The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1920-09-11

Qulfkly | Sprang 10 inspect the room
corresponding to mine, a room. it will
be recalled, opening off the sitting
room. Here, too, was darkness, and
as I turned on the lights, l stood
aghaSt with horror
On the floor, close up to the inner
wall, lay the cOntorted body of beau
tiful young woman. Her eyes were
wide open and staring. One arm was
twisted under her, and the other hand
was Clutching at the front of her
bodice, where a blOtch of CHASTITY red
indicated the path of the shot that l
Lid heard.
ITS Miss Lutan," said Mr.. Wick's
voice behind me.
shes been murdered" cried; "get
the police at once"
As ] bent over her to see if there
was any evidence of life, saw i'm
printed in her tender white throat the
marks Of her aSSailant'S brutal fingers.
Come" said, help me lift her on
to this couch, and then telephone at
once for a DOCTOR"
Mr.. Wick had been all the while
standing there. staring at the body as
if Stupefed by the tragedy. but he
obeyed my directions, and with him at
her feet and at her head we laid her
down on the couch, where l proceeded
to loosen her gown and to try by arti-
fetal respiration to restore her blood
to circulation. ~
Get the doctor at once" | com
manded again, and phone for the pO-
lice"
John" called out Mr.. Wick, "gO
to the phone and tell Miss Kelly to
send for Doctor Hunt to come at once"
Tell her TO get the police, too"
insisted.
"And let the burglar escape while
we're doing it." objected Mr. Wick.
"Come on, let's look through the apart
ment. He may be hiding somewhere
STILL"
Together, while the boy was 'phOn-
ing, we went from room to room, peer
ing into closets and under beds. There
was no one there and no traces OF the
murdere"s presence. Even the serV-
ants quarters were untenanted' Only
one thing happened that struck me as
peculiar. AS | started up the nan 10
search the bedrooms, l looked BACK
and caught Mr.. Wick turtlvety closing
the wall safe. HIS acton IN Sufrepti-
tiOusly closing this without saying
anything to me MADE me suddenly SuS-
picious OF him. recalled that Detec-
tive German had put Mr.. WICK INTO MS
circle of suspects along with the bur-
glars wife. Could It De possible tnat
the superintendent OF the building MIN
self was in conniVanee with the band
of criminals who had been harassing
the Bradfords and me! determined
to watch his every move
There's no one here" / said, as we
completed our round OF the various
rooms. "The murderer has made his
escape. Hasn't that boy 'phoned for
the police yet?
Mr.. Wick seemed so averse to carry
ing out my suggestion about the police
that l think he must have sensed the
suspicion In my voice.
81 think l had better ask Mr.. Kent
about it first" he said nervously.
"WhO's Mr.. kentT demanded.
NV thoughts were so taken up with
the unexpected tragedy that the name
at first meant nothing to me. Sud
denly remembered. 1t was to the
apartment of Mr.. Henry Kent that
Miss Kelly had 'phoned last night
when she was dining with me. re-
called, too, that German had charged
me to find out all could about him.
who's Mr.. KentP l repeated
sharply. Whats ne got 10 90 win itF
Hes the owner of the building" ex'
planned Mr.. Wick. HE doesn't like
the Granddeck to be mentioned In the
papers. He says any notoriety is BAG
for it's exclusiveness. ! don't believe
he'd want the police called IN. Ii
fact, sir, Pm sure ne wouldn't"
Whether he wants 1t or not" SAID
firmly, tits got to be done. You CAM
keep murders OUT OF the paper h'thel
you call the police right away or e'Se
l WILL"
My threat forced MIN TO Telephone
against his Will. l couid quite unaer
stand his employers aversion 10 nav
ing a crime in the Granudeck maze
public. But there was no help Tor II
There had been a dastaruiy crime com
hn