The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-04-03

| dow OF the captains room which led
TO the fire escape was open for venti-
lation. The rain was drifting through
| IT, IL occurred 10 Juan that every
thing would be safer II he closed it
he was afraid that gust OF wind
might blow spray into Captain Han
skas face, and wake him. He did
that; and he fastened the sash with
the catch. Captain Hanska was asleep.
breathing very heavily. Remember
that.
You have seen the room. The bu-
reau, where / found the strong-box,
window which Juan had just entered.
Between 1t and the window were a
table and Captain Hanska's bed. Juan
carried our pocket electric torch. He
turned IL on the inside OF the top bu-
reau drawer. The box was there. Also.
the key was in its lock. Juan thought
II would be better to take the jewels
out and leave the box. BY doing that
he could find whether the bill OF sale
was with the jewels, or whether he
would have 10 search further for IT,.
That was his great mistake. II was a
trick box. Inside was an alarm.bell
which rang whenever the cover was
lifted.
Juan opened It; the bell rang Cap
tain Hanska awoke at once. Juan had
no time TO move, before Captain Han.
ska pressed the button at the head OF
his bed and turned on the electric
light. IL must have bewildered him
for a moment when he saw what ap-
peared to be a woman standing by his
bureau-but Juan held the strong-box
in his hands. When he saw that. the
captain came at him. Juan Is small
man. Captain Hanska was big and
very powerful. Just then, Juan saw
on the table between them that great
knife.
Juan is a swordsman. He picked
up the knife TO stop the captain by
threatening him with it-held the point
toward his chest. Captain Hanska
was a brave man, and very violent in
anger. He had one of his terrible
spells OF temper now. He began TO
curse Juan. And then his hands went
up to his head all OF sudden, and he
tumbled over with all his great weight
on the point of the knife. Juan did not
thrust-he Is sure now he did not
thrust-he only held the knife steady
but 1t pierced Captain Haneka
through" (In this place, Detective
Kennedy had to edit the statement a
great deal in order to make 1t seem
ly for the official archives)
|
We will leave for a moment the po.
lice statement.
Fell on it?" asked Martin McGee.
What's that you're trying to give us?"
"On my soul and my mothers" sol
emnly declared Miss Estrilla. Don't
you see-can't you understand? A
doctor in Port of Spain had warned
him of it-Juan has done nothing
since-nothing- read medical
books-he was dead before he touched
the point OF the knife-if Juan stabbed
him, he stabbed a corpse-Captain
Hanska died OF apoplexy caused by his
anger!"
During these last dramatic stages OF
Miss Estrilla's narrative, Rosalie lie
Grange had slipped into the room. For
a moment, Miss Bstrilla gazed full up
on her betrayer For a moment, all
that the tropics had given her of storm
and fame glared from her eyes. Then
that light died away. Thereafter. IT
was as though Rosalie had not been.
II Miss Estrilla's glance, wandering
from one point to another in her effort
20 concentrate on her narrative,
touched upon Rosalie's figure. they
looked straight through It.
Rosalie moved by imperceptlble
stages TO Detective Kennedy's table.
Casually, she picked up a fountain pen
and sheet OF paper. and wrote:
New York, Nov. IS, 100.
81 am telling TO the police all !
| know OF my part in the death OF Capt
John II. Hanska have confessed that
We followed him 70 America 10 got
! Jewels, and that II was my brother
Juan who appeared 10 have stabbed
him"
The inspector was questioning
gently now upon the apoplexy theory
hoping 10 trap the witness into an In.
| consistency. While che talked, Miss
Estrilla (or Senorita Perez paused
from time 10 time as though gathering
strength. Rosalie waited for such
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 It sIgned at the
very first. you know"
Inspector McGee's expression proved
that he was 'zzled. But he had be
come accustomed 20 following Rosa.
lies mental flights without knowledge
OF their destination. He nodded, there
fore. and gave book. paper and pen 20
Miss Estrilla. II was the best possible
compliment 20 the inspectors third de-
gree methods. that she signed without
a protest Rosalie took the paper si-
lently: but she did not deposit II where
Il belonged-among the official papers
on Detective Kennedy's table AZ she
resumed her station outside the door