Evening star., 1921-08-22
HOW MANY CARDS?
BY ISABEL OSTRANDER.
Author of The Island Of Intrigue Suspense" Ashes
Copyright 1921 BY Robert G Co.
BY ISABEL OSTRANDER.

tfons and innuendoes you haven't the
ueIVe 10 come out with openly! Try
tnls grandstand play of yours on some
ouner Sa ~. sucker; I'm notwithstanding
No. I haven't had my turn yet, and
CONFESS 1 am interested" Cutter
smiled fnscrutably into the angry face
l9okins Gown upon him and made nc
! ! cnange In his easy. relaxed attitude
down o9u re ga acting III like an ass. Doug! Sit
NOT l! You can be the goat II you
want to, but I'm off. Inspector. IL you
or any other Of the accredited authorf-
tles want me you know where to find
me-; He flung himself from the room
ana they heard him fumbling in the
| hall for his hat and stick, and then
the resounding slam Of the entrance
door.
Disgusting exhibition George Al.
| exander commented with dignity. u
never could understand why Eugene
tolerated such a boor. Mr.. Terhune.
| like Mr.. Cutter. 1 find your experiment
| profoundly interesting. Pray con-
| tinue. Personally, I feel that this
otherwise regrettable interruption has
somewhat cleared the air."
knowing Terhune's ultimate pur.
pose. McCarty nearly choked and
with an expectant grin. The inspec-
tor was eying Terhune quizzically.
Il shall not be long now" The
| criminologist smiled an acknowledg
| ment Of the older mans remark. "sdr.
Cutter, may I trouble you next?"
| toward him. Il am quite at your
SERVICE"
Thank you. What. then, does the
| word friend suggest to your
Eugene Creveling." Cutters tone
held just the decorous touch of sor-
| row and regret.
Trouble"
Mental and imaginary. if any," he
| replied. as though to himself.
Weakness"
Lack Of restraint"
The figures which appeared on the
projection sheet now were almost sta
tionary, and when they changed at
all varied only slightly. 1t seemed
to McCarty as though Cutter were
initiating, perhaps unconsciously, the
monotonous pitch of his interrogator's
voice.
Attack"
A bare moment elapsed before the
reply. but it was suficient to suggest
a hint Of hesitation.
"Paroxysm."
Guest"
Friend" This time there was no
pause. but the fingers changed and
flickered before their eyes.
Gun"
Cutter turned with an apologetic
shrug to Terhune.
There's only one thought which
that word could bring to my mind
under the circumstances, and the only
one word which expresses it is
'whose?"
Terhune nodded in comprehension.
Passion"
"Curios." Cutters voice lifted in
relief to it's accustomed level.
Anger"
Rage" Was there a shade of
studied carefllness in the precision
with which the mere casual definition
was uttered?
Fear"
Doom" For the first time Ter
hume lowered his own voice i'm
once more as he made his final re-
ply; Fate
That is all, thank you, Mr.. Cut
ter" Terhune slipped the paper upon
which as before he had been scrib-
bling into his pocket and took up
the last remaining sheet. q shall
not detain any Of you gentlemen long
now. Mr.. Alexander, you have heard
the words to which the others have
replied: will you aid me now in my
final test?"
Willingly. although I must confess
that cannot quite see of what value
these tests may be. nor what bearing
they can have upon the distressing
affair you are investigating. Will you
explain your purpose to US afterward?
1 am highly curious"
Continued in Tomorrow's Star.)