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

syndicateD
~ 0IOLET had gone to her room
NJ That afternoon a packet had
W. been left at the door. The
contents Of that packet must
be read. and she had made herself COM
Portable with the intention of setting
and then IL before she could bring her
self to give any attention to the manu-
script awaiting her perusal
Her brother Arthur coming upper
ceived into the room, and peering ear
nestly into her face. observed with a
seriousness quite unusual to him:
"Puss. you are looking worried. Get
ting tired of the business"
.No-not altigether-that is, it's not
that, II it's anything. I'm not sure
that It's anything 1 was only think
"of some new case?"
mot exactly"
see here. Pussw Arthur cried. I've
1ust come up from the den; Father and
"A row? You and father? oh. Ar
thur, don't like that"
That's all right. Puss. Tomorrow !
begin life as salesman in Clarke u
stebbin's The salary is not great. but
every little helps and I don't dislike
the business But father does. That's
why we quarreled. But don't worry
He hasn't an idea of why 1 want to
work. There. Violet. there"
"Oh. Arthur. you good. good boy To-
Eether we'll soon make up the amount,
and then"
Then WHAT Who was that somber-
looking chap i saw bowling to you as
we came out of church last Sunday?
He? Surely you remember HIM
Have you forgotten that evening in
Observation-Disclosures rotto-and--
"oh, it's Upjohn, is 1t? 1 have no,
ticed that he's always in his seat and
always looking your way.
That's very odd of him. she de-
clared: IT can't imagine why he should
Nor l." retorted Arthur with a smile.
But he's human. l suppose. Only do
be careful. Violet"
He was gone before he had fully fin
ished this remark, and Violet. opening
the packet. took out first letter and
then a mass of typewriter manuscript.
She began with the letter. which was
As Characteristic of the writer as all
the others she had had from his hand
rs witness:
You probably remember the Has
brouck murder. When you have wen
mastered this with all its details. please
communicate with me. for 1 shall have
q word to say to you then. which you
may be glad to hear, if. as you have
lately intimated. you need to earn but
one or two more substantial rewards in
order to cry halt to the pursuit for
which you have proved yourself so well
qualified.
So much for the letter.
Violet took up the manuscript
Let us take il up. too. 1t runs thus:
On the 18th Of July. 10. tragedy oc-
CURED in one Of the residences of the
Colonnade, in Lafayette place.
Mr.. Hasbrouck. a well known citizen.
xAl In hto NV
known assailant and shot dead before
assistance could reach him. His muir
derer escaped. The details of the in
vestigation are here given by the man
sent from headquarters at the first
alarm:
The house in which the crime had
been committed was near the center of
the row. and ! learned from more than
given to the street by a woman's
shrek, and, secondly, by the shouts of
an old man servant.
The family. which consisted of Mr..
Hasbrouck. his wife and three servants.
had retired for the night At IL o'clock
the lights were all extinguished and
the whole household asleep. with the
possible exception of Mr.. Hasbrouck
himself, who was frequently troubled
with insomnia.
Suddenly Mrs. Hashrouck awoke with
start Had she dreamed the words
that were ringing in her ears. Filled
with something more than nervous ap-
prehension. she flung herself TO the
moor and tried to penetrate. with fren-
xied glances. the surrounding darkness.
But the blinds and shutters both havIn e
been carefully closed. she found this
impossible and 1he was about to sink
In terror to the Moor. when she heard a
low gasp on the other side of the room,
followed by q suppressed cry:
God. What have I done
Tho voice was strange one. but be-
IA h. 49, y,
eliminate IN . shrek of dismay, she
caught the sound of retreating foot
steps. and. eagerly listening, she heard
them descend the stairs and depart by
the front door.
A carriage at that moment passed
down Aston place, bringing with it a
sense OF companionship. and gave her
strength TO light the gas, which was
IN ready reach of her hand. She cast
one glance At the floor before her, when
she found her worst fears realized by
the sight Of the dead body of her hus-
bsnd lying, with bullet hole in his
forehead.
Her first impulse was to shrek. but.
oy q powerful exercise of will, she
checked herself and rang franticalIy
Tor the servants.
Az rhey appeared in the open doorway
she pointed at her husbands mani
mate form. and then. as il suddenly
realtstng In its full force the calamity
which had befailen her. she threw up
her arms. and sank forward to the
noor in q dead faint.
Indeed, every one. both in the house
and out. seemed daxed by the unexpect-
Cd catastrophe. and as no one had any
suspicious to oQer as to the proba Bile
murderer, ! had a difhcult task before
me.
I began in the usual way, by inspect
ing the scene of the murder. / found
nothing In the room. which added to
the knowledge already obtained
shall have to trouble Mrs Has
brouck for short interview" i an
nounced to the trembling old servant
Who had followed me like dog about
the house.
He made no demur, and in a few min
utes l was ushered into the presence
or the newly made widow.
Her grief was SO real and her loss
20 recent that l hesitated to aff1ict her
oy Questions So, returning to the scene
OF the tragedy. l stepped out upon the
balcony which ran in front. Soft voices
instantly struck my ears. The neigh
bors on either side were grouped in
front OF their own windows and were
exchanging remarks natural under the
circumstances. l paused. being i'm
pressed by the appearance of very
graceful woman who stood at my right
She was clinging to her husband. who
was gazing at one of the pillars before
him In strange fixed way which as
tonished me till he attempted TO move
and then l saw that he was blind
stood still. till l heard her say in the
SOFT and appealong tones of love:
Come In, Constant; you have heavy
duties for tomorrow. and you should
get few hours rest IL possible.
he