Omaha daily bee., 1919-07-04
THE
WOMAN IN BLACK
BIZ EDMUND CLERIHEW BENTLEY
Copyright. 1919. by the Century company.
CHAPTER XII.
The Mystery of the Clothes.


"As you left it. Now here is an
other point-the last l think. Were
the clothes in which the body was
found the clothes that Mr.. Mander-
son would naturally have worn that
day."
Martin rubbed his chin. "You
remind me how surprised l was
when l first set eyes on the body,
sir. At first | couldn't make out
what was unusual about the clothes,
and then l saw what it was. The
collar was a shape Of collar Mr..
Henderson never wore except with
evening dress. Then | found that
he had put on all the same things
that he had worn the night before
large -fronted shirt and all-except
just the coat and waistcoat and
trousers, and the brown shoes and
blue tie. AS for the suit, it was one
of half a dozen he might have
worn. But for him to have simply
put on all the rest just because they
were there instead of getting out
the kind of shirt and things he al
ways wore by day-well, sir, it was
unprecedented. 1t shows, like some
other things, what hurry he must
have been in when getting up
"Of course" said Trent. We'll,
I think that's all | wanted to know
You have put everything with ad-
mirable clearness, Martin. If we
want to ask any more questions
later on, l suppose you will be
somewhere about"
81 shall be at your disposal, sir
Martin bowed and went out quietly
Trent flung himself into the arm
chair and exhaled a long breath
Martin is great creature he
said. "He is far, far better than a
play. There is none like him, none
nor will be when our summers
have deceased. Straight, too: not
an atom of harm in dear old Mar
tin. Do you know, Murch, you are
wrong in suspecting that man"
II never said a word about sus-
pecting him." The inspector was
taken aback. "You know, Mr.. Trent
he would never have told his story
like that if he thoght | suspected
him."
Il dare say he doesn't think so
He is a wonderful creature, a great
artist; but in spite Of that he is not
at all sensitive type. 1t has never
occurred to his mind that you
Murch, could suspect him, Martin
the complete, the accomplished
But l know it. You must under.
stand, Inspector, that I have made
special study of the psychology o.
officers of the law 1t is grossly
neglected branch of knowledge
They are far more interesting thar
criminals, and not nearly so easy
All the time I was questioning hin
| saw handouts in your eye. You
lips were mutely framing the syl
tables of those tremendous words
1T is my duty to tell you that any
thing you now say, will be taker
down and used in evidence agains
YOU Your manner would have de
ceived most men, but it could no
deceive me"
Mr.. Murch laughed heartily
Trents nonsense never made any
! sort of impression on his mind, Blu
he took it as mark of esteem
which indeed it was; so it neve
failed to please him. well, Mr.
Trent he said, you're perfect,
right. There's no point in denying
it. l have got my eye on him. No
that there's anything definite; blu
you know, as we'll as I do, hov
often servants are mixed up il
affairs of this kind, and this mai, i
such a very quiet customer. Yo
remember the case of Lord Viii
liam Russell's valet, who went il
as usual in the morning to draw u
the blinds in his masters bedroom
as quiet and starchy as you please
a few hours after he had murdere
him in his bed. I've talked to a
the women of the house, and
don't believe there's morsel c
harm in one of them. But Martin
not so easy set aside. l don't lik
his manner; l believe he's hidin
something. If so, I shall find
out"
Cease" said Trent. Drain nc
to its idregs the urn of bite
prophecy. Let US get back to fact'
Have YOU. as matter of evidenc,