The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-04-25
CHAPTER XIV.

Tho blind man motionod Harriet
10 close the door and set a chair
for Baton beside the bed.
"Ybu recall. Eaton. our conversa.
ton on the train" sAntoino Haid
evenly.
Yea"
You remember gave you four
possible reasons why you had taken
the train Was on. The reason !
have sent for yol nov Is that. hav.
lng eliminated today still another
OF those possibilities leaving only
two-i want 10 call your attention
20 some OF the details Of what
happened on tho train. You had
close call this morning. did you
not1~
Il was careless
santoina smiled derisively. You
have been very careful. Eaton. "a
act az tho the attempt 10 run you
down could not have been a de
liberAts attack. Just ten days
ago" Santoin. went on. II was
found unconscious in my berth
Ny condition was such that foi
three days ! was not allowed "a
receive the particulars OF what had
happened 20 me When I did learn
them. attempted 20 make certain
deductions as 10 who u was tha,
had attempted 20 murder me. and
why. am going 10 tell you few
Of my deductions.
Tho first thing learned was
the similarity ~ the attack on me
TO the more successful attack on
Warden. II days previous The at.
tack upon me was made In the
same way. perhaps even with the
same instrument The desperate
nature Of the two attacks. and their
almost Identical method. made Il
practically certain that they orig
mated NJ the same source and were
carried out -probably-hy the same
hand and for the same purpose.
II found that n young man
yourself acted so susplciously
both before and after the attack on
me that both Avery and the train
conductor had become convinced
that no was my assallant. More
over you admitted that you were
tho one who had called upon War.
den the evening OF his murder You
we're also the only person on the
train. aside from my daughter and
Avery. who knew who ] was. Also.
there was telegram which def
nltcly showed some connection. I'M
known 10 me. between you and me.
"a we'll a. n previous suspicious
telegram in cipher. which We we're
able 20 translate. You we're going
to say something about that tele-
gram in cipher" Santoine asked.
No" Eaton denied.
Il think you were: and think
that when said you were not sur.
prised by tho attempt made today
20 run you down. you we're also
going 10 speak OF It: for that at.
tempt makes clear the meaning OF
the telegram. II said only that you
were known and followed. Now
know you feared the man who was
following because you expected him
20 attack you. Knowing that. Ea
ton, | want to call your attention
TO the popularity OF our mutual
positions on the train. You were
occupying Section three in the
third sleeper. In the night. the
second sleeper was cut off. That
made me occupy exactly the same
position "a you had occupied be
fore the car ahead OF you had beer
cut out"
Eaton stared at Santolne, fascin
ated what had been only vague
half formed with himself. was be
coming definite, under the blind
mans reasoning. Harriet Santoin,
was herself startled. What hel
father was saying was new to her
Eaton's hands closed instructive
ly. What do you mean?"
"The attack made on me wa,
meant for you. Some one strucl
thru the curtains by mistake a
me instead OF you. Who was thai
man. Eaton?"
IL don't know" Eaton answered
You mean you prefer to shield
hlm7"
In his intensity Santolne hat
lifted himself from his pillows
who is that man." he challenged
And what In that connection he
tween you and me which. when the
attacker found and disabled me in
stead OF you. told him that--ir
spite OF his mlstake-his result had
been accomplished Told him that
n was dying, n repetition OF tn,
attack against you was unncces
sary? Who are you? Come here
close to me, beside the bed"
Eaton hesltated, then obeyed.