The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-04-23
1.-THE CLOVED HAND"
NEXT WEEK--THE BEST MAN
ny GRACE LIVINGSTON LuTz.
United
Affair What III IL.

I done!" she moaned. "what have
done"
j There could be no question as
to what she had done. told my
, self, bitterly. as the doctor drove
Goldberger snd me from the
room.
i Goldberger paused at the stair
head.
You realize, Mr.. Lester" he
said, that IL is plainly my duty
TO cause SWANS arrest?"
Yes" assented. "Under the
circumstances, you can do moth
ing else"
1 lie nodded, and we went down
stairs together and out upon the
: lawn.
i The coroner raped for order.
Have you any other evidence
to Introduce, Mr.. Lester?" he
asked.
i NO. Your Honor" answered.
And the jury was instructed to
prepare its verdict.
| 1 sat silent until the members
OF the Jury filed back into their
places.
Have you reached a verdict.
gentlemenG the coroner asked,
after his clerk had polled them.
| The foreman held out a folded
paper to the clerk, who took IL,
opened 1t, and read:
i 1--WE, the jury in the inquest
held this thirteenth day of June,
1908, into the death of one
Worthington Vaughan, residing In
the Borough Of the Bronx, City of
New York, do find that the de-
ceased came to his death by
strangulation at the hands of one
Frederic Swain"
There was an instant's silence,
and then Goldberger turned to the
jury and dismissed them.
Simmonds came toward us, and
l arose TO meet him. Swain got
up, also, and when / glanced at
him | saw that he was smiling.
Il suppose you've come to take
me along?" he said, the smile still
on his lips.
I'm afraid we'll have to-"
l watched them as they climbed
into car-Goldberger, Simmonds
and Swain-a moment and they
were out of sight.
j turned back into the house.
AS did so. ] met Human.
Il was afraid I'd missed you"
he said. Miss Vaughan wishes
TO see you. She's all alone here
|, and needs some help"
| nodded, end followed him into
the house. Then | stopped In as
constituent, for Miss Vaughan was
sitting In a chair in the library.
+, She rose as | entered, and held
out her hand.
You must not think too badly
of me. Mr.. Lester" she said. Il
won't give way again."
You have had a great deal to
bear" l protested, taking her
hand In mine
Let us all sit down, for we
; must have quite talk. DR.. Hin
man tells me that I shall need a.
lawyer. VIII you be my lawyer,
: Mr.. Lester?"
IL Will be q great privilege"
answered.
But it is not business | wish
to discuss today" she went on.
quickly. and at nod from the
doctor l told her of the verdict,
and of the evidence leading up
to it.
TO the story of the finger prints
she listened motionless, mute.
scarce breathing. Then suddenly
her face changed, she rose from
her chair, flew across the room,
opened a bookcase and pulled out
a bulky volume bound in vellum.
She turned the pages rapidly.
suddenly she stopped, and stared
at page, her face livid.
What is it," l asked, and has
tened to her.
It is the book of finger-prints, {"
she gasped. my father collected
and studied them for years.
she paused. struggling for
breath.
Mr.. SWANS was among
them" she went on, in the merest
whisper. They we're here-page
two hundred and thirty-see.
there is an index-'Swain, F.,
page two hundred and thirty"
She pointed at the entry with
a shaking finger.
Look" she whispered, hold
ing the book toward me, that
page is no longer therei It has
been torn outi"
! But what is ii you suspect?"
stammered. II don't see. :"
Neither do l." she broke In.
But | am trying to see-I am
trying to sea-" and she wrung her
hands together.
Human changed the subject.
! He told her, briefly, of the ar