The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-09-21

been taken. II was lightly crusted
with rust and dust. II showed
slight scratch Eyes. did use a lens
eide. bright and new Doubtless the
ring had been slipped there lately.
and was not relic OF Marybelle'a
mothers time.
Here was start A tip removed.
n ring added. by way OF preparation
for the deed. This told me. at the
moment. only the fact of definite
and deliberate preparation. Was II
Helen Wesloy's ring7 But Helen
was 30 mntteroffact. not al all
imaginative. That was more IN
Cissy's vein.
While up there. ! studied the key
that had been turned. II was. ne
whole. diamond shaped with n
round bulge on each corner. II was
OF fliigrced brass. In openwork pat.
tern. With my lens I studied the
dust In the interstices. looked
aapicntly for finger-prints. when
realized that II found one II would
probably be my own. as. when
sprang for the high key and turned
II that morning ! naturally gave n
hard dab. Well. | found no defin-
ite print-neyer did think much OF
'em anywhy-but | imagined or I
thought or hoped that | disccrned
n cleaner hole in one OF the cor
ners OF the diamond than in any
other. The diamond was longer
than wide. and IN one OF the side
apexes. tho hole showed n brighter
insiae edge than the others. Could
there be anything In the fish-pole
game. after aill bit no flsh-pole
could taper small enough 10 20
thru that tiny hole. and have any
strength nj all. And. too, there
was no hole for Il TO come thru
from Weslcy's room. and the idea
OF It's possessing the human intel.
ligence 20 wiggle thru the bath
room window and hit unerringiy
its goal in the corner of the gas
burners key was little too much
20 ask.
or course. ! didn't have in mind
an ordinary fish.pole. thought
vaguely OF n willow band. OF long
wire. OF jointed steel rod-oh.
had n magician's whole parapher-
MALTA In the back OF my head.
Yet. nothing could be done with
my ideas unless could find the
hole thru which the instrument OF
death had entered the room. I
scanned tho mopboard all around.
the door frames. looked behind pic
lures. and nj last began feeling for
what could not discern by sight.
paved all the walls. punching
a SNUG parrot now and then. TO
ease my Impotence. and suddenly.
on the wall next the hall. I felt a
depression II was high up-I was
going round the room on my step
laddcr-feeling ~ the height OF the
burner itself. and the wall paper
gave n little beneath my finger.
tips. felt n queer sensation. and
before going further | stepped
down and locked the door and re-
turned. carefully Investigated.
and found there had been made. on
the paper. a cruoiform incision. and
the flaps were stlll in place. 40 that
the crossed cuts scarcely showed.
Carefully turned back the four
tiny triangular flaps. and saw
neat. round. cieancut hole. some.
wha, smaller In size than lead
pencil.
saw AZ once n had been made
with Marybellc's auger. and I
thought. disappolntedly. zone moro
place 10 hide her jewelry,"
The hole was too small 10 hold
any jewels. unless some small
chain or narrow bar pin. and. too.
any such thing would have fallen
down between the walls. Could II
be the hole was for the entrance
OF my hypothetical fishingrod7 /
looked thru. but could zee no light
and concluded II did not 20 clear
thru the wall But | must see. and
carefully replacing the minute flaps
of the wall paper. went ont into
the hall.
(coneiuded In Our Next issue)