The state herald., 1916-02-04

was OF no use In this crisis, what with
the compression Of ten emotional
years into ten minutes OF life. Worse
for him. the hen-minded Mrs. Moore
seeing the blood. cried. you mur
derer!" clutched at his coat, and fell
into faint. Upon Professor Noll de
volved the masculine guidance OF this
affair. And he thought first, not OF
the police. but OF doctor, BY this
time. Miss Harding and Miss Jones
were weeping breast to breast; Mrs
Moore had recovered to say that she
always expected 1t Of Mr.. North. and
Miss Estrilla. the invalid lady on the
top floor. had called from the head OF
the stairs. What is it," With the
brutality which impels us In crises to
confide unpalllated horrors. some one
shrieked, "Hanska's murdered"
There came from above some Spanish
CALCULATIONS to which no one paid
much attention. and then a rattling OF
the hook Of the telephone. which hung
on door-post In that fourth floor hall.
Professor Noll. his mind still on the
necessity for calling a doctor, slipped
into ulster and bed-shoes and rushed
across the street to rouse the house
physician In the apartment-hotel. He
was some time making himself known
and understood. As he neared his
own door again, he saw Mr.. Estrilla
entering almost on the run.
There's been a murder! Captain
Hanska's killed." Professor Noll
called after him.
Il know-my seester lephone-she
Is frighten'." Estrilla called back
shrilly over his shoulder. And he hur.
ried up the stairs.
By this time. the open door, the
huttering lights. the screams and hys.
terics, had begun to attract the atten.
don OF this and that late pedestrian
A milkman pulled up. hitched. and en-
tered; and then a night-faring printer.
Presently the little knot in the street
and the parlors was augmented by a
woman. fully and rather over-luxuri.
ously dressed. as though for the the
ater-a big picture hat and a black
satin. furedged evening coat over a
light gown which showed here and
there the glitter Of seQuins. She was
large but shapely woman Of uncer.
tain age: yet so pleasing withai that
the gathering loafers. even In the ex.
element OF a murder. spared 4 few
admirins glsnces at her face.
I'm goin' up" she confded to her
fellows. Il belong there-they need
sensible woman. from the way
they're screechin'. You better not fol.
low-you'll do no good an II might
git you involved" With surprising
lightness. considering her bulk. she
mounted the stairs.
The noise guided her to the focus
OF interest: she pushed her way into
the room of the late Captain Hanska.
and stood looking about with a pair
OF large serious eyes which took In
every detail. She bent her gaze on
the dead man. stopped. made quick ex
animation. first OF the wound and then
OF his face. Both Mrs Moore and Miss
Harding were about TO ask this strang.
er to account for herself. when the
doctor. half.dressed but carrying his
bag, edged past the door. All turned
to him. He looked but an instant on
the face.
He's dead" he said calmly. Has
any one notified tho police7 Has any
one called up a Coroner7"
"lll attend to that" volunteered the
strange woman. with an air OF perfect
competence and command: "where's
the phone-ground floor and top floor
haill All right: I'll use the top noor:
that's nearer. Any particular Cord.
ncr. Doctor' Lipschutzr All right"
In the hall. she met the regular
patrolman. who had received the news
at last The limb OF the law had for.
hidden the augmented crowd at the
door TO follow him: he was ascending
alone. The sight OF this woman In