The Washington herald., 1915-09-12
The Latest Adventures of the Wonderful Ceek

There was nothing in the drawer but
this-and even that's unloaded and
hasn't been discharged for ages from the
look Of it." he declared, as he passed IL
over to Cleek. There's no air pistol or
any sign Of one. But there's a little
cardboard box with one steel-tipped. req.
and-white wool-barbed dart in it: 50 we'd
better keep our eyes peeled when We &C
to nab him. old chap. II will be at
close range, you know. and we've got
pretty good evidence as 1t IL of what a
dashed dangerous toy it is under those
circumstances. What's the next move,
dear boy? Shall we go down and fall On
him at once. eh? He didn't confess 1t to
us. by the way. but, all the same, the
lift boy tells me that Hepburn was up
stairs here twice today-the last time
while luncheon was being served"
The lift boy is a silly, harmless. for
setful young fool with not brains
enough to come in when 1t rains re-
Piled Cleek. rappins his words out impa-
tiently, but in so loud a voice that even
Todsers himself could hear, and whin-
per semi-hysterically as he crept farther
back from the light. Il have already told
you. Mr. Narkorn, that there's a woman
mixed up in this business and that WON.
an has been in this room at some time
today. and as have an idea at the back
of my head that that little Miss Fair
weather. Look here, Nip downstairs
and fetch her up, will you? Do it quiet
ly. Don't scare her. I've got a little
plan to work, little trap to spring. and
II You only play your part shrewdly we
shall see what we shall see Cut alons
and up with her as Quickly as you cam"
The whimpering. despairful wall that
Todgers gave at this was quite lost In
the bustling sound of Mr. Narkom's 60
ing, and for once in a way the superin-
tendent's movements were so brisk that
it seemed scarcely a minute after the
clashing gate told Of the lifts swift des-
cent before another clang announced its
return. and. hard on the heels Of IT, Mar
kom came in with the shivering fright
ened. panic-stricken girl She shuddered
back and clapped her hands over her eyes
as she caught sight of the dead man. and
Cleek, mercifully twitching down a
green curtain, spread the thing over the
body and advanced to meet her.
Miss Fairweather. there's a time for
all things and this is the time for truth
he said in sharp. incisive tones. The
truth about your movements today for
one thing: the truth about that skinned
knuckle Of yours for another. II you
wanted to tear of your ring and throw
it away. why did you come up here to
do it?-and in Mr.. Lincoln G. Tarking-
toms presence of all others"
Ter No, no. I wasn't-I didn't"
Yes. you did. too. Look here he
flung back at her. opening his shut hand
and holding II out to her with a half
hoop OF small. bright diamonds glittering
on the palm Of II. II found this thing on
the floor against the wall there-where
You flung it. Why, If you please? What
made you come here to do It? What was
this man to you9 Speak up
ing at ALL she cried historically II
thought he was-I thought I was engaged
to him-I thought I was going to be his
wife. He said I was. and-and I never
knew how impossible such a thing was
until yesterday-when she-came and I
found out that he was already married
He sent for me yesterday. but wouldn't
go to him-I wouldn't. after I knew,
thought never should 60 near him again
never could. But today-after a night
of despair had beaten and pounded the
full horror Of his conduct into my brain
and I realized what a narrow escape I
had had. knew that must go to him
must tell him to his face how I loathed
and despised him and how high held
myself above him for all his millions and
all his pomp and power. did, He was
sitting there at that table when I came
insisting there dressed in the clothes in
bauch last night He never touched me
then>-no, not then. I think I'd have
dropped dead II he had. Even as IT was,
I went half out Of my mind. I tore the
engagement ring from my finger and
flung II in his face. I told him what I
thought Of him. and while was in the
very midst of 1t. he jumped at me-up-
setting the table in his blunderinz haste
and plucked at me and tried to kiss me.
md "a hat LA IA
burn to recall. I faced round and fed
from him-as I'd have fed from any 9TH
er raging tiger-too frightened TO cry
out. too weak to scream-and all the
while he went chasing me round and
round the room. from chair to chair and
table to table. always leering at me. al
ways laughing at me. and then, all Of a
sudden. when he managed to get hold Of
me. everything went black before me
and just crumpled UP and fell and all
the world went away from me the in-
slant my head struck the floor. When
I came round to my senses again. was
lying there-Just where I had fallen
just as had dropped-but all the room
was still. for the door was ajar and-he
was there-just as he's there now-stons
dead in the middle Of the floor and the
overturned table beside him. That's all.
sir-as God hears me. that's all: only that
to the ONCE by the stairs instead Of by
the lift.''
Then. Of a sudden. Cleek's soothing
hand patted her shoulder. Cleek whis-
pered: Buck up, little woman. buck up.
Gods in His heaven and alrs right with
the world" sounded softly. close to her
ears. Then. with fierce abruptness. he
screwed round on his heel. walked to the
door. stuck out a hand that moved like
lightning flash. then swung the lift
boy. Todgers, into view. fast held in the
strong grip Of IT, and half threw. half
pushed him into the middle Of the room.
Now then-you" he raped out. as
the youth whined and sniveled after the
manner Of the mentally deficient, and
goggled up at him with owlish eyes. I'D
fnd it in my heart to do more than
merely pity you II IL wasn't for that
dogs trick Of trying to saddle the thing
on Hepburn. and perhaps-no matter,
Out with 1t. Todgers-out with II. I've
known you from the first. Gentlemen.
here's your murderer; here's the guilty
party: here's the unknown hand that was
behind the pistol: and here" taking
from his pocket the little scrap Of typ
ing paper he had picked up in the lift.
here il his signed. sealed and w.t.
The boy. sunk into q sort Of collapse of
shake and move his twitching hands one
through the other. the while his cog
Cling eyes went from Cleek to Mary
Fairweather, and his loose lip shook: for
the shock Of the thing had come upon
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