Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-06-16

to the fire escape, was open for ventl-
lation. The rain was drifting through
1t. It 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 I found the strong-box,
| was in the corner farthest from the
window which Juan had just entered.
Between 1t and the window were
| table and Captain Haneka'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
it 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 it.
That was his great mistake. 1t was
trick box. Inside was an alarm-bell
which rang whenever the cover was
lifted.
Juan opened 1t; 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. It must have bewildered him
for a moment when he saw what ap-
peared to be a woman standing by his
bureau-but Juan held the stroEg-box
in his hands. When he saw that. the
captain came at him. Juan Is small
man. Captain Hanska was big and
very powerful. Just then. Juan saw
on the table between them that great
| knife.
Juan IL q 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 1t pierced Captain Hanska
through" Un this place. Detective
Kennedy had to edit the statement a
great deal in order to make it SEEM
ly for the official archives.)
We will leave for a moment the po-
lice statement
Fell on it?" asked Martin MCGEE.
whats that you're trying to give us?"
"On my soul and my mother's." SOL
emnly declared Miss Estrilla- Don't
you see-can't you understand? A
doctor in Port of Spain had warned
him of it-Juan has done nothing
since-nothing-but read medical
books-he was dead before he touched
the point Of the knife-if Juan stabbed
him, he stabbed corpse
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
a moment, Miss Eetrilla gaZed full up
| on her betrayer. For a moment, all
that the tropics had given her of storm
and flame glared from her eyes. Then
that light died away. Thereafter. 1t
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,
touched upon Rosalie's figure. they
looked straight through It,
Rosalie moved by imperceptible
stages to Detective Kennedy's table.
Casually. she picked up a fountain pen
and a sheet of paper. and wrote:
New York, Nov. IS. 190-. =,
Il am telling to the police all
know of my part In the death of Capt.
John H. Hanska. have confessed that
we followed him to America to get
Jewels. and that it was my brother
Juan who appeared to have stabbed
him."
The inspector was questioning
gently now upon the apoplexy 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. Rosalie 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 1t 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 flights without knowledge
of their destination. He nodded, there
fore. and gave book. paper and pen to
Miss Estrilla- 1t was the best possible
compliment to the inspectors third de-
gree methods. that she signed without
a protest Rosalie took the paper ST.
lently; but she did not deposit It where