Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-05-04

the nails on his index-fingers were
long and sharp.
"But if that had been true the
strangling hand must have gripped
about your uncle's throat from above
downward, and because of the other
evidence we know that your cousin did
not kill your uncle. Had you crept
into the room as you did, you would
not have paused or delayed to turn
so as to face the foot of the bed in
which he lay, but would have reached
for his throat at once. Therefore the
marks of the nails in his flesh were
not made by the nails of the index
finger, but by those of the little finger.
George Mallet-hold out your hands!"
For moment he waited. Then
Bryce reached downward and gripped
the hand of Mallet nearest his own
the left-and dragged it into view.
The nail of its little finger was long
and sharpened to point!
And in that moment Mallet acted
His figure came out of his chair as
though shot by a spring. His right
hand came up and caught Bryce
squarely on the tip of the chin. The
inspector grunted slightly and meas
ured his length on the floor.
In bound Mallet crossed Bryce's
body and flung himself at the door.
Selling it's knob with one hand, he
dragged small black weapon from a
pocket and leveled it upon US.
"Stand back-all of you," he pant
ed, cor I'll send you to join the restv
He jerked the door open and was
gone.
Johnson hurled himself in pursuit
| followed his lead.
Yet l remember that as | sprane
forward. glimpsed Dual. He was sit
ting calm and impassive beside his
great desk.
The detective and l gained the out
er room in time to see Mallet's back
vanish into the garden, and we raced
in pursuit, johnson drawing his police
revolver as we ran.
A dull twilinght met us at the tower
door. Before us along the central
path appeared the figure of Mallet
Instantly johnson lifted his gun and
fired over his head.
"Come back her, Malletr he bel
lowed. "The next shot will be tc
kill"
The figure wavered in his stride
faltered, and turned to dash into the
screening plants of the garden; turned
and struck against the base of the ole
sun dial, and clawing at the empty
air, sprawled downward across it.
face.
johnson and 1 rushed forward n
the stiffness of the figure across tn,
dial-wondered that it made no NOV,
to struggle upward and make gooC
its attempted escape.
But l did not comprehend, and
am sure that Johnson never suspected
Not until we stood beside him an,
bent to raise him and saw his heac
hanging on limp neck across tn,
edge of the dial did l understand anc
feel my heart contract with horror al
we sought to lift him and found :
resistance greater than that born O.
his weight.
Then l knew that the sword of ius
tice had fallen.
The sharp spear of the marker hat
gone straight to his heart.
Its length was stained a dull Grim
son as we lifted him off, and about it
base was little pool of dull red.
Painting more from the shock thai
the effort, Johnson and l freed tn
body and laid it on the path, its hea,
to the dull, stormy crimson of tn
west.
Rising, / became conscious tha
Dual had come out and was standin,
beside us, and lifting my eyes, 1 gaze
again into his face in which naugh
but compassion remained.
eternal justice" said Semi Dual
"lies in the hand of Cod"
(The end)