlVed the
masculine guidance Of this affair And
he thought first. not OF the police, but
OF a doctor. BY this time Miss Hard
ing and Miss Jones were weeping
breast to breast; Mrs. Moore had re-
covered 10 say that she always eN-
pected II OF Mr.. North. and Miss ES-
trilla the invalid lady on the top
floor. had called from the head OF
the stairs. What is it," With the
DTuldllll winch lluhtllS us IN crises 10
confide unpalliated horrors. some one
shrieked. 'Hanska's murdered There
came from above some Spanish ejaC-
ulations 10 which no one paid much
attention. and then a rafting Of the
hook OF the telephone which hung
on a door post in that fourth floor
hall.
Prof. Nou. his mind still on the
necessity for calling "a doctor. slipped
into ulster and bedshoes and rushed
across the street 10 rouse the house
physician in the apartment hotel He
was some time making himself known
and understood. AS he nearcd his
own door again. he saw Mr.. Estrilia
entering almost on the run.
There's been "a murder, Capt.
Hanska's killed. Prof. Noll called
after him.
II know-my seester elephonc-she
is frighten," Estrilla called back
shrilly over his shoulder And ne
hurried mp the stNlrs.
BY this time. the open door. the
iuttering lights the screams of hys-
terics. had begun 10 attract the at
1ention OF this and that late pedes-
trian A milkman pulled Up. hitched.
and entered; and then a night-faring
printer Presently the little knot In
the street and the parlors was aug
rnented by n woman. fully and rather
Over-luXuriosly dressed. as though for
the theater-a big picture hat and
black satin. fur-edged evening coat
over a light gown which showed here
and there the glitter OF sequins. She
was a large but shapely women Of