Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-07
THE SEVEN PEARLS
Episode No. 8.

headline:
RICH MAN STRANGELY
MURDERED.
The Only Clue to tho Slayer of Charles
Mason. So Far, Is a FinEerprint.
with as.thick rope about It, the
body OF wealthy Charles Mason. BROTH
or of Perry Mnson, inventor and avla-
tIon expert. was found early to-day
on top OF barn at Hampstead, L. /.
Fingcrpr.nts In the possession OF tho
police probably will serve to identify
the murderer. who otherwise might
| well have
"Wsn?" asked Harry, pausing and
looking 1t the other.
| WELL" echoed Staync, pointing over
his shoulder to the paragraph on tho
nnsermarks. @'those arc my finger
marks. that's all. Now do you seer
mo. don't" answered the puzzled
Harry. You say you didn't
IF you'll let me explain" broke IT.
| the nervous Stayne. II found I coulN
make a little haul out In the suburbs.
in the house OF these chaps. the Ma
| scns-get me? Well. this place is big
house set about with trces. got In
| all risht--oh. knew whore l was
| going. There was a lot OF valuable
old silver In the dning-room and
had n big bag. along. But that wasn't
the only thing l had; that's what
makes me wild. i had two of tho
pearls you pinched from the Sultan in
my waistcoat--my own and one I'd
won from another fellow. Well. all
right. go in and start to rife the
sideboard. when suddenly out come
these brothers 1 thought were out Of
town.
"They stood covering me with
couple OF guns and there was. caught
red-handed. Well, what was there to
do? Nothing-just stand still and
wait for something to happen. Ono
of the guys starts to search me and
what can ] do. He finds the two pearls
---thnt seems to tickle him? He takes
them under the lisht-oh. they'd turned
on the light all highland whistles.
Then the other brother comes over.
,..,' Well. young man. says Charles to
ma. you can go along. we won't prose-
cute you, and we'll keep these two
pearls as evidence of good faith
Can You beat It? lost my head.
You Will not I shouted; you'll turn
.,em over to tho police. that's what
you'll do. You'll do that or you'll let
me have one back-get me?'
1--WE get YOU said Perry. It's
bargain: but first come here and he
marched me at the point of gun TO
the table and there he forced me to
Register my finger pripts-then no
sneered.
81 guess you'll keep pretty quiet
now, Mr.. Burglar and Pearl Fancier.'
he says, pointing to the door, And out
1 went"
We'll" asked Harry, then what?"
Then WHAT shouted Stayne. Here's
/ one of the brothers murdered and his
body found on top of a barn. and my
finger prints planted on him some
where. and you ask then what7"
| Harry rose. tits serious. all right"
ne said. but l. wonder who thess-
what motive'-
Never mind motives," cried Stayne,
VIII you help me to sat out OF this
| that's what want to know. Can I
rely on your III tell you what I'll
| do; I'll make you present of this
other pearl If you find out the truth"
t. Harry shook his hand. I'm your
man, and first OF all stay here quietly.
I've got work to do" And he seized
his hat and rushed for the door.
In the meantime lima had been wait
| Ing for the mountain to come to Ma
homet. SO. as Harry opened the door,
"the young woman faced him. Stayne
started back in a panic.
This Is luck" cried Harr--. Come
In" lie introduced Stayne. and In
sisted on his telling the whole story
over again.
II know you're innocent" said lima,
fixing her clear eyes on him, Jana
Wen set you free. After that ] hope
you'll stick to the straight road.
Staync hold out the pearl, Its
yours" he said. IF you get mo out
Of this" But before he had finished.
Harry and lima had left.
The two put their heads together
ms TO the best way to approach Perry
Mason. Here was house in which a
murder of the most unusual ingenuity
had been planned. The surviving
brother no doubt had the pearl Stayne
had been forced to yield. The cues
tion was not only how to get evidence
10 free Stayne, but also how to secure
the second pearl With the two al
ready in Ilma's possession that would
make four of the seven.
III tell YOU" suggested lima. I'VE
can say we came for news-as re-
porterS. How will that do?"
And as reporters they knocked on tho
front door Of the Mason house and
were admitted by a negro butler
Mr.. Perry Mason was an odd looking
man with peculiar habit OF pulling
his fingers. which habit seemed to in
dictate deep thought. He paled a littl.
on seeing Harry and lima. like man
who had met them before. but did not
care to have them remember the fact.
The two pseudo reporters gaEed at
him without glimmer Of recognition,
and began to ply him with questions
about the attempted robbery, an ac-
count OF which had also appeared In
tho papers.
Perry Mason could not suppress a
start when lima asked il she could
, see the pearl taken from the burglar.
Now. there had been no mention of
the pearl in the news account, and he
, reluctantly produced the jewel, won
dering meanwhile where the strange
information could have come from.
n Y,rtu