Tombstone epitaph., 1916-04-30

closed this window behind him In or
der to cover up his tracks. That win
dow Of the captains room which led
to the fire escape, was open tor venti-
lation. The rain was drifting through
IL. 1t occurred to Juan that every
thing would be safer II he closed it
he was afraid that a gust Of wind
might blow spray into Captain Han
ska's face. and wake him. He did
that. and he fastened the sash with
the catch. Captain Hanska was asleep.
breathing very heavily. Remember
that
You have seen the room The bu-
reau, where l found the strong-box,
vas in the corner farthest from the
window which Juan had just entered,
Between II and the window were
table and Captain Hanska's bed. Juan
carried our pocket electric torch. He
turned 1t on the inside Of the top bu-
reau drawer. The box was there. Also.
the key was in its lock. Juan thought
II would be better to take the jewels
out and leave the box. By doing that
he could find whether the bill OF sale
was with the jewels. or whether he
would have to search further for 1t.
That was his great mistake. 1t was
trick box. Inside was an alarm-bell
which rang whenever the cover was
lifted.
Juan opened II: the bell rang. Cap
tain Hanska awoke at once. Juan had
no time to move. before Captain Han
ska pressed the button at the head OF
his bed and turned on the electric
light. II must have bewildered him
for a moment when he saw what ap-
peared to be woman standing by his
bureau-but Juan held the strong box
in his hands. When he saw that. the
captain came at him. Juan is a small
man. Captain Hanska was big and
very powerful. Just then, Juan saw
on the table between them that great
knife.
Juan is a swordsman. He picked
up the knife to stop the captain by
threatening him with it-held the point
toward his chest. Captain Hanska
was a brave man, and very violent in
anger. He had one OF his terrible
spells Of temper now. He began to
curse Juan. And then his hands went
up TO his head all of a sudden, and he
tumbled over with all his great weight
on the point of the knife. Juan did not
thrust-he is sure now he did not
thrust-he only held the knife steady
but Il pierced Captain Hanska
through" lin this place. Detective
Kennedy had to edit the statement a
great deal in order 10 make 1t seem
ly for the official archives.)
We will leave for a moment the 20
lice statement
Fell or it?" asked Martin MCGEE.
What's that you're trying to give us?"
"On my soul and my mothers" SOL
EMMY declared Miss Estrilla Don Z
you see-cant you understand? A
doctor in Port Of Spain had warned
him of it-Juan has done nothing
since-nothing-bu read medical
books-he was dead before he touched
the point OF the knife-if Juan stabbed
him, he stabbed a corpse-Captain
Hanska died of apoplexy caused by his
anger!"
During these last dramatic stages OF
Miss Estrilla's narrative, Rosalie lie
Grange had slipped into the room. For
4 moment, Miss Estrilla gazed full up.
on her betrayer. For a moment. all
that the tropics had given her o; storm
and fame glared from her evc=- invn
that light 1:c1 --a,. Thereafter. il
was as though Rosalie had not been.
II Miss Estrilla's glance. wandering
from one point TO another in her effort
to concentrate on her narrative,
looked straight through IT.
Rosalie moved by imperceptihle
stages to Detective Kennedy's table
Casually. she picked up a fountain pen
and a sheet of paper. and wrote:
New York. Nov. IS. 1870.
u am telling TO the police all
know OF my part in the death OF Capt
John II. Hanska. ! have confessed that
We followed him to America to get
jewels, and that il was my brother
Juan who appeared TO have stabbed
him"
The Inspector was questioning
gently now upon the apopIexy theory
hoping to trap the witness into an in
consistency. While she talked, Miss
Estrilla (or Senorita Perez paused
from time to time as though gathering
strength Rosaiie waited for such a
pause. Then she braced the paper on
book and slipped up to Inspector
McGee.
You've forgotten this" she said
you were goin' to git IT signed at the
very first. you know"
Inspector McGee's expression proved
that he was puzzled. But he had be
come accustomed to following Rosa
lies mental Fights without knowledge
OF their destination. He nodded, there
fore. and gave book, paper and pen 10
Miss Estrilla. II was the best possible
compliment to the inspectors third de
gree methods, that she signed withou.
a protest Rosalie took the paper 81
leat.y: but she did not deposit it where
IL belongcd-among the official papers
on Detective Kennedy's table. As she