Evening star., 1921-04-17

Naturally! Under your hand Will
your mind full OF inspired theories.
DO not blaspheme." said Better
neid solemnly. Never was a NOR
convincing manifestation OF spiri
control And that is not ALL"
Indeed it isn't" confirmed Mrs
Betterfield. When We asked her wh'
was the murderer"
Rachel" interrupted her husband
Careful"
II will speak. The words are no
NINE; in;,;.,. They are ouija's. 1t gave th'
She glanced at Sherwood Charlton
with q basilisk CLEAN.
III you mean me. Mrs. Betterfeld.'
ne said calmly, my initials are S. V
1T is perfectly evident what QUIZ,
meant" she snapped.
Inc usual method among ouija'i
dupes, murmured the professor. "Ad
suspicion"
The loud droning hum OF a high
powered car sounded outside. De
amos green racer drew up at th'
gate. Hecker jumped out and cam,
into the sitting room.
We've found him." he announced.
Dead" 1 asked
Yes. Two bullets in his body"
Sylvia Glenn gave a little gasp
Poor Peter! Where was the body?
she whispered.
Under Hanging bridge. in the hya
cinth. He was shot while CROSSING
the bridge"
How do you know that" 1 queried
'Spots of blood on the bridge. II,
jumped and tried to swim for it. H.
must have come up under the hya
cinth."
Poor Peter: Oh. poor Peter" sal,
Sylvia again. brokenly. And / sen
him to his death"
"No-no." said Prof. Rainey. gently
You mustn't blame yourself Mis-
Glenn. Did you notice the river. Mr.
Hecker?"
Did l notice the river" repeated
the lawyer. contemptuously. 'We'v,
been working in it for an hour"
Was it red?'
CoRMAN GARDNER, entering afte
Hecker. answered: YES, ii wa.
slightly reddish. That's caused by &
minute waterweed which comes vi
from the bottom at times. What or
earth does it natter"
Curiosity" murmured the pro
fessor.
Keep your curiosity for a more At.
ting time" barked Hecker. Gentle.
men."-his manner became forensic
what We listened to at Breakfast
from Mr.. Charlton was a confession
OF murder-unconscious perhaps, bu
nevertheless confession"
II told you" cackled Mrs. Better
field hysterically. THE ouija! S V
She has altered the second initial.
murmured the professor. Quite typi
cal. Quite typical"
Although he spoke to me. his eye.
were fixed on Hecker. Through the
clustered group of negroes outside
another wave of emotion famed a.
the potent touch of spiritism. The
lawyer raised his arm and pointed a,
Charlton.
Sherwood Charlton" he declaimed
II charge you with the deliberate
and unprovoked murder Of Peter Del.
ano. 1 shall put you under arrest
YOU? Charlton got slowly to his
feet. II advise you not"
Drawing revolver from his
pocket. Hecker cooked and lifted it
nstantly Prof. Rainey blocked the
muzzle with his body. So close was
he that the grim little mouth all but
touched his waistcoat.
Stand out of the way" shouted
Hecker.
Please to put your weapon up
Mr.. Hecker." said Rainey. in a tone
Of mild protest.
IF you undertake to protect g
murderer you must take the conse.
quences" Hecker's face vas twist.
ed with rage. He thrust at the little
what happened next was covered
from my eyes by the violent but
quickly stilled movements of the
two bodies. The revolver fell upor
the carpet. and there was Hecker
held helpless in the grasp of the
hibition Of strength and adroitness
in that pudgy figure. Prof. Rainey
loosed his hold and picked up the
weapon. There followed a still
greater surprise. He handed 1t back
to its owner.
Il will be responsible for Mr.. Charl-
Bewildered and a little cowed
Hecker pocketed the arm after q
moments hesitancy. / conceived q
new respect for psychology AS :
science. Obviously. it was of NOR,
practical use than one might sup.
VERY WELL" Hecker acquiesced
glad to save his face That's sat.
Isfactory-until the ofiicers arrive"
Drawn by the return Of the search.
ers. the other guests had assembled
in the large room. At Hecker's direc,
accusation. every one drew away
from Charlton except Sylvia Glenn
She stood close to him. tall. pale
them with hatred in his features.
You need have no fear of my try.
ing to get away" said Charlton
evenly. Nothing could get me ava,
until I'm cleared. You've accused me
Of killing Peter Delano. Now you've
.
Where were you last night?" re.
torted the lawyer
Right here at this place."
You didn't sleep in your bed"
Il was restless and went to a ham.
mock which I have slung in a pal.
mseto patch near the spring"
Even II we accept that unlikely
tale, what proof is there that you
stayed there all night?
didn't stay there all night"
the night?"
"I don't know" replied Charlton.
You don't know! Why don't you
know
wait a moment" 1 interposed. III
Mr.. Charlton is charged with murder
surely it is not fair that he should be
exposed to the unofficial and unwar.
"oh. let him go on" broke in
anxious to have the facts brought
out as any one else"
You don't know" repeated the
cross-examiner. Most Of us know
where we spend our nights"
Il think 1 was walking in my sleel
part Of the time"
"Ah! Laying the foundation Of you,
defense? Possibly you'd like us tc
believe that you waylaid and shot
down Delano in your sleep"
The lawyers suggestion was, OF
course. sardonic. Yet for the mo-
ment I saw the shock of a terrific
surmise stiffen Charlton's face.
"I-I-" he began: but he broke