The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-04-25

HE STROBE TO THE CUR
TAIN THAT HUNG BEFoREI
HIS SECRET CUPBOARD AND
FLUNG 1T BACK.
the next thing I remember In look
Ing up and seeing DR.. Human"
My tension during the telling
OF the story had been painful. 1t
was not until Il was ended that
saw two other men had entered
while Miss Vaughan was speak
ing. They were Goldberger and
Sylvester.
"Simmonds telephoned me this
morning that | was needed out
here again." Goldberger ex-
planned. But first / want to
shake hands with Miss Vaughan.
] heard most of your story, and
it's a wonder. About that glove,
now, Simmonds," he added. turn
ing to the detective. "I'd like to
see it-and Sylvester here is near
~ dying to-"
Here 1t is" said Simmonds.
Goldberger looked at II, then
handed 1t to Sylvester, who fair
ly seized 1t. Then he took an ink
pad from his pocket, slipped the
glove upon his right hand, mixed
the tips of the fingers and pressed
them carefully upon a sheet of
paper. From an inner pocket lie
produced sheaf of photographs,
laid them beside the prints, and
carefully compared them. Finally
he Strengthened up and looked at
us, his face working.
DO you know what this does,
gentlemen" he asked, In voice
husky with emotion. ut strikes
at the foundation of the whole
system of finger-print Identified
ton! IL renders forever uncertain
a method we thought absolutely
safe! It's the worst blow that has
ever been struck at the police!"
THE case is clear" Godfrey
said, from first to last, provided
you can supply us with final de-
tail, Miss Vaughan. Did you write
that note to Swain in your own
Ioom?"
yes"
"And will you show me the
table at which you wrote it,"
Certainly" and we followed
her upstairs. She opened her
boudoir door. Come in. | wrote
1t at that little desk by the win
dow"
Godfrey walked to 1t, picked up
a blotting-book which lay upon it,
and turned over the leaves.
"Ah!" he said, after a moment.
II was sure of 1t. Here is the
final link. Have you a small hand
mirror, Miss Vaughan"
She brought one.
What do you see in the mir
ror?" he asked, and held a page
of the blotting-book at an angle
in front of 1t.
Miss Vaughan uttered an ex-
clamation of surprise, as she read
the words reflected there:
MIR. FREDERICK SWAIN,
1910 Fifth Avenue,
New York City.
II not at this address,
please try the Calumet Club.
"But for the fact that you
blotted the envelope, Miss |
Vaughan" said Godfrey, young
Swain would never have been ac-
cused of murder" -
Il do not understand" she
Don't you see." he pointed |
out, 1.-THE one question which We
have been unable to answer up
TO this moment has been this: how
did Silva know you were going to
meet Swain? He had to know 1t |
several hours before the meeting,
In order to have those finger
prints ready"
Miss Vaughan stared at him.
You seem to be very won
derful mani" she said.
Godfrey laughed.
1T Is my everyday businessto
reconstruct mysteries" he said.
Shall l reconstruct this one?"
Please dol" she begged.
Where did you first meet |
Silva?" he asked.
'In Paris"
What was he doing there?"
He was practicing mysticism.
My father went to consult him:
he was much impressed by him,
and they became very intimate"
And Silva, OF course, at once
saw the possibilities of exploiting
IN immensely rich old man, whose
mind was failing. So he comes
here as his instructor In Oriental
ism; by continued hypnosis, he
gets your father completely un-
der his control. He secures a |
promise of this estate and a great |
Then he hesitates, |
for during his residence in this3
house, a new desire has been add
ed TO the old ones. He ends by
falling in love with you. Hell
knows Of your love for Swain. He
bias caused Swain to be forbidden
the house; but he finds you still
Indifferent. At last he secures
your consent to become his disci-
pie. He knows that, II once you
,onsent to sit with him. he viii, /
n the end, dominate your will, Il
,lso.
, but you ask for three days de-
ay, and this he grants. Almost |
Il once, he guesses at your plan,
or you return to the house, you
rtto m laftar aud the x,rn..,ou4