The Washington herald., 1915-10-10

fancied that what he said had M,
been heard. and-repeated il
should be very grateful if vou
would. ne went on. lowering his
voice and speaking from the corner
OF his mouth Look here. mate: if a
fiver would be of any use TO you-"
And got no farther, For. of sud
den. the door was plucked from his
grasp and closed: Cleek had swunS
round and pounced on him md
! crowded him into a corner and-tba
handcuns were on him before he knew
It. So that by the time Sir Purdon and
Mr.. Narkom-startled by the sound
could look round to ascertain what
was happening. il had happened and
was over and done for: and there was
Fessenden leaning against the wall in
an absolute collapse-white as a dead
man; shaking like a palsied one-with
band of steel on each wrist and a
length of glittering chain between.
and there was Cleek-with his fingers
punched under the fellows chin isb-
bing him back against the wall with
a hrst-class strangle hold. and saving
in low. singing voice:
I, No noise. you backyard Oh. I've
been on the track of you from the
nrst. Fessenden, but I never susnecr
ed that you'd turn out to be thai fell
low-hever for an instant, until
came here and saw you on the lawn
II was Sir Purdon Mace's butler was
after. not that high-rollins bounder
who puts up the money for the dia
monds and the dresses of the Scarlet
woman who runs that wonderful
white-velvet-lined limousine"
Good heaven above. Mr. Cleek-"
Not to be mentioned in this chaps
presence. Sir Purdon-he belongs 10
the one down below. But he won't get
any money from the sale of that ring
to help him a bit faster on his wav
to II. / assure you, He might hays
done so. but for still another blunder
that he made: but for the present
Mr.. Narkomr'
Yes. old chap
Nip over there TO the hreplace The
carpets been pulled up. and he's had
no chance since poor Starbolt was car
ried in here TO tack il down again. II
there's loose board or hole lust
under the hearthstone. it's likely the
thing will be there But If 4. isn't"
He faced round upon Fessenden
again as II about TO say more. but was
prevented from doing so by an out
burst on the superintendent's part.
Running. at the first suggestion, to
the fireplace and dropping on his
knees before IL, he had jerked back
the nnfastened carpet. found loose
board. pulled il up. and incontinently
cheered.
It's here, It's here" he cried. ey-
citedly-and rose as he spoke, advanc-
ing toward Sir Purdon with his hand
outstretched and a flashing. flaming,
glittering splendor lying on the palm
of It.
The ring, Thank God, II is. it is the
ring. Mr.. Cleek, Do you see? Do you
see?"
Not yeti haven't time. I've other
hsh TO fry" he gave back Door.
please. Mr.. Narkom. Look sharp, Let's
get this article off our hands as soon
as possible. Now then. Monte Cristo-
this way. please. Come along And
swung Fessenden half of his feet and
over the threshold and was on his
way downstairs with him before you
could say Jack Robinson.
nonsense! Why. the thing was as plain
as the nose on your. face from the
very beginning" said Cleek as he
lounged back in his chair under the
big elm tree. with a cigarette be-
tween his fingers. "comforta BILE"
check in his pocket and the first
shadows of coming dusk over and
about him. How could I possibly help
suspecting your butler when you open
ly told me in the first five minutes of
our acquaintance about that absurd
excuse he gave for calling in person
at your office yesterday for the forks
and spoons?-and You with a tele-
phone in your house! I grant you that
there was a certain amount of low
cunning in his method of overcoming
poor Starbolt and getting hold of the
ring. but think how the idiot blurder-
ed afterward-never opening a win
dow to air the place and never taking
that four dredger away when it had
done its work Pardon, Mr. Narkome
What was his method? Oh. an old
trick of the days when Crime was
more a business than an art-cyan-
ide of mercury and bit of candle.
timed by its length. to burn until a
certain period before IL reached the
Cyanide and made it throw off its suf-
locating fumes. A box or a jar with
a perforated lid is the usual method
of doing the thing. because. being
closed. it reveals nothing of the pres
ence of the burning candle end, while
the performations in the lid serve the
double purpose OF admitting the air
which is necessary to the process OF
combustion and allowing the fumes
to pour out when the flame finally
ignites the cyanide | think there can
be no doubt that Fassenden placed the
thing among the silver on top of the
safe and lit the bit of candle during
the brief period when Sir turdon and
his son were a the door seeing the
captain off and the fellow was in the
Office alone. Also that when the hour
TO act. he was on hand: that he 1T
himself in with a key-duplicated long
ago for the purpose from the ore in
Mr.. Avery Maces lost bunch-pluCk-
ed the ring from poor Starbolt's hand
while he was lying unconscious and
ira vel No doubt he realized thar Star.
bolt. when he revived, would rush -
Sir Purdon with the terrifying news
nd as the man could not be Cer'aiu
that the poor chap had not caught
glimpse of him before he suCCUmbed
he went out and lay in wait
for hinl-to finish him off completely
own petard:' for when Starbolt was
put into his room and he turned out
to be lodged elsewhere. why that did
for him. He couldn't get in to get Al
the ring or to tack down the carpet
with Starbolt's mother there day ana
of the cut candle-and the loose car
pet-and all the rest of il and he SIM
ply bound hand and foot by his own
folly.
Of Sir Purdon's butler being the thief
y