Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-09-25

He paused % II waiting for quss.
ton. None was asked. Toys's mouth
might have been sewn up. his eyes
were like hatpins driven into his hsad.
The other two simply stared.
1T was . mad idea, but had gone
mad" continued Caxalet. II had hat
cd the victim alive, and It couldn't
change me that he was dead or dying;
that didn't make him . white man.
and neither did it necessarily blacken
the poor devil who had probably suf-
fered from him like the rest Of us
and only struck him down in self
defense. The revolver on the desk
made that pretty plain. 1t was out
of the way, but now, saw blood all
over the desk as we'll: it was soaking
into the blotter, and It knocked the
bottom out OF my idea. What was to
be- done? had meddled already; how
could give the alarm without giving
myself away to that extent. and God
knows how much further? The most
awful moment Of the lot came a. I
hesitated-the dinner-sons went OF in
the hall outside the door! remem.
Der watching the thing on the door
to see II 1t would move.
Then lost my head-absoluteiy. I
turned the key In the door. to give
myself few seconds grace or start;
it reminded me Of the keys In my
hands. One Of them was ono Of those
little round bramah keys. 1t seemed
familiar to me even after 80 many
years. looked up, and there was my
fathers Michael Angelo closet, with
it's little, round bramah keyhoie. I
opened 1t IS the outer door was
knocked at and then tried. But my
mad instinct of altering every pos.
sible appearance. to mislead the 20
lice, stuck to me to the last. And I
took the mans watch and chain into
the closet with me, ~ we'll ~ tho
cap and truncheon that I had picked
up before.
II don't know how long was above
ground, 20 to speak, but one Of my
fathers objects had bsen to make his
retreat sound-tight, and could scarce
ly hear what was going on In the room.
That encouraged me; and two u yos
don't need telling how ] got out
through the foundations. because you
know al about the hole made my
self as . boy In the door under the
oilcloth. It took some finding with
single matches: but tho fear Of your
neck gives you eyes In your finger
ends. and gimlets. too, by Jove! The
worst part was getting out at the
other end, into the CELLAR; there were
heaps Of empty bottles to move. one
by one. before there was room to open
the manhele door and TO squirm out
over the slab; and thought they rang
like . peal Of bells. but put them
ali bath again, aaa4 apparently :
nobody overheard In the scullery.
THE big dog barked at mo like
blazss-he did again the other day
but nobody seemed to hear him either.
got to my boat, tipped q fellow on
the towing path to take 1t back and
pay for it-why haven't the police got
hold Of him and ran down to the
bridge over the weir. I stopped big
car with Z smart shaver smoking his
pipe at the wheel. should have
thought he'd have come forward for
the reward that was put up: but pre-
tended I was late for dinner had in
town. and let him drop me at the
Grand Hotel. He cost me a nver. but
had on Q vaistcoat lined with notes
and I'd more than i've minutes IN hand
at Charing Cross. II you want to
know. 1t was tho time in hand that
gave me the whole idea Of doubling
back to Genoa: must have beeo half
way up to town before I thought Of
it,"
He had told the whole thing 40 he
always could tell an actual expert
ence: that was one reason why 1t rang
10 true to one listener at every point.
But the sick mans sunken eyes had
advanced from their sockets In cumu-
lative Amusement. And Hilton Toye
laughed shortly whom the end was
reached.
You figure some On our crsdulity!"
was his first comment.
II don't figure on anything from
you. Toye, except pair Of handcu6s
~ . first installmsnt!"
Toye rose in prompt acceptance Of
the challenge. Seriously, Casalet.
you ask us to believe that you did all
this to screen man you didn't have
time to recognized"
I've told you the facts
We'll, guess you'd better tell
them to the police" Toye took his
hat and stick. Scruton was struggling
from his chair Blanche stood petri-
ned, dove under serpent. spell. 80
Toye made her . sardonic bow from
the landing door. you broke your
side OF the contract, Miss blanche! I
guess it's up to mo to complete"
waltz"
It was ecruton's raven croak; he
had tottered TO his feet
Sure" said Toye, ~ you've any
thing you want to say - an interested
party"
Only this-he's told the TRUTH"
We'll. can he prove IT."
II don't know" said Scruton. ''But
l cant"
your" Blanche chimed in there.
Eyes. I'd Ike that drink first. II you
don't mind, Cazaiet" II was Blanche
who got It for him. In an instant.
Thank you! I'd say more II my bless
Ing was worth having-but here's
something that IL. Listen to this, you
A-n~saaus ~,~,,<la~en.eI -as m vns n