The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-03-24

....bf ARNOLD FREDERICk9
any member Of the household, but
to lay the case before Hunt. when
ha came over 10 the houre the next
morning.
To my surprise, be dld not seem
AZ all impressed with The idea OF
Miss Gardiner being implicated.
You let your idea % clues run
away with you, Mr.. King" he said.
Now, IL seems 10 me II we're go
ing 20 look for our man thru any
clues. we'd better consider that
red ink. When Miss Leslie threw
that irkstand. and so much ink was
spilled on the rug. IL is extremely
probable thst some also spattsred
on the coat OF the assailant"
We'll. itsEeems 10 me" ] said,
that that's about the most elusive
clue you could think of"
Perhaps you're right" agreed
Hunt but all the same shall
try 10 find that coat"
Then Tom whiting and his wife
appeared Mt the library door.
we want YOU 10 20 with us for
motor ride. Mr.. King" said
! Edith Whiting 20 me. Tom In
sists on my going. and we are TAX.
ing Irene with us"
II seemed pathetic 10 ride away
in Philips big automobile. but. as
Tom Whiting had said. the ladies
really needed some fresh air. and
he thought the trip would do us
all good.
Mr.. ard Mrs whiting sat in
front. for Tom was quite as good
chauffeur ms Philip had been:
and Miss Gardiner and sat be-
hind.
As there was ample room for an
other. Irene proposed that We stop
I for Gilbert Crane. This We did.
and he seemed glad 10 accept the
| invitation.
On our return. Mrs. Whiting ask.
cd Mr.. Crane 10 come In TO lunch.
con with US. and he accepted.
He aiightcd before ! did. and as
he stood waiting TO help Miss Gar.
diner out, the midday sunlight
shone fun upon him.
looked at him curiously. think
ing what a large. fine.looking Eel.
/ low he was. and hox becoming bis
fashionable automobile coat WAS 70
him. Its color was a light brown.
ism gray. and as my eye rested Idly
upon IL. suddenly noticed some
thing that made my heart stand
stu. >
On the front OF this same coat
on the lower edge. were several
small spots. visible only In the
brightest sunlight. which. whatever
they might be. had every appear
ance OF being red ink.
I wen, into the house with the
rest. and. finding that Mr.. Hunt had
gone. sent note TO him. asking
/, him to return.
luncheon. and. bidding him ro into
tho library. ! picked up Gilbert
Cranes coat from the hat-stand
where be had flung II. and hasten
ed 90 the library.
found Hunt there. and afsef
closing the door ] held the front
OF the Goa, toward tho window 70
Gilbert Cranes 7 answered
looking straight At tho detective
shall call Crane up here and
AJAX him ~ be can explain these
spots on his coat. Somehow. I
can't help thinking that he could
do So"
Not yet" said Mr.. Hunt. u
think IL wiser 20 ktraighten out a
few points before we speak to Mr.
Crane on the subject. Please bring
Miss Gardiner here"
followed Mr.. Hunts sugEes
lions TO the letter. but ] was dis
turbed at his request for Irene.
Finding Mrs. Whiting In the hall
I asked her 10 say TO Miss Gardiner
that Mr.. Hunt desired 20 see her In
the library. returned TO the II
hrary myself
found Hunt making tabulatcd
statement of certain facts.
You see. MIR. King" he said
with n very grave face. while
these things are not positively In
eliminating. they are serious CUES
tons which need clearing up.
Granting that the bronze horse
i was thrown at the intruder and re
placed on the desk before yon en-
tered the room that night, we must
allow that Il was picked up and re
placed by somebody. Miss Leslie
was incapable OF this.
Gilbert Crane was the first &c
find out that the tragedy had oc
Cured. There IL no witness TO say
what he might or might not have
done In this room. II Is possible
therefore. that he restored the
horse 10 It's place"
And the inkstand?"
you remember that Gilbert
Crane insisted on spending the
night in this house. Is II not. there
fore. conceivable that he should
have waited until every one else
had gone home. or retired to their
rooms. and that he should then have
come TO the library. found ths
empty stand. refilled II. and re
placed it7"
But" said 7. In utter amaze
ment. "if he did not commit the
crime. why should he be so careful
about these details?"
II am not sure" said Mr.. Hun,
in low voice, that be did moi
commit the crime"