New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1921-07-28
GRAY DUSK
j By OCTAVIUS ROY COHEN
A Mystery Story With a
Mysterious Plot


Later Wnlle walking through the !
woods near Hestons lodge, Carroll is
startled by a bullet which whistles
within an inch of his head He finds
a boy shooting squirrels, who tells
him the rifle he is using was pre-
sented to him by Heston.
Later clues obtained by the detec-.
tives bring to light the fact thai
Heston was the victim himself of q |
c.ever gang of crooks and the ev:-
dence in the murder of Mrs. Forrest
DOW points to another party. Heston's
real name is found to be Averyt. III
order to show her loyalty to him as
We'll as her belief in his innocence
MISS Devarney appears at the Jail
" TIL her family and Peter Royce, clerk
OF the court. She informs the sheriff
aid detectives that Mr.. Royce is about
10 perform a marriage ceremony for
herself and Averyt
Carroll stepped forward, Il think
you'll all be delighted to know" he
said, that Mr.. Averyt-whom you
know as Heston-has been laboring
under Misrepresentation which will
soon be cleared up He's told us the
whole story, he said, turning to the
girl, land we found out a good bit
for ourselves. That little deal in the
North-you know what mean?'
Yes"
will undoubtedly work out all
right. 1t may provide him with a
little unpleasant notoriety, but that's
about all. There's small chance
| that he won't get by with clear
Skirts
Carroll turned back to the girl.
You have the license, Miss Esther ?''
| Yes. And I secured it from the
| probate judge
| "And you can perform the service,
Mr.. Roger"
| The clerk of court hustled forward
| officiously. IT have performed more
marriage ceremonies than any man
in Karnak county and
| Then add another to your list"
smiled the detective.
| And there in the musty corridor of
| the red brick Jail, George Ransom
Averyt and Esther Devarney were
| united in marriage
And then the meeting adjourned.
The Devarneys went into the swamp
as the guests of Carroll in Forests
car, driven by Robert Carter. Averyt
and his bride accompanied them with
the idea of returning and catching the
night train for a brief honeymoon
in Charleston; pledging their word
to Carroll to return on the second
|day following. And Carroll, Sullivan
and Sheriff Potter closeted themselves
in the sheriff's office.
The three men in the sheriffs Office
gazed at one another and it was the
sheriff who spoke.
Guess you know your business,
Carroll, but what you did up there
was knockout"
Freeing Averyt?"
! yes"
There wasn't any reason to hold
him. I'm convinced that he is not
guilty.
He rose and walked to the window
overlooking the street, lighted a Gig
!, arctic and blew the smoke rings
Y against the pane. Finally he smiled
slightly and turned toward the 9TH
lers.
Here comes Mart Farnam and
Ines evidently out for bar. Bet even
money Peter Royce sought hirn out
land broke the news.
They heard Farnam's heavy step on
the veranda, then the door was flung
| back and the lanky swamp angel
stepped into the room. He glaret
balefully at Carroll
Whats all this I ben a-hearin' ?"
he demanded.
About wlnat?"
''Lettin' Heston loose?'
""Yes-we released him.
| 'Ye mean We don't think he killed
her-that he killed Mrs. Forrest?''
Mo- don't think So
| "But-somebody did!'
"Yes-somebody did,
Then if he didn't, who did ?''
| flashed Farnam.
A hint of steel crept into CARROLL
voice But his reply came in a low
| level tone.
"You did!''
l CHAPTER VII.
A gray pallor crept slowly over the
face of Mart ,FaTnam; his hand
clenched and unc1enched spasm odic-
ally; his eyes widened and a look of
infinite terror dawned in them. He
gazed upon Carroll as though upon
| the superhuman. His knees trembled
and II, clutched the edge of the table
for support.
/ But he was no more surprised than