The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-02-07

and dashed to the door opening into the hall, just as it, was slammed In his face.
 I saw him tear desperately at the knob. then retreat two steps and hurl himself against it. But 1t held firm, and from the han outside came a burst of nocking laughter that fairly froze my blood.
 Simmonds was quicker than I, and together they threw themselves at the door. It cracked ominousIy, but still held Again they tried. and this time it split from top to bottom. Godfrey kicked the pieces to either side and slipped between them, Simmonds after him.
 reached the stair head in time to see Godfrey try the front door and then turn along the lower hall leading to the back of the house. An instant later chorus of frenz1ed women's shrieks made my hair stand on end $ How got down the stairs do not know. But I, too. turned back along the lower hall, expecting any instant to come upon I knew not what horror. Ireached an open door, passed through 1t and found myself tn the laundry in the midst of a group of excited and in
 
 peararce with fresh series of screams.
 Unable to go farther. I sat Imply down upon a box and looked at them was still sitting there when Godfrey came back. brea thing heavily. chagrfn and anger in his eyes
 ssA crime has been committed up stairs r he said to the manager This gentleman with me is MT. Sfrnmonds of the detective bureau. and at the words Sfmmonds showed his shield. we shall have to notify hea dquar- tera; Godfrey went on. ssand I would advise that you keep your girls at their work. don't suppose you want to be Enixed up in it-'' ,..Stlre not, agreed the manager promptly, and while Simmonds went to the phone and called up police head quarters the manager had the girls back at their work in short order
 Godfrey came over to me and laid his hand on my shoulder.
 tsWhy, Lester he said. you look as though you were at yourslast gasp"
 ssI aIra,g T said. .sI'm going to have nervous prostration if this thing keeps np. You're not looking particularly happy yourself. z
 sssTsm not happy. I've let that fellow kill fa man right under my nose-liter- aIlyss. under my nose-and then get away.,',
 "KfH . manrs repeated .sDo you
 .Cso upstairs and look at the right hand of the man lying there," said Godfrey curtIy, land you'll see what I mean
 Simmonds joined us with a twisted smile on his lips. and I saw that even he was considerably shaken
 t'I got Grady,',~ he said, "and told him what had happened. He says he's too busy to come up and that m to take charge of things. The ambu- lance will be around at once. Wed better get our shoes on and go back apstairs and Zee if anything can be done for that fefIow."
 Simmonds knelt beside the body and held up the limp right hand for us to see.
 Just above the knuckIes were two tiny incfsions. with drop or two of blood oozing away from them. and the flesh about them swollen and dis colored
 T knew what it was the instant he yelled .DeathY :, said Godfrey quietly. And he knew what it YVES the i'm stant he felt the stroke. 1t Is evident enough that he had seen 1t used be- fore or heard of it and knew that it meant instant death
 sat down. staring at the dead man. and tried to collect my senses. I saw man roughly dressed. with bushy black hair and tangled beard: a very nant of man.
 A sudden thought brought me bolt upright
 s -Bnt Armandr' I cried. ..where is Armand ?s' ssss
 Godfrey looked at me with a half plying smile.
 What. LesterY. he said. don't you understand even yet2 It was your fascinating NJ. Armand who did that" and he pointed to the dead man.
 felt as though I had been struck a heavy blow upon the head; blacA circles whirled before my eyes
 CTo be Continued.)