Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-01-28
THE LAUGH
How They Solved
the Mystery
By CLARISSA MACKIE


Harley and Rogers, investigating
lawyers, faced each other in some dis
may.
"a murder case" remarked Harley
at last. That's rather out of our line,
isn't it?'
"Just because no one has brought
one to our doors. We've taken every
thing In sight so far" grinned Rogers.
"Then we won't let this one get by,
Ell? Good thing it's vacation time.
Now tell me what DR.. Hilbert had to
say about the matter"
81 found him waiting in the office
when l arrived this morning. He said
that he had a curious story to tell me.
at seems he has been attending a
patient, Emery Armstrong, who lives
in a dilapidated house on the Freeman
road. Armstrong was q middle aged
man of eccentric habits and lived alone
with a hired man, a Swede Of the name
of Lindquist.
Armstrong had money or "a re-
puted to be a miser, but his house apr
peared poverty stricken. He always
paid the doctor with grumbling reluc-
lance.
Armstrong had been sick for some
time, nothing dangerous apparently,
merely a low malarial fever. He was
so much improved that HILBERT decid-
ed he need not come any more.
when he went to pay his last visit
last night the man Lindquist met him
at the door and said that his employer
was unconscious. The doctor found
Armstrong had been dead for several
hours. Investigation showed that the
man had been shot through the heart
as he lay in bed.
1.-THE shot had penetrated bedcloth-
ing and all, and yet there were no
powder marks from a gun pressed
against the bedding.
"Lindquist appeared stupefied when
told that his employer vas dead. He
admitted that he had been away all
night and had Just returned. HILBERT
came directly to us and has now gone
to notify the police authorities"
"Where is L~indquist?" asked Harley.
"Oh. HILBERT left the nan alone
there. Rather an odd thing to do I'M
der the circumstances"
"Of course Hibbert's reputation Is
impeccable," remarked Harley, reach
ing for his hat. Coming with meY'
"Yes. I'd like to beat the police to
1t. My car is below"
The young lawyers went down to the
street and entered Rogers low swung
racing car. In fifteen minutes they
were turning into the neglected
grounds surrounding the Armstrong
house. They were quite extensive, ant
the masses of shrubbery furnished ex
cellent hiding places for any n prowl
ing around bent on mischief.
The house itself, once a lofty colonial
mansion with pillared porticoes and
many wings. was In a tumbledown con.
dition.
There was no sign of life around the
place, and Rogers could not help a sud
den tightening of heartstrings when
he recollected that the murderer might
be concealed where he could pick them
off II at a time as they entered the
house.
The same thought occurred to Har
ley, and he vas glad they were both
armed with automatic weapons.
Rogers lifted the ancient brass knock.
er and raped gently.
If Lindquist was on guard he would
answer at once.
The knock ~reverberated as though
through empty rooms.
what was that soundY" asked Rog
ers. ut sounded like a laughl'
Harley had heard 1t too.
perhaps the Swede has gone in.
sane" he suggested and turned the
doorknOb.
The door opened halfway and Their
stopped.
The two men entered and almost fell
over the squat form of a man huddled
OF the floor in a pool Of blood.
at is Lindquist-shot in the backp'
muttered Rogers as he got up from his
knees.
ut has just happened" Harley
touched his companions arm. THE
murderer may still be here" he
breathed.
Weapons in hand, they searched the
lower rooms, finding only dust and de
cay, except in the kitchen, which Dor,
evidence of being in daily use.
On the second floor only one room
was habitable. This was the one In
which the dead man lay.
This was a lofty chamber furnished
in the black walnut period of forty
years ago. There was every evidence
of comfort here, the bookcases run
ming over with volumes. The well
equipped writing desk, with its scatter.
ed papers and fine reading lamp, de-
noted that Emery Armstrong had spent
much of his time in his W apart,
ment.
But the quiet occupant of the room
n7ha rvrn uoI1n1 rnoo f,rrnoI hooI- 81,