Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-17

DR.. Coleman woodritf. as heir-in-law to
the deceased"
Here's our motive, anyway" said
Mr.. Beck, clear enough and strong
-But the thing is preposterous,- pro-
tested Mr.. Woodrif. earnestly. admit
ting that the man. my brothers son.
could be such devil: but I won't and
hand in this. He was in Liverpool
when Babs was poisoned in Germany;
he was in Liverpool when Lefty was
poisoned here
what kind of a fellow is this DR..
Coleman Woodruff persisted Mr.. Beck.
"a very decent fellow, by all accounts
and clever. too: though he has been al
ways pulling the devil by the tail.
what I saw. My sister and his aunt.
Mrs. Warren. who is a widow, and
lives in Liverpool, knows him we'll. and
likes him greatly. It's her only daugh-
ter Susan that told you is staying
with u.s."
What does Susan think of DR.. Cole
man."
well, she doesn't like hfm-that's
whim."
'Humph" was Mr.. Beck's solo COM
ment on this. and there was a long
lapse into silence
Did your daughter Lefty get the
letter she was expecting?" he asked
presently.
81 cannot say. There was a fire in
herr DOM, and we found the ashes of
some papers in the CRATE,
No trace of poison found anywhere?-
None. The servants swore that she
listed nothing after her return. I
ave had her room locked since she
died. hoping you would come"
Mr.. Beck walked on in silence. with
face as blank as a gravestone, and
helpless. pfteous appeal. like a dogs.
In moment or two John Woodrirs
impatience mastered him.
For Gods sake, speak, man. he
broke out
II have nothing to say worth say
You believe there has been foul play.
You think Milly is in danger"
Il fear So"
The self-restraint of the father snap
ped suddenly, and his grief and fear
broke loose.
my poor little gir1-my last? God pity
me; For the sake Of old times you
viii help me to save her.?
For answer Paul Beck grfpped his
old schoolmate's hand.
STEADY, Jack- he said. You will
need all your nerve before this busi-
ness is through How old is your
daughter Milly?"
she lacks a month Of being eigh-
teen"
That shortens tho job. This elder
brother in Chiago-Peter, I think you
said-can we have him back at once?"
John Woodruff stared at him as if he
had gone suddenly mad.
Il mean, can 1 be your elder brother
and live with you for month or SO
without arousing Suspicion
''Oh, certainly. No one here knows
him, and everybody knows that L have
been expecting him"
That's settled then. The day after
tomorrow your elder brother Peter will
turn up unexpectedly from Chicago
But, mind. the secret Is between US two.
Not word to a single soul"
Not even to Milly or Susan?'
Most certainly not! 1 must be Peter
Woodruff to every one but you. Now
there is one thing more. Before I go
back to town l want to have a look at
the room where your daughter died.
But Mr.. Woodrif objected shrewdly.
IF you are coming back as Peter, best
not show yourself at all now"
Does any enc know that Mr.. Beck,
the detective. was expected?'
mo one except my daughter Milly."
81 think l had best put in an appear
ance,'' said Mr.. Beck. Its no harm that
I should have a look around with two pairs
OF eyes-Mr. Paul Beck's and Mr.. Peter
Woodrihs. 1 don't think the young ladies
or any one else for that matter-are
likely to recognize me on my next visit.
By the way, what is brother Peter Hke?"
Like me, they say, only taller
When they reached the house they found
Milly Woodruff shy and frightened Of the
London detective. 1t was meek-eyed
Susan Warren who attended to his COM