Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-11-30
The Fatal
Clew
'opyright. 1922. Western Newspaper Uuio
By AUSTIN FLEET

copyright. 1922. Western Newspaper Union.
Wadsworth stepped jauntily out of
mis- cell when the policeman unlocked
1t, and followed him into the detec-
t1yes' room, where the chief stood with
the district attorney. The latter nod
ded, but the police chief stepped for
ward and shook Wadsworth by the
hand.
You're free man, and 1 congratu-
late YOU" he said. II hope you under
stand that in arresting you I was do
ing the only thing possible under the
circumstances. But there's not a
shred of evidence to connect you with
the murder Of your wife, Mr.. Wads-
worth, and it's proved that you
couldn't possibly have covered the dis
lance from the country club to your
house within the twenty minutes nee
essary to connect you with her death.
I'VE know the time she was shot,
because the bullet stopped her wrist
watch before it penetrated her heart
We know that you were seen at the
club twenty minutes before the MUIR
der. We know it takes three-q quarters
of an hour to cover the distance on
foot and that no vehicle passed along
the road during the interval. So I'M
less we find an airplane or bicycle Of
yours" - he looked at Wadsworth
keenly, and Wadsworth returned his
look nfinchingly-"there' no evil
dence to connect you with the affair
in any way
"Have you any clew?" wadsworth
asked.
"We believe the murder was CON-
mitted by burglar from South End.
That burglary was the prime object
of the outrage is shown by the theft
of Mrs. Wadsworth's jewels. We have
two men under observation. I'll let
you know the moment anything turns
up"
Il shall be glad to do everything in
my power" said Wadsworth, falter-
ing for the first time. "It was a ter
rible blow to me. You'n understand"
Il do Mr.. Wadsworth," said the
chief, ''and I regret the painful posi-
ton in which we had to place you"
AS Wadsworth went out he turned
to the district attorney.
"Guilty as hell" he said. 81 know
them on the instant. Pity we couldn't
prove where Wadsworth got it."
"D'you think he'll bite?"
81 guess so, now I've sown the
Seeds"
WadswOrth was guilty as hell. But
he had laid his plans with superfru-
man cunning. No one had guessed at
the identity Of the wealthy little Qua
ker widow whom he was counting In
far-off city under an assumed name.
and she would not have recognized
his photograph in the newspapers He
had murdered his wife in cold blood,
assured that no evidence could be
brought against him.
He went for trip to Maine. leav-
ing his address with the police, and
spent months vacation. which was
cut short by the news that a man had
at last been arrested, charged with
the crime. That brought him back
He worried. He worried a good deal
about the police chiefs statement.
He went to see him. The two men
faced each other across the table, the
chief soothing, bland Wadsworth
tremulous and agitated as he piled
him with questions. AT the end of the
interview the chief called up the dis
trict attorneys office.
He's come back" he said Its
working. I've got Donoghue on the
job"
Wadsworth went out to his club.
The iIembers gave him a friendly
welcome, although there were some of
them who had their suspicious of him.
Minnie had been killed at eleven
O'Clock at night. At twenty minutes
before the hour Wadsworth started on
the bypath toward his house.
He knew that he could not cover
half the distance on foot in twenty
minutes. but during his sojourn In
Maine doubts had assailed him. One
knows more than one imagines one
knows; perhaps subconsciously he
knew that the chief suspected him.
Consciously he feared trap. Besides
there was something else.
He turned aside into a thicket of
scrub oak. 1t was wild country;
probably no one else had been at that
exact spot in years. He clambered
down a pit, formed by centuries in the
soft SOIL At the bottom was little
cave, overgrown by bushes. No one
could have found it who had not been
looking for such place.
He drew a match and struck it,
There, buried beneath a heap of
leaves, and mud. was the bicycle he
hid used that night. wadsworth was
satisfied. He turned away.
Donaghue stepped forward, flash
ing his electric torch. 81 want you.
Mr.. wadsworth." he said simply, as
he snapped the handouts.