The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1920-03-13

tnut sent " thiii Va tANi''"N'' '''"'S''
Mr.. Snyder.
Something seemed 10 warn him OF
the approach of the psychological mo-
ment. lie bent forward engerly. I'm
der the table his hands were clutching
his knees In e bruisIng grip.
There was q stransled gasp. clat-
ter, and onto the table from the Ger
mans hands there fell a little har.
monica.
In the silence which followed all
the suspicion which Mr.. Snyder had
been 70 scdulously keeping In check
burst It's bounds.
There was no mistaking the look on
the Germans face now. His cheeks
were like wax. aud his eyes, so dun
TIL then. blazed with panic and hor-
ror which he could not rcpress. The
glasses on the table rocked rs he
cluichcd at the cloth.
Mrs Pickett spoke.
"why. Captain Muller, has i M.
vet your I thought that. M his best
friend the man who shared his room,
You would value u memcnto Of Cap
tnin Gunner. How fond you must hnvc
been Of him for the sight OF his
hnrmonce Ia be such n shock
The German did not spcak. lie wns
staring fascinated at the thing on the
table
Mrs. Pickett turned to Mr.. Snyder
Her eyes. Ms they met his. were the
eyes OF q fanatic. They held him
"aIr Snyder, ms n detective. you
will be Interested In n curious affnir
which happened In this house u few
days ngo One Of my bonrdcrs Cnp
tain Gunner. was found dead In his
room--the room which ne shared with
Captain Muller,
II am very proud OF the reputation
OF my house. Mr.. Snyder. aud II was
blow 90 me that this should have
happened.
IL applied 10 an agency for de
tective and they sent me n stupid hoy,
with nothing 10 recommend him OK
cent his belief In himself. lie said
that Captain Gunner had died by nc.
cidcni, Killed by snake which had
come out OF crate OF bananas. i
knew better.
II knew that Captain Gunner had
been murdered.
"Are you listening. Captain Mullerf
This VIII interest YOU, as you were
such friend OF his"
The German did not answer. He
wns staring straight before him. as N
he saw something invisible 20 other
eyes.
yesterday we found the body OF
doc. II had been killed. ne Captain
Gunner had been, by the poison OF n
snake.
"The boy from the detective agency
said that this was cnpclusiyc--thai
the snake had escaped from the room
after killing Captain Gunner aud kill
ed the dog. I knew that was impossible.
for. II there had been snake In that
room Il could not have go, out
1T was not snake that killed Cap
tain Gunner; II was q cat.
Captain Gunner had friend. This
man hated him. One day. In opening
crate Of bananas. the friend found
a snake and killed II. He took out the
poison.
He knew Captain Gunner's habits;
he knew that he played a harmonica.
'This man had a cnt. He knew that
cats hated the sound Of the har-
monica. lie had often seen this par
ticuiar cat ny at Captain Gunner and
scratch him when be played.
"ie took the cat and covered it,
claws with the poison. And then he
left II Ia the room with Captain Gun
ner. He knew what would happen
Oalses and Mr. Snyder were on their
feet. The German had not moved. He
sat there. his fingers gripping the
cloth.
Mrs. Pickett rose and went to n
closet. She unlocked the door.
"kittyl" she called. "kittyl Kitty"
A black cat ran swiftly out into the
room.
with q ciatter OF crockery and a
ringing of glass the table heaved.
rocked. and overturned AZ the 0ermnn
staggered 10 his feet. He threw up his
hands as II TO ward something of. A
choking cry came from his lips.
"Gott Gotti"
Mrs. Pickett's voice rang through the
room. cold and biting:
captain Muller. you. murdered Cap
tain Gunner!' T.
The German shuddered. Then me-
chanically he replied:
"Gott Yes. killed him."
"You heard, Mr.. Snyder" said Mrs.
Pickett. "iie has confessed before
witnesses. Take him away"
The German allowed himself 10 be
moved toward the door Ills arm In
Mr.. Snyder's grin felt limp ana life
less.
Mrs. Pickett stopped and took some
thing from the debris on the fl0or. She
rose. holding the harmonica
"You are forgetting your souvenir.
Captain Muller" she said.
(THE END)