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

By MCDONNELL BODKTN

generously, take It yourself, and make
a fair division"
Susan took the box. and with great
elaboration divided the cake into two
parts with an ivory paperknife. She
turned the cake out on a sheet OF note
paper, and tossed the box and It's wrap
pings into the fire. Then she pushed tho
paper toward Milly, Offering her the
bigger piece for her share.
Milly's fingers were almost ON her
piece when the big hand of Uncle Peter
interposed so quietly and suddenly that
he startled both the girls
He caught the paper by the corner
and shifted 1t round, SO that Susan's
piece was toward Milly, and Nilly'S
piece toward Susan.
You won't mind changing, SUSIE no
said, Just to oblige meT
With a cry she caught up the paper
of cake to throw IL into the Ore. But
one big hand closed on her wrist-the
other recaptured the cake, while Uncle
Peters voice drawled out:
Don't be rash, Susan, my dear. don't
be rash If you are not ready for that
piece of cake just now, I'll put it by
till it is wanted"
what have you done to Susan.
uncle?" she cried, turning to him in
surprise And where is my delicious
piece of wedding cake gone TOP
at was only a little game between
Susan and myself. my DEAR he an
swered quietly.
Its mOnStrOuSi J1CfeClDie. me
thing is too devilish for beltef.- said
John woodriff, when the story was
told him ten minutes later in his study
Are you quite sure. Paul?"
LAS sure as DEATH retorted Mr.. Beck,
gravely.
Il cannot believe it That tirnid.
meek, innocent little thing. Poor
Lettyi And Milly. too. that she was
always so fond of. But If you are quite
sure. why not arrest her at once?"
L
haul until my net is full
But she may escape. and then
Mr. Becks hand on his shoulder
stopped him. Come from the win
therei-
A girls figure fitted round an angle
of the house. so swift and silent it
seemed shadow, and disappeared.
keep COOL said Mr. Beck .she is
off to post letter in the pillar-box-
She'll be back in less than an hour.
You'll see
Now. whom do you think this letter
is directed TO. Pack?" he asked.
''Dr. Coleman Woodruff, Liverpool
he answered.
Later, by a clever device, Mr.. Beck
rescued her letter from the pillar-box-
"A straight guess 1 made" he said.
land the handwriting on the envelope
is Miss Susan Warren's-shaky little
the liberty of inquiring what Miss Su-
san has to say to DR.. Coleman Woodruff.
whom she dislikes so heartily"
He quietly broke the seal and read:
Ny Own Darinr-An is discovered tuxt ct
the moment OF success. The man told you Of
Uncle Peter-has proved a detective in disgtise-
Save yourself-save yourself while there IS still
time. Before this reaches you I shall be DO
more / have tricked the detective with all his
cunning. I found where he has hidden the
poisoned cake, and
Mr.. Beck broke off his reading with
a muttered curse, and darted from the
room and went up the stairs with q
rush, John Woodriff at his heels.
He knocked at Susan Warren's door
There was no answer. He turned the
handle. 1t was was locked. Without a
to the door and burst it in with crash
The room was quite still. Behind the
bright chintz curtains, on the white
counterpart, Susan lay dead.
I'VE are too late" Mr.. Beck said at
last. very softly. It's wonderful that q
fiend should look so like an angel"
Thank God that is not my poor
Milly that lies therer John Woodrifr
answered, in a faltering voice. This
wretched girl has died the death she
planned for her. She has passed from
mans judgment to Gods. But for the
man who tempted her to this"
II will hang the man." interpoSed Mr..
Beck with a touch of returning cheer
fitness.
And he did.
Copyright 1918. by Mcclure Syndicate,