Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-01-28

Its a clear case" said the coroner.
This man killed his employer and has
committed suicide"
"Shot himself In the back2" asked
Rogers. I'VE found no weapon either"
Harley and Rogers met battery of
unpleasant glances.
DIR. HILBERT hastened to explain their
presence on tho scene, but the young
Investigators We're given to understand
that their presence was both untimely
and quito unofficial.
The coroner and his associates were
eager to have the investigation to
themselves and felt jealous OF the In
reference of the two young lawyers.
They scorned the theory of third
person being involved, though Rogers
told them about the uncanny laugh
which had followed their first knock
upon the door.
A'You find the laugh, young fellow"
grinned the police detective. land I'll
get the chief to appoint you on the
detective bureau"
Done" exclaimed Rogers confident
Iy, and he withdrew with his partner,
while the others went on upstairs.
How about the laughT queried
Harley US they stood in the kitchen.
1--WE must find the woman" said
Rogers.
''The woman2"
"Yes. There's a woman somewhere
around the place. Why2 She has
been down and made some tea. The
pot is still warm. There are the dregs
in a cup. Armstrong is dead, and
Lindquist probably did not make the
tea. Men fly to strong liquors In
times of stress. This tea was being
made when we entered the house."
"Where Is sheT asked Harley. "All
the doors are bolted on the inside, even
the door lending to the cellar"
I'VE might try the attic. These back
stairs will take us up there"
Rogers led the way up a narrow,
dusty flight OF stairs. Once he paused
aud searched the treads with his fash
light
Plainly Visible IN the dust were the
imprints Of q small stockinged foot.
ave are on the right track" said
Harley.
The stairs ended In small hall on
the second floor, and, opening another
door, they discovered n dusty fiight
winding upward.
Now they walked cautiously, guns In
hand. Under the low roof the attic
divided into several rooms.
Iaulnu antO haA v,AN
taken ten steps before they heard once
more that wild laugh.
They peered through a half open
door.
The room was directly over Arm.
strong's sleeping apartment.
In the middle of the door a board
had been removed, and beside the hole
knelt a woman. She was n small crea.
ture, bent with years and illness. Gray
hair hung In tangled locks about her
wrinkled face, and her large, dark
eyes were wild and glltteriqg as she
lifted her head and regarded the two
men.
Then, without comment on their in.
trusion, she bent over the hole and ap
peared to look down.
Rogers silently placed himself where
he could lean over and look down also.
He saw the Hath and plaster Of the
bedroom ceiling and white point OF
light that streamed up through n small
hole.
Below that hole was the bed where
the body Of Armstrong was found
with bullet In his henri, and the hole
in the ceiling was right above his
heartI
Suddenly the hole was obscured, and,
to Rogers horror, lie saw that the wo.
man had covered II with the muzzle
OF a revolver.
With n signal to Harley, they both
leaped for her and tore her away from
the hole.
She fought like tigress, and again
and again her Wild. insane laughter
echoed through the house.
The men below came tearing upstairs
and secured the raying woman. II was
DIR. HILBERT who identified her.
"It Is Armstrong; manlac wife," said
the physician. For years she has been
confined In the Leets asylum. | did
not know she had escaped, and did
not connect her with the crime.
ut Is plain TO be seen now how she
accomplished her deed. She concealed
herself here and made a small hole in
the ceiling close to the hook In the
middle OF the plaster centerpiece. From
this hook the lamp WINS suspended.
AS for Llndquist, she probably sur.
prised him and killed him as he tried
to escape. II our friends, Harley and
Rogers, had not traced tina laugh 1t In
very likely that she would bave got
one or more Of u.s."
As the mad woman was led scream.
ing 10 the patrol wagon In which the
officers had arrived DIR. HILBERT turned
TO the detective I'm charge.
How about your promise, smith,
he asked. my friends here traced the
laugh"
The detective shook hands with Har.
ley and Rogers
'1rhe next case you have, my friends"
he said, will have the backing OF the
detective bureau"
"Not n I know IT," grinned Rogers
as they left the house. But I'll tell
you one thiDg-I don't want another
murder case"
Wen turn down the next one"
agreed Harley M the car sped toward
the city
But II wan 10 happen that the next
case they handled touched them 30 IN
timately that they could not help being
involved IN the most mysterious crime
of the decade