The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1916-03-16

been obliged TO be pleasant to, that is
ALL
| Observing that Harry Butler was
waiting close by, she excused herself
and rejoined him.
Lets get out OF this crowd" said
he. "Here-this way" And he guided
her deftly through the outer fringe of
T dancers.
In the conservatory they found a
seat amongst a screen of palms and
hanging baskets of orchids, Butler
laughed nervously.
What do you think" he abruptly
began, there are detectives here to-
ntsht-right among the guests, by
love! Nobody has any idea who they
are, "hy. you might be one
yourselfi"
| Helen was so taken unawares that
she could not find words for a moment,
so surveyed the other in silence. She
knew that another Sutherland opera
tive, Ferndale. was present tonight,
| and wondered whether he had been in
discreet
But Harry Butler revealed the
source of his information.
Jack told me-" (Jack was Mr.. Mil
| ler-Crosby. whom Helen ments"y
| blessed.) But he wouldn't point EN-
out, Mighty mysterious about it. Told
me not to mention it TO anybody else"
The girl had recovered herself. She
favored the .oung man with one of
her rare smiles.
And of course you haven't" said
she dryly.
why, no; of course not. Only to
you. You know, there's been no big,
swell affair this winter unless some
body's jewels have been stolen. Raj
fies, you know"
For some unexplained reason Helen
was on tenterhooks, alert, keyed up
with expectancy. as if something I'M
common were about to happen.
And at that very instant something
did happen. A woman screamed-a
| piercing, agonizing scream that
shrilled above the murmur of voices.
above the sound of dancing feet and
the throbbing strains of the orchestra.
The two started from their bench.
! The scream was near at hand, just in
side doorway opening upon short
gallery that connected with the la
dies dressing-room 1t rose in a climax
of mortal terror. Then came the
sharp, electrifying crack of an auto
matte pistol.
One-two-three-fo shots. !.
A clatter of running feet. ST.
lence.
While the outburst still thrilled
every nearer Helen was Fastening to
the dressing-room. Within that brief
period the tumult had begun and end
ed. Her companion was left behind,
forgotten. Dumfounded men were
pouring in from the supper and ball
rooms. But she was just an instant
ahead of the first arrival; just in time
to witness what the others missed.
In the corridor a man running to-
ward the conservatory collided with
her in headlong fashion that nearly
swept her from her feet In the flash
ing vision she had of him she saw
that he was dressed formally; that,
save for two extraordinary details, he
might have been any one of the male
guests
But his right hand gripped a big
automatic pistol, and his features
were concealed by black mask
She recollected Harry Butler, then,
with a little pang of alarm; yet, he
must take his chances. And surely,
after the shooting, he would not al
low masked man to pass him in the
conservatory without making an eff
fort to stop him.
Her delay was only momentary. In
the dressing-room she first noticed
that window was wide open, through
which an icy wind was billowing the
curtains. Upon the floor lay a man
and woman, motionless. apparently
lifeless. The woman she did not
know; but the man was Ferndale. the
other Sutherland operative. His right
hand still clutched blue-barreled au-
tomato.
Helen turned first to him, where
two or three of the men Joined her,
and knelt beside him. A larger group
of both men and women gathered ex-
citedly about the woman on the floor.
Experienced in such emergencies
the girls deft fingers soon ascertained
that Ferndale was not dead; that the
blood CLOTHING one side of his head
was merely from a torn scalp where a
steel-jacketed bullet had plowe6 its
way.
Even while thus engaged she was
not insensible of the agitated eiacula-
lions and disconnected remarks from
the second group.
Mrs. Charters Murdered!
Who is that man? .
Diamond dog-collar gone. He's
dead too. Pistol still in his
hand. :"
The men were now questioning
Helen regarding what had happened
Il was not here, she explained
calmly. but rapidly. 81 happened
to be near and arrived first. But it
is plain that a robbery has been COM
mitted. and that this man. in trying to
protect the victim, was nearly muir
dered. One of the villains is still in
the house. He ran past me toward the
conservatory. where left Mr.. Butler
A man went over to close the win
dow which opened upon the porte
cochere roof. AT the very instant he
raised his hands to the sash an ex-
cited cutlery came up from below. The
words were plainly distinguishable in
side the room.
Here's one of EN-, Fell
from the roof Dead -