The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-09-13
BY CAROLYN WELLS

CONTINUED From Our Last issue)
But, man alive. think n minute
Why should she kill herself just
now Now. when she was 20 happy
and on the brink OF marriage that
would bring her a title and for
tunel
II don't look for motives AZ the
moment, I'm looking for facts.
There's mighty big mystery here.
my boy. and we're just NJ the be
ginning OF H."
| wanted 90 examine that gas
burner and looked about for a
chair 10 stand on but the only
ones saw were fussy little willow
rockers. low and unsteady, a dress
inF.tahle chair. firincr. but equally
low: and a pair 81 low oiiomhns.
None OF these would allow me 10
reach the key of the burner. even
n they would have borne my
weight. which ! doubted.
Here. one" said Wesley. begin
ming TO take some clothing off OF n
higher chair.
stop" cried Don't disturb
evidence. Note those things. Frank.
See. they arc Marybellc'a clothes
laid out for morning.. e happen 10
know che was going 10 ride with
Herringdean carly. and this is her
riding habit. see tho fresh white
walstcoat. carefully placed. and tho
coat. hung over the chair back"
"fcs. that's 90"
We'll. listen. then Supposinr
suicide. for n moment There's no
chair that would bring Maryhells
high enough TO touch that key. but
this one. n che used Il. then she
laid all these clothes on u 40 care
fully. after she had turned on the
gas II that likely"
Lord. no. but. on the other
hand. how could she accidentally
nj, tho thing without knowing ~
what did .hc hit ~ with"
II can't imagine Would she
have ono OF those hats with tall
Ytnmes--"
Nonsense A feather couldn't
turn on n FaH Jet"
Her riding hat. them Is that
tAlif"
IT'S what they call high hat.
yes. Hut you know tho heigh, OF
topper Not more than sir
inches or go. That wouldn't be
anywhere near that high burner.
And accident T. impossible. for she
would have smellod tho ras at
once. or very soon. Long before
sire osala 70 to bed ana get 10
sleep"
Thea Doctor Hewitt came He
was n fussy old man. and taciturn.
Miss Field brought him TO tho
down asd have some breakfast
3ut my mind was made M
Lock here. Miss Janet" said. Il
ava a detective Mrs. Moss death
IA. TO my mind. a mystery. am
not going TO leave this room. eN.
cept when II r. empty and locked.
until have solved the mystery. TO
my own satisfaction. at least In
n way. now. YOU are mistress here.
Have you any objections 20 BY re.
naming in the room"
why. I'm not mistress here -
said the Girl looking startled. as
81 new idea.
NO. but you're n member OF tho
household. and 90. in authority over
the servants and appointments. At
least. hope you will feel that you
are. for. otherwise. who will took
after things >"
Misg Field looked thoughtful
"Of course. I'm willing 10 do any.
thing | can, 10 DO helpful. but per
haps Mrs. Wesley will feel that I
am presumptuous
she Is n relative. 10 be sure. but
she f. 80 broken up and nervous
that I'm sure she can't attend 10
any any OF the things that-that
must be attended 10. and I'm sure
she'll be glad 20 have you"
Yves. Mr.. Prall. I understand
Well. so far as | am wanted 10 do
anything anything at all. I shall
be glad 10 be of service"
Janet Field was n fine girl. and
knew she understood. without fur.
Their words. that | meant funeral
arrangements. and perhaps even
more narrowing scenes Tho mys-
tegy OF Marybelle's death must be
cleared up. and meantime. some
oec must keep the household ma.
chinery running. and I knew poor
little distracted Helen Wesley
couldn't do n.
MisP Field stood looking NJ mo
She was slender and very straight
and carried herself like n young
Diana. I had never noticed before
that she was bcautiful-no, not
that. but very fine-looklng. Her
heavy hair vps Jet black and her
eyes. large. soft and black, with
heavy brows and lashca. remem.
berod my thcory@ about hnirn and
concluded she had great @ntuTiion.
Her skin was n ogar olive. and
she had n way OF drawing her eyes
together that intensified her gaze
until she seemed to read your very
soul. She looked at mo this way
now
No Prall." she said. what
killed Marybelle7"
"Asphyxiatlon"
"Oh. ] know that. I mean, how
did II happen"
THAT Is the mystery, Miss Field
Was tho gas chandelier ever used.
IN here?"
"Oh, never Nor anywhere In
tho house. Tho electric