Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-02-04
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Zudora. In accordance with her agree
ment with her lover. John Storm.
wrote him explaining about the case
and asked him 10 meet her nc the Nc
Winter house the following afternoon.
When the two arrived In the village
they found the suburbs In turmoil,
There mad been. they found. punt.
tive expedition against the Jail that
held Smith. but II had been frustrated.
This IL going TO be interesting.
John" said Zndora.
rive AN idea I'd like to plead for the
poor devil. | never realized how many
kinks there were Ia life until you en-
tered this detective business"
The unexpected is always happen.
Ing. On the face of IT, this man Smith
looks guilty. The very fact that the
woman is eager 10 save him has sus-
picious angle. But. for all this, we
may 6nd him innocent as child"
Meantime Nissan All had not been
idle. He was going to lose no chance
to further his schemes. TO be sure, he
had signihed his utter lack OF interest
In the case, but that had been to hood
wink his niece.
So quietly and unobserved he made
secret investigation Of the shack. II
did not take his remarkably keen eyes
long to discover what had taken place.
Clever. abomlnably clever!
Here was criminal who had fantas'
tic ideas. II this Internal contrivance
had served one mans purpose It might
readily serve another's.
So he cOntrived to separate Zudora
and Storm and bring the latter to the
shack. He wrote frankly, signing his
own name and declaring that II would
not be safe for Zudora to go deeply
into this case, as there was more to II
than could be seen on the surface.
So Storm concluded to meet Hassam
Ali at the shack and find out what he
had to say. He promised himself that
he would he cautious and watch every
move of his enemy.
Everything was ready for him, but
again Hassam All was overanxtous.
He set one Of the bottles he had found
in cabinet ON the little platform near
the ceiling.
Welcome. Mr.. Storm. welcome! He
laughed and his laughter might well
have been an echo to that made by the
man who had built this windowless
shack.
By and by he heard hurrying foot
steps. SlyIy be looked out and observ-
ed the unsuspecting attorney. Good!
But something slipped. The spring
moved too soon or Hassam Ali had not
pulled 1t back far enough The door
slammed violently.
There came tinkle OF breaking
glass, and Hassam All struggled des-
perately to pull the door open. He was
already too weak.
Storm heard the door. He concluded
his Journey at run. 1t took all his
strength to force the door, which i'm
mediately closed again when he was
inside. He saw dlmly his enemy sink.
ing helplessly to the floor, and almost
instantly 1t seemed that the walls OF
the shack hsd begun to revolve.
Fumes! He stumbled desperately to-
ward the door, but could not reach 1t.
Doubtless the only thing that saved
Hassam All. or Storm for that matter.
was the second opening OF the door.
which let in gust Of pure air and car
ried out q certain volume Of the poi
son.
Fortunately for both of them Judo
ra and Mrs. McWinter were both start
ing out for the shack at the very mo
ment the door closed upon Hassam
Ali.
Mrs McWinter dreaded to see the
fatal shack again, but Zudora insisted.
She must see the shack and everything
in 1t If she was to aid Smith In the
slightest degree.
After Mrs. McWinter had fully ex
planned the conditions Zudora was
quite confident that the man Smith |
was innocent. no matter how deeply
circumstantial evidence had involved
him.
She also felt instinctively that the
widow was holding something back.
There 1t is" announced Mrs. Nc
Winter. with shudder.
why. there are no windows In itv'
II know 1t. My husband built It.
For what purpose cannot say, unless
1t was to experiment in"
Mrs. McWinter began to cry.
There. there" said Fedora. From
what you have told me ! don't think
that husband Of yours was worth
tears"
"But have not told you ALL"
well. what more is there to tell?"
THE man accused OF my husbands
death was never my lover. He was
my brother
|