The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-04-23
BY BURTON II. STEVENSON.
Copyright, 1913, The Bobbs- Merrill Co.


pened?"
HE was very excited and
spoke to MIR. Swain In a most VIC.
lent manner. Mr.. Swain attempt.
ed TO take me away from him
not knowing, at first, who II was
had seized me: but ! pushed him
back and led my father away to.
ward the house"
Did Mr.. Swain touch your ia.
ther?"
No; 1 was between them all
the time"
What occurred after you and
your father reached the house? ?"
Father was very angry. and
demanded that ! promise never
to see Mr.. Swain again. When
refused to promise, he sent me to
my room. / came up at once,
more than ever convinced that
father needed medical attention.
And then. suddenly. ! remem-
beted something the yogi had told
me-that father was not strong,
and that fit of anger might be
very serious. l knew the SER
wants had gone to bed. and that
he must be downstairs alone,
since | had heard no one come
up"
You had heard no one In the
hall at all?" | asked.
No, | had heard no one. Il
went down and-and found my
father"
She stopped and controlled her.
self with an effort.
Il stood for a moment al
the door, looking about the
room, for | thought. for an
instant, that father had gone into
the grounds. for the curtain AT
the other door was trembling a
little, as though someone had just
passed"
All" I said, and looked at
Goldberger.
1T might have been merely the
breeze, might it not?" he asked.
. Il suppose 80. The next instant
| saw my father huddled forward
In his chair. was sure he had
had a seizure of some sort; | ran
to him, and raised his head"
Again she stopped, her eyes GOV.
cred, and slow shudder shook
her from head to foot.
Il do not remember anything
more she added, in a whisper
For moment, we all sat silent
Miss Vaughan" / said, at last
chow long time elapsed from the
moment yon left your father in
| the library until you found him.
II don't know. Perhaps fifteer
minutes"
/ = Then" | said to Goldberger
.the murder must have been com
mitted very soon after Mis-,
Vaughan came upstairs"
Yes" agreed Goldberger, in q
low tone, "and by somebody who
came In from the grounds, since
she met no one In the hall and
heard no one"
Miss Vaughan" | broke in
did you hear anyone following
you across the garden?"
Yes" she answered thought.
fully; "once or twice I fancied
that someone was following us. II
seemed to me | heard a step, but
when | looked back | saw nc
one"
Did that fact make you un.
easy?"
NO." she said. with a little
smile. Il thought it was Mr.
Swain"
Il thought he might wish to
see me safe" Then she stopped.
"What Is it," she whispered, her
hands against her heart. You
don't mean 1t isn't Fred you
suspect"
1t was DR.. Human who an.
swered her.
YES" he said, there are some
things which seem to implicate
Mr.. Swain; but both Mr.. Lester
and | are certain he isn't guilty
We're going to prove it,"
She looked up at him with a
grateful smile.
"You know Mr.. Swain cut his
wrist as he came over the wall
that night"
Yes, wrapped his wrist in my
handkerchief"
"Was it this handkerchief"
asked Goldberger, and took from
his pocket the blood-stained
square and handed Il to her.
She took it with a little SILVER,
looked at it, and passed 1t back to
him.
Il remember now!" she gasped.
81 saw ia blotch of red-lying
on the floor beside my fathers
chair, How did 1t get there, Mr..
Lester? Did he follow us?" She
stopped again. as she saw the look
in Goldberger's eyes. and then the
look in mine. "Oh, what have