The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-01-22
UNSEEN HANDS
4 BelpiLdering DetectiUe Story By Robert Orr Chipperfield
XXI. SYNOPSIS

yS tended her. He learns they quarrel cd violently over some papers Lorne l wanted his wife to sign. The detect ! i've has just asked the nurse: t.Did Mrs. LOrne still refuse?' l "Yes; and he left in a towering | rage, while she merely laughed at him in a tantalizing way. Aside from | the question, which was none of my ! affair. I must confess that I felt a | certain amount of sympathy for MT. Lorne at the moment. Mrs. Lorne | was a very beautiful woman. but her disposition was not an easy one with l which to get along; and l had al , ready experienced her almost manic cal outbursts of temper over the | merest trivialties. However, when I returned to the sick room after dinner that evening I found him again with her, and they seemed to have established amicable f and even affectionate relations once | more; so I thought no further about the scene of the afternoon until on the following night. when immedi- ! ately after his customary visit with her I found her condition so chang ed." And this is all you have to tell me?" Oden rose. You can recall nothing else which might have a pos sible bearing on Mrs. Lorne's death ?" Nothing" Miss Risby responded as she gave him her hand. Please do not attach too much significance to what I have told you, sergeant. I have witnessed many domestic quar- rels, and it has been my experience that people say a great deal in the heat of anger which it would be IT. dicu1ous to attach any importance to. I have told you only because thought it my duty, but I beg that you will not accept my statement as conclusive proof"
 Leaving her, Odell returned as quickly as possible to the Meade house With every turn he seemed to be unearthing fresh and conflicting circumstantial evidence, and he felt that before proceeding any further he must gather up some of the loose threads which entangled this most perplexing of all the cases he had
 When Peters admitted him he pro- ceeded directly to the third floor and found Porter seated on a chair in the hall outside Genes door yawning aside with a quickly suppressed grin at sight of his superior.
 'Pm glad you got back. sergeant" :" he observed with an innocent air which told the detective plainly that the tale of his abduction had filtered through from headquarters during his absence
 Nothing stirring in there; been suiking ever since the night before
 Has he communicated with any one outside the house or received any messages?"
 "No. He sends his trays away all most untouched after each meal; and when Miss Meade came to the door he refused to let her in. Moreover, from that little room there l can hear him walking the floor most of the night He hasn't taken the least , notice of me; don't seem to eaHe whether I'm on the job or not. It looks as if he was waiting for some thing to drop on him"
 Well, he won't have to wait any longer"
 Odell knocked upon the door, and after a perceptible pause slow, re- 7uctant footsteps sounded within and Gene appeared on the threshold. His face was pale and drawn. and the circles beneath his sunken eyes told of sleepless hours; but to the de tective's keen gaze there seemed to be a new book of strength and reso- lution about his weak mouth.
 For a. moment he stood cycling Odell steadily, but quite without ami mostly. Then he asked quietly:
 Do you want me?" There was a significance beyond the mere words in his tone, and the detective shook his head smilingly as he replied:
 'I want only to have a little talk with you. MT. Chalmers, if I may"
 Come in, sergeant" Gene held the door wide and Odel1 walked past him to a chair by the table. ''I'lI tell you anything you want to know now.'
 You have not heard from your him the night before last in the room behind that tailor's shop on Thiro avenue?"
 'No." Gene closed the door and came slowly forward "You were there? You heard?"
 "I was in the alley" Oden admitted.
 Gene drew a deep breath and squared his shoulders.
 I'm glad you did hear. sergeant that simplifles matters. And please don't call that Scoundrel a friend of mine; he Is the worst enemy a man could have. I wish I had told you everything before, but I was afraid of him. Now I know that nothing he can do to me will be any worse than the torture I have gone through for the last two days; and at least I shall be rid of him forever! Do you re- member that note you found in my one in which he ordered me to dc something before the 9th of the month";"
 "Yes He mentioned it to me after you and Sims had taken your depart ure that night. We had a most in teresting conversation in the room with the broken window The de tective paused and then added slow ly: You had CT - signed youl mothers name to a check and Earle! Drew had cashed it; hadn't he? Was the second one drawn on he also?'
 So Drew told you?'' The youn: man was white to the lips.
 NO; I guessed. I had heard yol accuse him of bleeding you; I recalled the wording of the note, and I pu two and two together"
 Well, it's true Pm not going t deny 1t, and I'll face my stepfathe and the family or-or any one els you like"
 There was a sort of quiet despera ton in his tones. with no trace o bravado. Ever since I can remem Der have been able to copy people, handwriting without any practice and so nearly perfect that they couli not themselves tell it from their owr used to do it for fun at school whe was a kid. It was gift from tn devil, I guess; but never thought o turning it to account in any dishones way until Drew found out about m