Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-10
CHAPTER XVI
Into Their Hands

w compnnied by Mr.. O'Rourkc and
Inspector Druct, had departed, Nicho-
lHs Cutter rose.
Mr. Terhune." he began smoothly,
| You must not be annoyed with our
hot -hendcd young Irish friend for his
| i'll advised interruption of your test
do not presume to express an opinion.
IN the case. but | shall await the out =
come with the kccnest expectation, and
! want to thank you for most inter-
rsting evening. II has been indeed II
privilege to have been present. and
trust that at some more propitious time
you VIII permit me to drop in on you
ana learn now you prepared the word
test. Grod evening"
As though taking leave Of his host
NJ purely social function. he bowed
himself out. and the criminologist. his
cnunnimity partially restored by tho
tactful II ambiguous speech. turned to
McCnrtS and Dennis. Bnssett had
shown the others to the door and the
three were alone.
"Wcll. McCarty. you did not hear
the confession promised you. owing
to the interference of your colnpatriot
and :he stupidity Of your superior but
hns my little experiment given you food
for thought?"
u the OH gentleman has got the
pistol" Dennis was beginning. but
stopped and s!destepped quickly when
q heavy boot descended suddenly upon
his own
"1f hc has. it's no proof he's not
euilty"!' McCurtv declared heartily.
Tint other orc might have been left
hv the body as blind. and there are
about three million army pistols kicking
around the rOuntry-Alr. Tcrhnne. sir.
IL wRs wonderful.
Never did I soc the beat of the way
you worked it out Now. IL it's not
too late will you b. after telling uS what
YOU Eloped out from the association
tpsts?'
Dennis stared at his friend in blank
amnZcmrnt and Tcrhunp bcamed.
II always told you that there we're
possibilities in you far above the
ordinary rank and file of the depart.
mcnt, my dear McCarty!" he ex-
CLAIMED. II will explain the test to
you with pleasure. Let us take each
one in order. shall not bore you with
the technicalitics of the vibratoscope
record as thrown upon the projection
sheet, but merely give you the result
indicated. Mr.. O'Rourkcs reckless.
pleasure loving. impulsive character
was clearly shown in his reactions:
life to him meant only sport, and
money. debts"
''He loves his wife, murmured
Dennis.
'He had no emotion at the rcmem-
brance of Crcveling'S death. but denied
the possibility of scandal in connection
with it," continued Terhune. His
only thought of grief concerned the dog.
Np,p n.iIl t,Ln Wnynrl,. II, ,,.n,
dosgedly determined to impress the
theory Of suicide upon us and his motive
was plain; he feared that he himself
might be regarded with suspicion be-
rause of his recent quarrel with
Crevcling which the butler overheard.
and he rushed away in pretcnse of
fury before he learned how groundlcss
that fear was. Cutter. too. insisted
upon suicide as the explanation of
Crcveling's death, but that was only
from conservative gentleman natural
distastc for being brought. however re-
motely. into the notoriety of n murder
investigation. You can, | think, fol-
low the steps of the test in Alexander's
case
McCarty nodded.
That was all true about the
brothers will, and the nicce's money.
and the marriage and ali?' he asked
slowly.
Yes. learned from her maid that
Mrs. Creveling bitterly reproached her
uncle for forcing her into the marriage
and said that the very odor of orange
blossoms stifled her; that evidently re-
mained in his thoughts. | have had
access to his private papers and ac-
count books which proved the state of
his financial affairs, and the Office boy
can testify as to his actions with the
pistol on "Wednesday and Thursday"
Terhune spoke with grim satisfaction.
"iou heard him admit taking the pistol
and also being absent from his rooms
at the time the murder was committed,
although ! did not need his confession
the night elevator boy in the bachelor
apartment building where he lives was
not asleep as he thought"
well, sir, 'twas,remnrkable the way
you led up to it all, and I'll be waiting
myself to hear from tlse inspector |
whether the old gentleman breaks down
and cOnfcSscs or not. Come, Denny, |
We'll be getting along" McCarty |
edged toward the door.
II am glad to see, at least, McCarty, |
that you have an open mind" Terhunc
shook hands cordially. 1T will be |
rather humiliating to the inspector, | |
am afraid, but he will have to admit |
that he was on the. wrong track.
'Ges, sir. McCarty laughed. Il
told you I'd not be surprised If he had
to let Hill go again Good night. Mr..
Tcrhune.
A drenching April shower was falling
as they gained the strect, but they
trudgcd on beneath their umbrellas in |
silence. Finally Dennis remarked dis
gustedly:
And 80 you We fallen for Terhune at |,
last! Think shame to yourself, Mae
That little he goat with the beard may
have been selfish enough to sell his |
niece to the blackguard who by all ac-
counts is better dead. but he never
killed him He wouldn't soil his
hands !"
"No more he did" McCarty agreed
placidly. Still, 1t amused Terhune
and there's no harm done, He most
likely took the pistol to blow his own
brains out with IL Creveling kept his
word and told how he'd made away with
the money left to Mrs. Creycling, and
where he could have been when the
shooting took place is more than
know, but twas not there. III call the
inspector up later and get the truth
of It,.
80 you were just kidding Terhune
into explaining about the word test ?"
demanded Dennis, bewildered. "What
did you mean, then, about the inspector
having to let Hill go? What man was
who murdered that guy, anyway"
IL meant what l said" responded
McCarty firmly, And that's the last