The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-09-22
~ CAROLYN WELLS

Continued From Our last issue)
Just then tho luncheon gong
sounded
stopped the Earl as he went by
aud said. impcratiyely. Il shall not
be AT luncheon until later. Keep
everybody at the table. until
come. ON no account let a single
one leave, on any pretext Detain
them by force. n necessary.
lie knew from my manner how
In earnest was. and. nodding his
head. he went on downstairs.
Silently az possible, ] visited ev'
cry bedroom In the house, search
ing my final clue. ! now know
How, must learn Who and why.
After trying several rooms.
learned Who.
Why. couldn't imagine. but the
motive would Aoon appear. II Is
said there are but tao motives Tor
murder money and revenge. Well
Il was doubtless one or the other
went downstairs and went first
To the cook. Mrs Blum. She was
in a way. hounekc.per also.
"Mrr. Blum" | said. who dnstH
the stairs"
which stairs. sir7"
ANY OF them. Say. the flight be-
tween the second and third floors.
well. air. housomaids are kittle
cattle. Take the lover flight. now
Sorah. the parlor maid. dusts up "a
the landing, aud Vida. the chamber
maid. the steps above
And the flight above that !,
haa no halfway landing"
We'll. cir. vida does the lower
bali. and Ellen. the second house
maid. tho upper. There's diyid
ing step. I don't know which Il is
I but they know. ah. yea. well they
know. and neither gyuri wud touch
on the other side Of Il. Why. sir J
Any complaint"
"No. Gail Ellen here"
Ellen came. frightened out OF her
wits.
There Ia no faui, to be found
with your work. Ellen" ! said
pleasantly. "bu, there's BIT OF
money waiting for you. n you
think straight and clear. and an
swer one or two questions"
Tho siri stood quiet and looked
composed and sensible. Yes. sir.
she said
Think back 20 the morning that
we discovered the death Of Mrs
Moss Did you dust your stairs as
usual that morning."
Yes. sir"
WAS there any unusual dust OF
dirt on them7"
There was. sir. little"
"Was II ----7" whispered the
rest not wanting Mrs. Blum e
hear II.
1t was. air"
gave her the promised reward
and went 10 the dining room
Those at table we're just haylne
coffee served. took a small cut
and declined Ilolen's solicitous OF
fcrs OF food
When all we're finished. | asked
that all ccme with me to Mary
bellies room.
BE seated. please" said. 81
have solved the mystery and ! want
10 tell you about IT,"
They sat dosn. Frank and Helen
on the edge Of the bed, Janet in a
little rocker. and the Earl in the
straight desk chair ! closed the
hall door. and stood by Il. scarcely
knowing how 10 begin my sad rev
citation.
The method OF bringing about
the death OF Marybelle | have die
covered" ! said. the one who did
u. I have learned. But the motive
do not know. I will show you
first how Il was done"
took from a table where I had
laid II. n long mattress needle. the
Kind used by upholsterers for tuft
ing mattresses or furniture. Also
! took a spool OF heavy. dark liner
thread. and breaking off piece
about six yards long. threaded the
needle with Il. Then I opened the
hall door. and stepping outside
brought back n strong. high chair
This placed directly beneath the
gas burner that had been found
turned o.. I thrust the long needle
thru the hele In tho side OF the
key. tho hole that had thought
seessed less dusty than the others
and pulled the short end Of thread
completely thru. Then. unthrend
ing tho needle. pulled tho thread
till the lengths were even. Then
twisting the two ends OF thread
tightly together, I threaded both at
once thru the needles eye.
Retaining from g1ancing Mt the
face OF any ono OF my audience. |
stepped down from tho chair. and
moved II over TIL Il was directly