Evening star., 1921-04-17

| ample. Charlton's own obvious ref.
| erences to the murder this morning.t
odd. as you justly say. Mr.. Heck.
er. And oldest of all Is the bit OF
| local doggerel which he repeated"
II have no time for insignificant
| trifes-" began Hecker.
surely not insigniticant-a verse
! which none hereabout recalls or has
negro. OF quite singular interest, ir
the circumstances"
"I@HE circumstances are that Charl.
ton disappears at night. re-
turns in the morning: an enemy of
his is killed in that time. and he is
| totally unable to account for him
| self and his actions Add 10 that
his confession, the irrepressible OUT
burst Of a guilty conscience. and the
! case is complete"
No" said Sylvia Glenn.
Every one turned toward her. The
air quivered with unspoken ques-
tions. The silence itself seemed
| waiting.
II can account for Mr.. Charlton's
| movements last night" she continued
| steadily.
Where was he?" demanded Hecker.
In my cottage.
Again there was stricken silence.
Then old Miss French Missed. in a
| long whisper:
Shameless"
I'm not ashamed" said the girl.
And II ever ] saw pride and high.
| courage and purity in arms against
deadly challenge, they were in her
| face.
sylvia" cried Charlton. 1T isn't
| true"
"A touch of the theatrical" said
/ Hecker in rather hollow voice.
And If Miss Glenn will pardon me.
| rather stale and unconvncing at
| tempt at an alibi."
! "Yes-yes," said Charlton eagerly.
and for once making common cause
with his prosecutor There isn't A
word OF truth in it, l should. of
course. remember IT If ] had seen
Miss Glenn"
I'm not sure that you did see me-"
| answered the girl. smiling wanly.
Your eyes were open, but you seem
ed in trance. You stumbled against
the back steps. and l went out, and
after trying to rouse you by speak
ing to you. brought you in. 1t is
sometimes dangerous TO a somnam-.
bulist to wake them too roughly"
You have courage, Miss Sylvia"
said the professor.
i've had experience. i nursed over
seas in the war. and have handled
psychopathic cases. | got Mr.. Charl-
to to lie down on the sofa. and he
closed his eyes and seemed TO be
resting In the morning he was
gone"
Miss French shifted audibly and
with obvious signification. In the eX-
preston of Mrs. Betterfeld l could
see the formulation to further queries
tor Quit to answer. Hecker. who had
looked puzzled and downcast, now
showed signs of renewed determine
tion 4
For the moment accepting your
statement. Miss Glenn"
II tell you it isn't true" asserted
Charlton. obstinately.
Can you tell US what time 1t was
when the ac-when Mr.. Charlton ar
rived?"
"Two-thirty. I looked at my watch
"a nurses habit"
Rather fast time to have made in
4 canoe from Hanging bridge II the
shooting was at 1:15," observed Prof.
Rainey. There was touch Of ma
iicious enjoyment in his voice.
He may have come back by road"
said Hecker. doggedly. I'm that
case he could have made it. you'll ad-
nit"
Easily. And in that case he aban-
doned the canoe in Doom river"
obviously"
And it should be found stranded in
the river or drifted into the lake.
LAS it doubtless will be-"
Permit me an exception to your
doubtless Is your case concludea:
For the present. I shall turn over
my notes to the prosecuting Official
for use in Charlton's trial"
"If that interesting event ever takes
place" returned the other. smiling.
Meantime. Mr.. Hecker. let me COM
mend to your consideration the SUBJ
ject of local proverbs in verse"
T ATE that afternoon a sherir's Of
- hcer from Jasonville arrived.
having come by train to the railroad
station hve miles distant. After
talking with Hecker. he set himself
guard Sherwood Charlton, though
without putting the suspect under
arrest Shortly after his arrival Prof.
Rainey disappeared. 1t was almost
supper time when he returned, with
face upon which I noted the first
evidence of. discomposure.
lis anything wrong?" l asked,
drawing him aside. i,
There is-that internal ouija
board. Its message has spread. and !.
the turpentine camp is discussing the
charge of the spirits accusing AIR.
Charlton of the murder"
You've been over to the camp
I've just come from there. IoW
remember that obese old ruftian and
the tall, lank cripple, who told Mr..
Delano about the turkeys?"
Yes. Tapley and-rve forgotten :
the lame mans name?"
"Carshaw-Saul Carshaw. And
precious pair of rascals they are.
They are inciting the others to come
over here this evening and lynch our
young friend. So much" he added
pair of fools who do not comprehend
unconscious muscular reflex"
do you think they'll come"
Il fear it. Young Delano was
popular with the turpentiners. The
pair of rascals have overruied the
objections of the camp foreman. who
is the strongest man in the lot. and
who, 1 think, dislikes and distrusts
them. an element of possible impor-
tance Mr.. Hecklers revolver, OBJ
served the psychologist with wry :
smile. may yet have opportunity to
prove its value"
But the women" / exclaimed. We
must get them out of the way, II
there is to be fight"
II shall lay the situation before
committee of the whole imme-
diately."
The whole white populace Of the
place was all removed at once 10 the
sitting room. Prof. Rainey lad De-
fore them his information and sus-
picions. Old Miss Gardner burst INTO
frightened tears.
.:They'Il burn down the house, as