Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-04-27
which it was kept unlocked"

"We started to look for motive
for the crime of last night" Dual re-
sumed his deductions. "If Gustav
Conrad wrote this will, and if Gustav
Conrad up till last night believed that
he was the chief heir, and if the will,
when produced this morning, showed
that he was not, but that another was,
in fact, what are we to believer"
Somebody changed the WILL" blurt-
ed Bryce.
"Such a conclusion might be ar
rived at" agreed Dual. at is even
supported by the word beloved 1t
is unlikely that that word would be
placed anywhere except before the
name of the chief recipient of the dom
or's will. Yet, if the names had
been changed, the person who so
changed them might have been un-
able to change the word or remove
it and preserve the form of the will,
in fact was so unable, so it was al
lowed to stand-later to damn by its
proof"
His voice rose at the end of the SEN
tence until it grew to personal ac-
cusation in is tones.
"But, good Lord, look what that
means!" cried Bryce, aghast.
"We are dealing with facts" re-
turned Dual calmly. "Their implica-
tion must fall where it will"
l glanced again at Mallet.
He sat drawn together, his face
pale, drawing on his cigar in short,
spasmodic puffs, with long intervals
between.
"Glace" Dual's voice reused me.
He had risen and was holding the will
toward me Help me with this"
l took it and followed him toward
the great camera near the windows.
There he took the holder from the
table and, removed its back, fitted the
paper into it's frame.
Next me moved the table in front
of the bull's-eye of the camera and
propped it securely.
Semi reached up and drew the
heavy silk draperies before the win
dow, shutting out the faint illumina-
ton; lifted the black drape from the
tripod of the camera and spread it
above his head, while he focused the
instrument upon the will, then stepped
back and began once more to speak.
81 am about to take a photograph
of the will as it now stands, for two
First, in case of question, we
should have a copy of the will. Sec
ondly, as l shall presently conduct
certain experiments with it, it is
doubly important to have this record
for comparison, in order to prove that
the writing of another hand than that
Of Conrad, though one similar on the
surface. In reality, however, they
correspond to another specimen of
writing which have in my possession,
as l shall shortly show you"
He paused and took plate-holder,
loaded and ready, and thrust it into
the machine, then handed the flash
light frame to me.
johnson, step to the door and turn
off the light-switch when l tell you"
He crossed and extinguished the
amp in the hand of Venus, and came
back to the camera, picking up its
oulb.
"Now, Johnson" he called.
Darkness fell upon the room, as the
detective clicked the switch.
Ready, Gordon" Dual's voice came
to me.
pressed the trigger of the flash.
With a sheet of vivid fame and a
roar the apparatus exploded, and in
hat moment cold fear laid hold of my
leart. Under the intense glare had
ct my eyes fall upon the spot where
Mallet had been sitting.
1t was empty!
Double darkness came down, blind
ng us for the instant, making it
seem after the intense light that we
we're plunged into void of blacl,
space, until ones head swirled slow
y as the eyes refused their function
rom the, effects of the terrific glare.
In that moment | heard a painting
exclamation and the sound of d scuffe
rom somewhere in the room.
"Bryce" called Johnson, in startled
sXhortation.
The struggling increased.
l heard Bryce stumble toward the
sound, which l now located by the
door into the outer room. And all
he time | stood stupidity holding the
lash-light in my hand.
"Glace, put on the lights"
Dual spoke calmly, almost without
haste. The sound of his voice stead
ed me and spurred me to obedience