The Washington times., 1918-07-11


turned savagely upon the Inspector.
at is known that he was near the
scene OF the murder at the time It
was comitted. Franks sold you
a good many things that day
we've BEEN over that ground be-
fore-you and land your husband
knew that he had his pockets full
of gold. We merely wish to ask
Mr.. Meyer a few questions at the
station; IL he answers them salts
factorily, he won't be detained long.
II he's not guilty, he'll be all right.
So II he's here, Mrs. Meyer, fetch
him down, and let's get the job
over"
But tell you again he Is not
here He go away In the night
know not where" The woman
spOke-through her tears-with an
cry insistence.
Then by your leave-or without
five will search the house." said
the inspector shortly. Il also pro-
pose to turn over your stock-in-
trade, Mrs Meyer, to convince my
self that none Of the articles taken
from Franks body have found their
way here. You have a fine and
varied collection OF buttons In your
shop window, and see there are
curiosities Of all sorts. Perhaps we
may come across a gold nugget set
in a pin Anyway, we are going to
have a look"
"You may search vat you like
and we're you like" said the woman,
suIlenly. II tell you dat you md
nothin'."
Would Find No Evidence
The search was In full progress
when Lillian took her departure
from the house. She knew-no one
better-that the police would
neither find Won Geldenstein nor
any discriminating evidence against
him Purse. buttons, nugget. lay
secure in the last place any one
would think OF searching for them.
As soon as she could md one
Lillian took1a cab and d-oys to the
home OF her employer. 1t was with
considerable trepidation that she
rang the bell at the millionsire's
house, for. she had grave doubts as
to his return. In his excited state
OF mind he might have been capable
OF any act Of folly.
as Mr.. Won Geldensteln at homer"
she asked OF the grave funky who
opened the door to her.
The mans expression was stolid.
He evinced no surprise at the ques-
ton Everything appeared as usual
in the house
Yes, madam. He returned this
morning. He is in his study. Miss
l. A. - Hrsrr
room"
In the morning room she found
Miss Rachel complacently porting
over the paper. The breakfast
things had just been removed.
"Ah, 1 thought you would come
soon after" said the lady, rising
and greeting Lillian with some
warmth. you have followed him
and kept your eye upon him these
days-is not that so? He returned
this morning just as I sat down to
breakfast He would not take
breakfast. but went straight to his
study" Rachel evinced no particu-
lar curiosity to know where her
brother had been. She always main
tained that Il was none OF her bust
ness, and for years she had been
accustomed to these periodical dis
appearances. To her there was
nothing new in the events Of the
past few days. Her brother had
been away and had returned as
usual; that was all
Refusing the suggestion OF break
fast, Lillian made her way to the
study. She tapped gently at the
door. To her first knock there was
no answer, so she tapped again.
this time more loudly.
Door Finally Opens.
Won Geldenstein himself opened
the door to her. He was dressed
in his ordinary clothes. but the ex-
preston on his face was rather
that of the criminal than that of
the millionaire. He was intensely
pale, and his eyes expressed suf-
fering. His shoulders were still
bowed and rounded. as she had
lately been accustomed to see
them.
Come in" His voice sounded
hollow and unnatural. He stretched
out a bony hand-it was strange
that his hands had never before
appeared thin and bony to Lillian
and gripped her by the arm. So he
had seized her in the early hours
OF that morning. wnen he had grad
ually appreciated the truth OF his
double identity. "Come in" he re-
peated. and drew her into the
study. Then he locked the door and
confronted her.
He had been writing at his desk.
Sheets of manuscript Law about in
unwonted disorder. Lillian noticed.
too. that the safe was open. and
then, with a shudder, she saw that
he had taken out the objects which
had belonged to the murdered man,
Franks. They were heaped to-
getner upon a chair
1t was very cold in the room, for
the stove had not been lit. The
rain had never ceased to fall; It
still beat pitilessly down upon the
corrugated iron roofing OF the
veranda, and dripped with a mo-
notOnous sound upon the wooden
balustrade. The same was exact
ly the same as that to which Lillian
had listened during the night.
What do you think OF me?"
asked he, hoarsely. He stood be-
coarse body OF Won Geldenstein had
shrunk and assimilated itself into
the cringing shape of She man Of
South street.
Are you Won Geldenstefn Or
began Lillian.
ITO Be Continued Tomorrow
GcapyriEst ~ ". 4 RsHzsLl