The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-09-20
bones and rhkin."

bones ana Nhhin.
thought OF a murderer entering
at dusk and remaining hidden In
wardrobe or closet-poor Marybelle
was so near.sighted-tiil 4 O'Clock,
turning on the gas, and then--weli,
making an exit during the commo.
ton that followed the discovery OF
the tragedy. Could II have been ?
But reason told me. No. There
were too many OF US AT or near the
door for any stranger 10 escape un.
noticed. But II not stranger
Suppose. well. say ono OF the
household servants had done this.
and in the excitement had stepped
from his hiding.plaoe and mingled
with the rest OF us
No. any servant absent from duty
all night would have been noticed
and reported Any guest, then ?
Cissy7 She could have gone in be-
fore Marybelle retired. could have
pretended TO go out. but really
have hidden. and stayed there.
then when we raised tho alarm
hsys-bah. what rubbish Little
CisHy In there all those long hours
while Marybelie-and stay. any one
who had done anything like that
would have died OF the gas, too,
Truly. ! was getting in my dotage,
I concluded had cobwigs on the
brain. and started out for n walk in
the cold. crispy air. hoping the win.
ter winds would blow them all
away. ! went TO the police and
asked the loan Of the ring that had
been found on the gas burner. HRv.
lug but ono real drcssy clue. de.
iermlned 90 give II its fair share
Of attention.
rot H. the police having n sort
OF srudging admiration for me. not
unmixed with n certain satisfaction
IN my lack OF achievement 30 far.
IL Is circumstant,al evidence"
Blair said. impressiveiy. "and you
cant hang a man on circumstanuRi
evidence. remember"
The ring wasn't q circumstance
TO my detective talent. and ! had
no man 20 hang anyway. so gave
him no reply but civil good-day
and went my way.
Back home Fsgain. ny. even on the
way home. | studied the ring. II
told me nothing. save It's mere sur.
face facts. II was a lady's ring:
that r.. It's size made Il appear 30.
and It's general tlmidlty OF aspect.
Surely no man would wear that
bRuble, even on his little finger.
Well. that didn't prove a lady had
murdered Marybelle. Besides. that
ring might have been on that burn
er for years. Maybe Marybelle's
mother had put IL there. for some
absurd reason. Maybe the long
yellow hand. that figured in Mary.
bellies tale OF her mothers night.
mare U really believed that creep
ing hand was merely the Pigment
OF a bad dream. had put the ring
on the gas. and perhaps had return
cd for its forgotten property and
accidentally turned on the Jet
This theory was so ingenious that
repeated II to Janet Field. she
being the first listener ! found on
my return 90 the house.
"Oh. don't" she said. shuddering
"Mr. Prall. when you are really a
clever detective, why do you stoop
to that unpleasant sort OF foolery ?"
But look at the ring said.
IT'S not such a one as Marybelle
would own. Is II now7''
II don't want TO touch II" she
said. blocking off. ut seems TO me
haunted"
But Herringdesn came along
then. and he took the ring and ex.
amined H.
"olIgoclase." he said. as he re-
turned H.
"Abracadabra, Erin go bragh."
returned, politely. not wishing TO be
outdone in unintelligibility.
He smiled. That's what n moon.
stone is." he explained. 1T belongs
in part to n variety OF orthoclase
called adularia. but In part also to
albite or oligoclase.
Thank you 80 muchl" I said.
fervently. i've long wanted TO
know"
u'u VIZ thihtu VI tut pearls.
Herringdean said nothing about
wanting them. for Helen had given
him To understand that tho Resid-
uary Legatee would take every.
thing not nailed down by the will.
"Marybelle was so pleased with
them" said his Lordship. rem
iniscently. "she was like n child
when she was pleased. She was n
dear nature. so warmly sympa,
thetic and 80 responsive In her
emotions. You loved her, Miss
Field?"
II fell under Marybelle's charm
four years ago." replied Janet. sim
ply. SHE was very good to me.
and took me into her heart and
home"
you were her social secretary"
"So.called. but more of com.
panion and general helper The
first year I lived with her. we were
like sisters. Then. when she mar
ried. she did not need me-"
but, widowed, she was glad TO
have you with her again."
yes. Lord Herringdean, she
urged me TO come TO her. soon aft
or MIR. Moss died"
left the two talking and strolled
away. ! mot Vida In the upper hall.
busting about. as housemaids Will.