Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-05-08

ever learned-when it is too late
that l am a murdererw
Sir Thomas shuddered and drained
his brandy and soda. "Don't talk like
that" he said, shaking his head. "It's
rank nonsense, but it gives me the
horrorsW
"That is why feel it best to break
the engagement until / have cleared
my name," said Harcourt.
"Not with my consent" Sir Thomas
told hi mfrmly.
"But do you realize that until this
is cleared up-if it continues much
longer-the suspense, the uncertainty
of it all, will make mental wreck of
me?"
'Tt will if you persist in entertain
ing such absurd notions" Sir Thomas
agreed
"You don't understand" aHrcourt
objected "If only knew the truth |
could stand it Knowing myself guilty
if had what might seem good rea-
myself of suspicion AS it is there is
be the center of it l don't think l am
| can stand it, and I certainly do not
intend to drag the woman 1 love into
the mire of such publicity"
"Jack," said Sir Thomas, and there
were traces of tears in the old mans
eyes, "please don't think that l do not
appreciate the spirit that prompts you
to say all this l admire and honor
you for it. But l believe in you thor
oughly-even though you cannot be-
lieve in yourself. Grace feels as / do.
Go to her and talk the whole thing
over, but promise me that you will
not insist upon anything she does not
wish"
Harcourt stood undecided for time.
Then he looked up and smiled. "I'll
do it," he said. And the two men
clasped hands.
In the doorway, Sir Thomas paused
a moment. "Jack," he said quietly,
"I have just thought of something
that should have occurred to me be-
fore. You had another object in ask
ing for that roll call-an object other
than the mere feeling that you ought
to tell us all your own feelings. Am
l right?"
"Yes," said Harcourt.
son?"
mo. l was wrong"
you suspected someone ?"
"1 had an idea-a mere notion. Il
Wanted to be sure"
And now you are sure"
mot altogether-but / am almost
convinced that m suspicion was a mis-
take" Half way down the stairs they
encountered Inspector MacBee. "Ah,
Lord Harcourt," he said pleasantly.
81 was just looking for you.'
81 am entirely at your SERVICE" said
Harcourt, pausing beside the detec-
tive.
Il was also on my way to look at
the smoke room where-the affair of
last night occurred. l was wondering
if it would interest you to accompany
me-"
rHacourt was conscious of the keen
scrutiny of the inspector. He thought,
too, that he understood the mans pur-
pose. He had heard of the famous
"Third degree" through which pris-
oners are often put by the police, and
he was rmly convinced that MacBee
had hoped that he might betray some
sign of guilt if brought to the scene
of the crime.
Certainly, l will CO." ITarcourt
consented quickly. His tone betrayed
none of the repugnance he felt at en-
tering the room, nor did his manner
betray the slightest hesitation. 81 as
sumo that you have no objection to
Maj. Marston's accompanying u.s."
"None whatever" said MacBee. 81
shall be glad to have him. Often an
old soldier sees things that escape
even US Scotland Yard men,"
Turning, they passed back to the
smoke room, and MacBee unlocked the
door, standing aside for them to pass.
The place was in the same disorder
in which it had been discovered when
the body was found. The chairs were
placed just as they had been, the car
pet was marked with ashes here and
there, and the trays on the table were
full of burnt-out cigars and cigarets.
Without being directed to it, Har-
court and Marston at once blanced at
the big chair by the table where the
body had been found. Against the
dark leather of the seat was a great
stain of darker hue mute evidence of
the gruesome object that had last oc-
cupted it.
81 have made most thorough eX-
animation" MacBee said as he closed
the door behind him. 'As far as have
been able to discover, there is not the
slightest clue remaining--no finger
prints, no lost Notwithstanding.
Frankly, it is the most perplexing sit
uation / have ever faced"
"You have arrived at no conclu-
sion?" Maj. Marston asked.
"None. / was wondering, Lord Har-
court, if you could recall anything that
took place in this room Immediately
before you left it,"
Nothing" said Harcourt, in a low
voice.
Sometimes the return to a scene
of this sort suggests things that had
slipped the memory-that remain in
the mind even though the brain was
not conscious of those impressions at
the time they were absorbed" Mac
Bee looked fixedly at Harcourt as he
spoke but his steady gaze was unre-
warded.
0J+ ic oil q blank to mo [" Harcol1rt