The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-04-19
The Blind Mans.
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Oorneg Donald avery demanded
$50 the conductor says"
Avery hurried forward toward
Me berth where Connery was
Standing beside the surgeon. Con-
Aery turned toward him.
II sent for you, sir, because you
are the companion of the man who
had this berth"
Avery pushed past him, and
locked past the surgeon. What
has happened to Mr.. Dorne?"
"You see him as we found him,
sir"
Avery leaned inside the cur
tains and reeoiled. He's dead"
'The doctor hasn't made his ex-
animation yet; but there seems no
doubt he's dead"
Hes been murdered"
1T looks so. Mr.. Avery. Yes;
AZ he's dead, he's certainly been
murdered" Connery agreed.
"Since Mr.. Dorne seems to have
been dead for some time, | waited
tor you before moving the body.
You can tell any one who asks you.
Mr.. Avery, that you saw him just
as he was found"
Avery stood clinging to the cur
tains, his eyes darling from one to
another of the three men.
"As he was found? When?" he
demanded. who found him that
way? When? How"
81 found him So" Connery an
ewered
Avery said nothing more.
Twill you start YOUR eXamina-
tion now. DR.. Sinclair" Connery
suggested.
The surgeon. before examining
the man in the berth more closely
lifted the shades. Everything about
the berth was in place, undis-
turbed; save for the marks upon
the head, the man might yet be
sleeping. Whoever had struck had
done no more than reach in and
deliver his murderous blow; then
he had gone on.
Sinclair made first an examina-
zion Of the head; completing this,
ne unbuttoned the pajamas upon
the chest, loosened them at the
waist and prepared to make his
examination of the body.
How long has he been dead?"
Connery asked.
He is not dead yet"
"You mean he is still dying?"
81 did not say So"
"You mean he Is still alive,
then?"
Life is still present." Sinclair
answered guardedly. Whether he
will live or ever regain conscious
ness Is another question"
How long ago was he struck"
Connery asked.
Some hours; since midnight,
certainly; and longer ago than
five o'clock this morning"
could he have revived half an
hour ago-say within the hour
enough to have pressed the button
and rung the bell from his berth?"
Sinclair Strengthened and gazed
at the conductor curiously. mo,
certainly not" he replied. THAT
is completely impossible. Why did
you ask that? Did the bell from
this berth ring recently?"
Connery shook his head. not in
negation of the question, but In
refusal to answer them. But
Avery pushed forward. What is
that? What's that" he demand
ed.
Twill you go on with your ex-
animation, Doctor?" Connery
urged.
"You said the bell from this
berth rang recently" Avery &C.
cused Connery.
''The pointer in the Mushroom,
indicating a signal from this berth,
was turned down minute ago."
Connery had to reply.
THAT was before you found the
body?"
THAT was why went to the
berth-yes," Connery replied:
that was before | found the
body"
"Then you mean you did not
find the body" Avery charged.
Some one, passing through this
car a minute or so before you, must
have found him!"
Connery attended without reply
ing.
And evidently that man dared
not report II and could not wait
longer to know whether Mr.-Mr.
Dorne, was really dead; so he
rang the bell!"
fought We keep DR.. Sinclair any
longer from the examination, sir?"
Connery now seized Avery's arm in
appeal. 1.-The first thing for US to
know is whether MIR. Dorne is dy-
ing. Isn't"
Connery checked himself; he
had won his appeal. Eaton, stand
Ing quietly watchful. observed that
Avery's eagerness to accuse now
had been replaced by another in
tsrest which the conductors words
had recalled. Whether the man in
the berth was to live or die--evi-
IDENTIFY that was tremendously to
affect Donald Avery one way or
the other.
CHAPTER VII
"Isn't This Basil SantOine?"
L.