Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-10
Murder by Proxy

from the room. locked the door on the
outside, and put the key in his pocket.
ITO whom shall i wire?" John Neville
called from his desk with pencil poised
over the paper, to his cousin, who sat
NJ the library table with his head
buried in his hands 1T will need a
sharp man-one who can give his whole
time to it,
81 don't know any one. Yes, do.
That fellow with the queer name that
found the Duke of :outherns opal
Beck. That's it. Thornton Crescent.
W. C., will find him.
4 shrewd, silent man was "ardle.
the local constable. who now came
briskly up the broad avenue; strong
and active. too, though well over ffty
years of age.
John Neville met him at the door
with the news But the groom had
already told of the murder.
You did the right thing to lock the
door, sir said Wardle. as they passed
into the library, where Eric stu sat ap-
parently unconscious of their presence,
''and you wired for right good man
I've worked with this here Mr. Beck
before now. a pleasant spoken man
and q lucky one. NO hurry, Mr.. War
die he SAYS to me, and no fuss. Stir
nothing. the things about the corpse
have always a story of their own II
they are let tell it, and always ike
To have the first quiet little chat with
them myself"
So the constable held his tongue and
kept his hands quiet and used his eyes
and ears. while the great house buZzed
with gossip. There was WHISPER mere
and n whisper there, and the whispers
patched themselves into story BY
slow degrees dark suspicion settled
down and closed like q cloud round
John Neville.
Its influence seemed to pass in SOME
strange fashion through the closed
doors of the library. John began pac-
ing the room restlessly.
After little while the big room was
not big enough to hold his impatience.
He wandered out aimlessly. as II
seemed from one room to another;
now down the iron steps to gaze va
cautIy at the window of his uncle's
room. now past the locked door in the
broad corridor
Come for walk in the grounds.
Fricc'' he said. This waiting and
watching and doing nothing is killing
work: | cannot stand il much longer.
I'd rather not. if you don't mind,
Eric answered YEARLY: Il feel COM
p1etely bowIed over"
We'll, am off" John said.
If you will leave me the key. I Will
give it to the detective, if he comes"
oh. he cannot be here before mid
night. and I'll be back in an hour"
As John Neville walked rapidly down
the avenue without looking back.
Wardle stepped quietly after. keeping
him well in view.
Presently Neville turned abruptly in
among the woods, the conSta BILE still
following cautiously The trees stood
tail and well apart. and the slanting
sunshine made lanes of vivid green
through the shade. AS Wardle crossed
between Neville and the sun his shadow
fell long and black on the bright green.
John Neville saw the shadow move
in front Of him and turned sharp round
and faced his pursuer.
w ell. Nard4e, what IS II: Don't
STAND there IKE a 1901 lingering your
baton Hptd n out' hldh-"hdl 90 you
want OF me
GU see no" II Is. master Johh, the
cohStapie stainmered out. Il cont be
zee II fiESelI. but GUY is GUY, ana
mus &c throush " TN II ana iacts Is
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