Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-22

popular fallacy. 1t is merely pitched
a motion of the hand tells the listen
ers' eyes where the ventriloquist
wants them to imagine the voice
comes from. Though the scores of the
eyes saw no movement OF the mans
head, or of the beard owe the lips,
cry. My ears nave been trained for
years to locate sounds unerringly.
They never fafl!'
Then the whole crime was devilish-
ly planned for my restaurant!
should have known it," Manager
Carl's voice was almost a vail. "rhe
way the reservation was made shoulo
nave told me not to touch it.
How was the reservation made!
asked Cotton quietly. A problemist
before all else, he would get each
vital fact in the case while he had the
opportunity. In a short time the
police would be on hand with their
badrering questions and confusion.
Carl was now in the mood, seemingly,
to give information. Later, he would
close up like a clam. When the shock
of the thing had passed, he would
remember that he was a hotel man
ager, and would try every means in
his power to cover all facts. But
now he was ready to fall in with every
suggestive question the problemlst put:
THAT was as strange as the rest OF
il was awful" The manager rose,
wis q huge sigh, and took a note from
his desk. He held it with outstretch-
ed hand toward Cotton, then
remembered that the man to whom
he was talking was blind. Shall l
read it to you?" he asked.
Let my fingers look it over first"
The problemist took it in his hand,
and his supersentitive fnger tips teit
every fractional inch of both sides. A
low-toned whistle came from his lips,
and his face lighted with a new look.
'Papyrus." .he exclaimed. PA
pyrus!"
uueried the manager, wonder in his
tone. II thought that was darn
funny paper"
muir as he spoke, apparently to him
self: Silver sandals. Silver girdle.
Age! Can it be! Reincarnation? Is
you don't believe that?" The
question came b~reathlessly from the
manager.
mo" A cynical smile crossed the
blind mans thin lips. He shook his
head, as though the thought was not
worthy of serious consideration.
His finger tips slowly brushed the
writing.
can you read it?" asked the man.
ager:
with an ink-dipped stylus instead of
a pen" He raised his head, with an
ejaculation of wonderment. Fifty
dollars for reserving a table and serv-
ing a bottle of Pol Roger wine that
was sent with the note. No wonder
you granted the request for the par
ticular table this mentions, undoubt-
eddy one at which the pseudo waiter
served"
And it was all a game to have my
place overrun with POLICE" groaned
the manager. "A game to ruin me.
| won't let the police into that din
ingroom tonight, with my people
there. I'll get the body out the way
it came in, and hush the whole thing
up. I've got pull enough to do that!
! I've -
He stopped suddenly as the door of
the small office was unceremoniously
pushed open and a red-faced man in
a brass-buttoned blue uniform strobe
in. The newcomers heavy jaw was
thrust out belligerently as he saw the
seated blind man, and a black scowl
came to his face.
Trying to steal a march on me,
eh ?" he snapped.
"Good-evening, Captain McNIann,"
greeted Cotton suavely, removing his
hand from the inside pocket where he
had thrust the note when the door OPP
ened.
Huh" growled the police captain;
then he stepped forward, to face Man
ager Carl. Trying to put one over
on us, Ell? Where's the murder that
was pulled off here to-night?"