Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-12

He took it with a smile. opened it
offhand. glanced at what she had
written and flushed vivid red.
Taking out similar piece of paper
from his own pocketbook. he laid It
down beside hers on the desk before
him. II also held a single sentence
and. barring a slight difference of eN-
preston. the one was the counterpart
of the other. The one loose stone,
he murmured
Then as she glanced expectantly his
way, he earnestly added: Together
we may be able to do something. The
reward offered by Mrs. Hasbrouck for
the detection OF the murderer was
very large one
"But-what do you want of me in
an affair of this kind? Something
more than 10 help you locate the one
possible clue to further enlightenment.
You would not have mentioned the big
reward just for that
Perhaps not. There is sequel to
the story ] sent you. / have written
it out with my own hand. Take ii
home and read it at your leisure When
YOU see into what an unhappy maze
my own inquiries have led me possibly
you will be glad to assist me in clear
ing up a situation which is inflictine
great suffering on one whom you will
be the first to pity. If SO, line men
tioning the fact will he much apprect-
ated by me" And. disregarding her
startled look and the impetuous shak-
ing of her head. he bowed her out with
something more than his accustomed
suavity, but also with a seriousness
which affected her in spite of herseil
and efectually held back the protest
it was In her heart to make. She was
glad of this when she read this story.
Here il is.
The Hasbrouck affair had passed al
most completely from my mind. when
il was forcibIy brought back one day
by walk l took through Lafayette
place.
Al sight of the long row of uniform
buildings with their pillared fronts ana
connecting balconies every detail of the
crime returned to me with extraordi-
nary clearness, and. before / knew II.
found myself standing stockstill in the
middle of the block with my eye raised
to the Hasbrouck house and my ears
or rather my inner consciousness, for
no one spoke. l am sure-ringing with
a question which, whether the echo of
some old thought or the expression OF
a new one, so affected me by the prom
Use 1t held of some hitherto unsupported
clue that l hesitated whether to push
this new inquiry then or there by an
attempted interview with MIS- has
brouck, or to wait till 1 had given it
the thought which such a sti5r'ns Oh
dead bones rightfully demanded.
You know what that question was.
shall have communicated 1t to you, II
YOU have not already guessed 1t. before
perusing these lines:
Who uttered the scream which gave
the first alarm of NJ. Hasbrouck's vio-
lent death?'
The possibility of having come upon
a clue even at this late day SO fired my
ambition that l took the first opportu-
nifty of revisiting Lafayette place.
1 remembered who had lived in the
adjoining dwelling and was for ringing
the bell at once. But. missing the doc
tors sign, / made inquiries and found
that he had moved from the block.
However. doctor is soon found. and
in less than fifteen minutes ] was at
the door of his new home, where l
asked. not for him, but for Mrs.
Zabriskie.
She received me with a display of
emotion for which I was not prepared.
/ had sent up my card and l saw IT
trembling in her hand as she entered
the room.
Your name is an unfamiliar one to
me. But you told my maid that your
business was one of extreme impor-'
lance. What can an agent from pri-
waite detective offce have to say TO me?'
Nothing which concerns you person.
ally" said l. Il simply wish to ask you
a question in regard to a small matter
connected with Mr.. Hasbrouck's violent
death in Lafayette place a couple of
years ago. 1t has occurred to me that
you might be able TO settle point
which has never been fully cleared up
Il do not see how you can have any
question to ask me on that subject.
she began with an effort at composure.
to you as the next-door neighbor OF Mr..
Hasbrouck is this: Who was the wom-
an who on the night of that gentle
mans assassination screamed out. SO
loudly that the whole neighborhood
heard herr"
was about to press my advantage
and ask another question, when she
quickly started forward and laid her
hands on my lips.
Astonished, ! looked at her inquir-
ingly, but her head was turned aside,
and her eyes, fxed upon the door.
showed the greatest anxiety. Instantly
! realized what she feared Her hus-
band was entering the house.
Would he enter the room where we
were, or would he pass Immediately to
his Office in the rear?
Though | am sure we made no noise.
| soon perceived that he was aware of
our presence. Stepping hastily forward.
he said. in the high and vibrating tone
of restrained passion:
Zuima, are you there? You have
some one with you." he declared. ad-
vancing another step. but with none Of
the uncertainty which usually accom-
panies the movements of the blind.
Some dear friend" he went on, with
an almost sarcastic emphasis and a
forced smile that had little of gayety
in 1t.
Drawing herself up. she moved to-
ward him, saying in sweet. womanly
tone:
1t Is no friend, Constant, not even
acquaintance. The person whom |
now present to you is a representative
from some detective agency. He is here
upon trivial errand which will soon
be finished. when / will join you in
the office.
"A detective he repeated: he can
have no trivial errand here; he has
been sent by God Himself To-
Let me speak for you" hastily in
terposed his wife. springing TO his side
and claspinS his arm with a fervor
that was equally expressive of appeal
and command. Then, turning to me,
she explained: Since Mr.. Hasbrouck's
unaccountable death my husband has
been laboring under Authorization
which ] have only TO mention. for you
to recognize its perfect absurdity. He
thinks that he was himself the assail-
ant of Mr.. Hasbrouck.
II say nothing OF the impossibilty of
this being So she went on in fever
of expostulation. He IL blind, and
could not have delivered such a shot
even IL he had desired TO; besides. he
had no weapon.
At these words the doctors face grew
stern. and he spoke like an automa-
ton repeating some fearful lesson:
Il killed him. ! went to- his room and
deliberately shot him..
You say you killed Mr.. Hasbrouck,"
i began. Where did you get your pis-
toll. and what did YOU do with it after
you left his house,"
II threw it away. When l left the
house ! cast IL as far from me pos
sible. for l was frightened at what /
had done. horribly frightened"
Surely you can tell where you pro
cured such weapon. IT, as your wife
M Won did not own