The state herald., 1916-02-18


And an old mahogany shaving-mir-
ror which had belonged to his fa-
ther-"
And Mexican hat-band and two
knives and an Irish blackthorn stick
and silver cigarette case"
A stethoscope upon Inspector Nc
Gees pulse would have jumped an
inch as Betsy-Barbara pronounced the
word knives" But his down.turned
face betrayed no emotion.
What kind Of q cigarette case?"
CHASED silver and turquoises-a
Russian design"
What was the stick like?"
Very heavy. and dark brown as I
remember. And think the ferrule
was loose"
And the knivssf" said the Inspec-
tor.
Let me see-one was little dag
ger that he used for paper-knife
and the other was Malay kris with
a long, sharp, wavy blade. He got 1t
in the Philippines"
"Yes!" exclaimed the Inspector. And
then with the sudden brutality which
was part of his Third Degree meth
cd, "And 1t was with that knife that
Lawrence Wade stabbed your hus-
band"
Inspector McGee might have thrown
that very knife instead of his words,
SO sudden was the effect upon Con-
stance Hanska. The color left her
face. Her eyes grew big and wild.
She flashed to her feet. trembling vio-
lently.
"Oh, mol" she pleaded, 'oh, no! oh,
that will hurt him SO! He couldn't
have used it-some one used It after
he left-Lawrence Wade could no
more have stabbed an unarmed man
-" She stopped. wrestled herself back
to some semblance of composure.
Don't you understand he was a gen.
tleman7" She turned from McGee's
triumphant state to Rosalie's softened
face. why. Mrs. lie Grange, gentle
men don't do such things. He was an
athlete-he played every game hon.
orably-do you think be would have
put me In such position. even II he
thought OF nothing else-he would
have had to break every instinct-he
-he-"
Look here. Mrs. Hanska," said In
spector McGee, pouncing upon his ad-
vantage as experience had taught him
to do. there was what you call an af.
fair between you and this Mr.. Wade.
wasn't there!"
Here Rosalie swung In again.
Inspector" she said. ''if you go that
way. III advise this young woman to
get = real lawyer before she talks to
you any more. Now. my dear. you
Just answer what you please"
But Constance was mistress Of her.
self again.
"All this will come out In the trial.
Betsy. barbara. might a. well tell
everything now. When he put himself
In this position he was trying to help
me. There was no affair, as you call
II. But when he frst met me he
thought I was a widow. And before
he knew my circumstances. he pro.
posed marriage. lie never spoke OF II
after told him. He was n gentle
man. He only tried to serve mo as
gentleman would under the circum.
stances"
Has Il struck you." asked the In.
spector. that this might be used as
motivef"
This Is perfectly dreadful" cried
sy.Barbara. Constance. you shall
not stay here another minute. You
come with ne to lawyer"
"Thnts right" said Rosaiie Ls
Grange shortly. Inspector McGee. you
can excuse usl"
Not for WHILE said Inspector
McGee shortly. Madame. l must have
your ofiieiai statement as To what you
have Just told mc-beforc ! let you
leave"
Now Constance had risen: and Bet.
sy'Barbara, In n state OF suppressed
fury. stood beside her. flashing sparks
from her golden hair and hcr blu.
eyes and her little white teeth. In.
npector McGcc stepped TO the door to
summon u rtenographcr. And Rosaii-,
quick aa thought. slipped up beside
Constance.
Not word moro than you can help
about this proposing to you-not a
world" she whispered.
Step into this room. ladies'" said
Mc6ce, ''i'll Join you In moment.
We won't need you. Mrs. Le Gransc." +"
Alone with the Inspector. Rosalia
Le Grange stood regarding him from
top to toe. lilo faced her In a little
embarrassment. which he covered with
blur.
In love with Hannkn's wife-and
iianska'd miHtreated hor--and she
wanted u divorce and couldn't get II.
Wade and iianska had quar.elod.
Wade goes up ther. with his curio
shop and lays II down on the table.
They quarrel again. wnde's n
feneor lie picks up that knife and
lets him have Il Just by instinct Then
ho walks out Of tho door and gets rat.