The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-02-19

IL Miss Estrilla's glance, wandering
from one point to another in her effort
to concentrate on her narrative,
touched upon Rosalie's figure, they
looked straight through it.
Rosalie moved by imperceptible
stages to Detective Kennedy's table.
Casually, she picked up a fountain pen
and sheet of paper, and wrote:
New York, Nov. IS, 100.
Il am telling to the police all l
know of my part in the death of Capt
John H. Hanska. have confessed that
we followed him to America to get
| jewels, and that 1t was my brother
Juan who appeared to have stabbed
him"
The inspector was questioning
gently now upon the apopleXy theory
hoping to trap the witness into an in
consistency. While she talked, Miss
Estrilla Cor Senorita Perez paused
from time to time as though gathering
strength. Rosalie waited for such a
pause. Then she braced the paper on
book and slipped up to Inspector
McGee.
you've forgotten this" she said,
you were goin' to git 1t signed at the
very first, you know
Inspector McGee's expression proved
that he was puzzled. But he had be-
come accustomed to following Rosa
les mental flights without knowledge
Of their destination. He nodded. there
fore, and gave book, paper and pen to
Miss Estrilla. 1t was the best possible
compliment to the inspectors third de-
gree methods, that she signed without
a protest. Rosalie took the paper ST
le1tly; but she did not deposit it where
it ,elonged-among the official papers
on Detective Kennedy's table. AS she
resumed her station outside the door.
she was folding it in her fingers.
The police went on, then, with their
seachings and questionings. They
failed to notice. so absorbed were they.
the sound of retreating footsteps on
the stairs.
w. resume, with the painstaking
|
Margrita Perez, alias Estrilla.
1T was apoplexy. But Juan did not
knowit yet He only knew that Cap
tain Ianska had fallen on the knife
and ded, and that it would look like
murde. He understood your law, he
knew hat to get our property he was
committing what looked like burglary,
and thst a burglar who commits MUIR
der cannot plead self-defenSe. He wait
ed by he window to see whether the
fall haG disturbed the house. No one
stirred-probably an elevated train
was passing at the time it happened.
Frightened as he was, he still thought
of the ewels, and decided to take
them, whatever the risk. He exam
ined the )oX; the bill of sale was there.
Circumstances had changed now; an
empty stDng box in the room of man
who appeared to have been murdered,
might set the police on the track. He
thought Of this So he took the box,
open as II was, switched off the cleo
trio light, and started to leave by the
door. The catch of the spring lock
was on. To lock the room from out
side, he would have had to slam the
door-you know how spring lock
works. That would have made great
deal of noise. 1t might awaken some
one, who would hear footsteps going
from Captain Hanska's room to mine,
He put the box under his arm and
fastened back the catch OF the spring
lock, so that he could close the door
without sound. OF course, that left
it unlocked. In doing all this, it seems,
he spilled out of the box the diamond
buckle which found on the stairs.
Juan went back to my room be-
cause he wanted time to think. His
first idea was to leave the house
dressed in my clothes, just as we had
planned, and join me. Then we would
escape together. But he knew that the
police generally catch fugitives from
Justice il the end. We were in a
strange COUNTRY. We had no friends
to help US If we were missing from
the house in the morning, IL we were
caught escaping, every one would be
lieve us guilty. Then he had another
idea. If could return, still disguised
as Juan, alter the body was discov
cred, he would have perfect alibi.
"While b, was thinking about this
Mr.. North cine home and fell into the
blood, as yol know.
Immediately, Juan heard some one
calling MURDER from below. That was
his chance b carry out his plan. He
telephoned ne. | came. / have told
you about that. He changed to his
own clothes. | made him go down
stairs and Offer to help. My clothes
which Juan had worn down the fire
escape in the rain, were still little
wet. I looked them over carefully