The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-12-29
UNSEEN HANDS
A BeWiLdering DetectiUe Story
 By Robert Orr Chipperfield
SYNODCTC


 scene of two strange deaths, those of his wife and stepson Julian Chalmers, and Barr Odell, a detective sergeant, Is summoned to unravei the myster- ics. He talks with various members of the family, but from Miss Fife Meade, Mrs. LOrne's spfnster sister, he obtains many facts. She has just told him her sister died from an i'm fection caused when she pricked her finger while embroidcring
 Odeil took up the square of em- broidery. The needle is not here," he commented "The doctor took it for analysis. no doubt"
 Yes. I think he feared that the poisoning which resulted from its prick might have been due to some of those new dyes in the silk for he took some of that also; but he told us later that he had discovered noth- ing that could in any way account for the fatal result" Miss Meade touched the back of a low chair Here is where my sister sat when it happened, Sergeant Odell. and I was seated across the table, using the Martha Washington sewing stand ! there What are you looking for?"
 "The packet from which the em- broidery needle was taken" he re- , sponded.
 She delyed into the brilliant disor- der of the basket and brought forth
 
 i ed him. He opened it, glanced at the needles and put it into his pocket. / Then taking up a pair of scissors r which was attached he slipped off 7 length of the scarlet strand which dangled from the embroidery frame.
 That's all, I think" He still spoke in lowered tone. mindful of the injured man in the next room. "I apartments of the young man who died last week. I have the keys -"
 To his astonishment Miss Meade announced
 ''I will accompany you. It has all been placed in order. of course; and I believe Mir. Titheredege and my brother-in-law have removed all the letters and personal effects, but I can explain to you the position of the body as I saw it.'
 T do not like to subject you to the ordeal -, the detective began, but she silenced him.
 "I am strong enough, and it is my duty to render you all the aid I can in consequence of MT. Lorne's inca pacity''
 She preceded him up the stairs and led him along the hall to the door of the front room; but as he took out the key to insert it iD the lock the door at the back flew open and Gene appeared, rage and fear struggling for supremacy on his weak counte- nance.
 
 clared hotly. "Pn thank you to re- turn the letters and notebook you stole from my desk.'
 They will be returned to you in good time, MT. Chalmers" the de- tective replied smoothly. Unless, of course, they are required as evi- dence.'
 "Evidence of what" shouted the enraged young man. "I suppose you'll accuse me next of killing my |, own brother and trying to commit suicide by pulling down that DOT trait on my own head last night!"
 MT. Chalmers when I knocked upon your door an hour ago I inter- rupted you at your task of burning some letters and papers in your grate."
 What of it?" Gene demanded "A fellows got some rights. I guess to . being bored over by you d-d-" "GeneT' Miss Beade interrupted, and then turning to the detective she added: II think I will leave you. Gene can show you Julian's room: and you will, I am sure, want to talk 10 him alone.'
 She hurried silently down the stairs and when she had disappeared the two young men faced each other.
 MT. Chalmers. when you started to burn those papers in your Grate this morning was it perfectly clean ?"
 The unexpected seemingly irrele- want question caught the other tenl- porarily off guard.
 What do you mean?" he demand ed.
 Come and I will show you" Odell walked straight past Gene and into his room, and the latter, his resent iment momentarily submerged in sur prise, followed.
 The detective knelt down by the hearth.
 ''WiIl you bring me an envelope" he Than = piled: T want you to look closely at the ashes. Mir. Chalmers. What do you seer"
 As he spoke he scooped some into the envelope. sealed it and placed it in his pocket.
 why. just ashes!" Gene's tone be- tokened amazement, but his frishten- ed face went shade more pale. See any difference in the color?' Odell persisted. Don't you know that everything that is infiammable and of a different texture of sub- stance leaves a different ash behind :? Those pale, gray, stainy flakes are from the paper which you burned i; these coarser, slightly darker ones are from something else. What d'd ryou burn here this morning or last light. MT. Chalmers?" <2t Nothing! I swear it!, Gene cried Ns1uskily. For Gods sake, sergeant, tell me what you are driving att When 1 started to burn the letters it seems to me that l did notice some other , ashes there in the grate, but I paid no attention to them."
 You detected no odor as of smoke in your room?"
 ''None. I haven't been long out of it today. anyway l was awakened by dads fall and stayed with him only until you arrived If anything had been burned here I surely would have smelt the smoke when 1 came up tc |. destroy the letters"
 MT Chalmers when was the last !, time you had a fire in this grate. OdeH looked up in time to catch the younger mans swift change of ex- precision.
 IT cant remember" Gene stam- mered. Some time in the early spring I imagine"
 'I do not mean a coal fire, bu .papers trash, anything; when was the last time before this morning tha s@mething was burned here ?'
 T couldn't tell you sergeant. It's 2 habit of mine to burn old letter: and such things there instead of hay t' 'ng the maid take them downstairs