Omaha daily bee., 1919-08-01
THE
WOMAN IN BLACK
By EDMUND CLERIHEW BENTLEY

"As for Southampton, pursued
Marlowe, "you know what I did
when | got there, have no doubt.
| had decided to take Henderson
story about the mysterious Harris
and act it out on my own lines.
1t was a carefully prepared lie, bet
ter than anything l could improvise.
| even went so far as to get through
trunk call to the hotel at South
ampton from the library before
starting, and ask if Harris was there.
AS | expected, he wasn't"
WAS that why you telephoned?"
Trent inquired quickly.
"The reason for telephoning was
to get myself into an attitude in,
which Martin couldn't see my face
or anything but the jacket and hat,
yet which was a natural and familiar
attitude. But while l was about it,
it was obviously better to make
genuine call. If I had simply pre-
tended to be telephoning, the peo-
pie at the exchange could have told
you at once that there hadn't been
a call from White Gables that
night"
One of the first things did was
to make that inquiry" said Trent.
That telephone call, and the wire
you sent from Southampton to the
dead man, to say Harris hadn't
turned up and you were returning
both those appealed to me-"
A constrained smile lighted Mar
loves face for a moment. Il don't
know that there's anything more to
tell. l returned to Marlstone, and
faced your friend the detective with
such nerve as had left. The worst
was when l heard you had been put
on the case-no, that wasn't the
worst. The worst was when I saw
you walk out of the shrubbery the
next day, coming away from the
shed where had laid the body.
For one CHASTITY moment I thought
you were going to give me in charge
on the spot. Now I've told you
everything, you don't look so ter
rible."
He closed his eyes, and there was
short silence. Then Trent got
suddenly to his feet.
Gross examination" inquired
Marlowe, looking at him gravely.
Not at all,' said Trent, stretch
ing his long limbs. Only stiff
ness of the legs. l don't want to
ask any questions. 1 believe what
you have told us. I don't believe if
simply because l always liked your
face, or because it saves awkward
ness, which are the most usual rea-
sons for believing a person, but be-
cause my vanity will have it that
no man could lie to me steadily for
an hour without my perceiving it.
Your story is an extraordinary one;
but Manderson was an extraordin-
ary man, and SO are you. You
acted like lunatic in doing what
you did; but I quite agree with you
that if you had acted like a sane
man you wouldn't have had the hun
dredth part of a dogs chance with
a judge and jury. One thing is
beyond dispute on any reading of
the affair: you are a man of cour-
age
The color rushed into Marlowe's
face, and he hesitated f9r words.
Before he could speak Mr.. Cupples
arose with dry cough.
For my part" he said, "I never
supposed you guilty for a moment
Marlowe turned to him in grateful
amazement, Trent with an incredul-
Gus stare. But" pursued Mr.. Cup
Piles, holding up his hand, there is
one question which l should like to
put"
Marlowe bowed, saying nothing.
Suppose" said Mr.. Cupples, "that
someone else had been suspected of
the crime and put upon trial. What
would you have done?"
Il think my duty was clear. I
should have gone with my story to
the lawyers for the defense, and
put myself in their hands"
Trent laughed aloud. Now that
the thing was over his spirits were
rapidly becoming ungovernable. Il
can see their faces" he said. "As
matter of fact, though, nobody else
was ever in danger. There wasn't
a shred of evidence against any one.
looked up Murch at the Yard this
morning, and he told me he had
come round to Burners view, that
1t was case of revenge on the part
OF some American blackhand gang.
SO there's the end of the Mander
son case. Holy, suffering Moses!
what an ass man can make of
himself when he thinks he's being
preter-naturally clever" He seized
the bulky envelop from the table,
and stuffed it into the heart of the
tire. There's for you, old friendl
For want of you the worlds course
will not fail. But look here! It's
getting late-nearly seven. and Cup.
pies and l have an appointment at
half-past. We must 60. Mr.. Mar
lowe, goodby." He looked into the
others eyes. II am a man who has
worked hard to put a rope round
your neck. Considering the circum-
stances don't know whether YOU
VIII blame me. Will you shake
hands?"
Continued Tomorrow.)