Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-04-21


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 cigarette case?"
CHASED silver and turquoises-a
Russian design"
What was the stick like?"
Very heavy, and dark brown as ]
remember. And think the ferrule
was loose"
"And the knivssf' said the Inspec-
tor.
Let me see-one was q little dag
ger that he used for a paper-knife
and the other was Malay kris with
long, sharp, wavy blade. He got it
in the Philippines"
"Yes!" exclaimed the Inspector. And
then with the sudden brutality which
was a part of his Third Degree meth
cd. "And 1t was with that knife that
Lawrence Wade stabbed your hus-
band"
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 1t 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.
tleman?" 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 he would have
put me in such a 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. I'll advise this young woman to
get a 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 as well tell
everything now. When he put himself
in this position he was trying to help
me. There was no affair. as you call
It. But when he first met me he
thought I was widow. And before
he knew my circumstances, he pro-
posed marriage. He never spoke of It
after told him. He was gentle.
man. He only tried to serve me as a
gentleman would under the circum-
stances"
Has 1t struck you." asked the In.
spector. that this might be used as a
motive?"
This is perfectly dreadful" cried
Betsy-Barbara. Constance. you shall
not stay here another minute. You
come with ne to lawyer!"
That's right" said Rosalie LIE
Grange shortly, inspector McGee. you
can excuse us!"
mot for WHILE" said Inspector
McGee shortly. Madame. must have
your official statement as to what you
have Just told me-before I let you
leave"
Now Constance had risen; and Bet
sy-Barbara. in a state OF suppressed
fury. stood beside her. flashing sparks
from her golden hair and her blue
eyes and her little white teeth. In
spector MCGEE stepped to the door to
summon stenographer. And Rosalie.
quick as thought. slipped up beside
Constance.
mot a word more than you can help
about this proposing to you-not a
word!" she whispered.
"Step into this room, ladies'" said
MCGEE. 'I'll join you in moment.
We won't need you. Mrs. Le Grange"
Alone with the Inspector, Rosalie
Le Grange stood regarding him from
top to toe. He faced her in a little
embarrassment, which he covered with
bluff.
'In love with Hanska's wife-and
Hanska'd mistreated her-and she
wanted divorce and couldn't get 1t.
! Wade and Hanska had quarreled.
Wade goes up there with his curio
shop and lays 1t down on the table.
They quarrel again. Wade's a
fencer. He picks up that knife and
lets him have 1t Just by instinct. Then
he walks out Of the door and gets rat
tied and beats 1t. OF course, it would
be hard to establish first degree muir
der on what we've got now-but wen
get It"
You think so. do your" replied Ros-
allie. My, don't promotion make e
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