The Ordway new era., 1922-05-05

John Kane, chief inspector Of Scot
Land Yard, rubbed his chin thought
fully.
'I'll take a run down to Grafton
street myself as soon as have got
ten these reports out Of the way"
stated Kane. "In the meantime keep
an eye on the house. and let me know
If anything develops"
When Kane approached the house on
Grafton street later In the evening,
one of his men reported that there
were indications of activity inside the
place.
Looks like they were getting ready
to go away or something" said the
operative. There's dray coming up
now. Wouldn't be surprised If the
woman, alarmed at our shopping
around, is preparing for a getaway"
Kane said nothing. but edged closer
to the house. From the meager infor-
nation at his disposal, he was not at
all inclined to credit the theory that
a crime had been committed. But
there would be no harm in looking
things over, particularly If Mrs. Ep-
From the driver of the dray, Kane
obtained the information that the lug
gage was to be taken to Charing Cross
thence to be shipped across the chan
mel. The tags were on the various
articles. and 1t was not until the last
piece was brought out of the house
that Kane noted anything out of the
ordinary. Then he motioned to his
men to close in.
Take that chest back into the
house." he ordered. Lets see what's
In 1t -
"What right have you to give such
Orders?" demanded a voice from the
doorway. and the Scotland Yard man.
looking up, caught a glimpse of tall.
gaunt woman glaring down at him
from the threshold.
1.-THE right of an officer Of the crown
to investigate suspicious circum-
+ Stances" retorted Kane. 81 happen
to be the chief inspector Of Scotland
Yard, and, as your husband recently
disappeared, desire to know what is
in that box"
| 1t was In the dim. barely-furnished
| parlor of the house that Kane directed
| the chest to be placed. The fllckering
| yellow light Of single gas Jet cast
| a ghostly Illumination over the scene.
| and even Kane's iron nerves were
! shocked when the lid of the box was
| thrown back, and what appeared to
| be ghost sat up and leered out In
to the room! 1t was the body of the
| p,tSSipu ,pap tho ,,ppor porffnu of q
trunk attached to the lid of the box
In such manner that, when the top
was thrown back, the body sprang In
to sitting posture. as If 1t were alive
again.
Even Mrs Epstein, hardened as she
was, cried out at the apparition and
then tainted away.
"Quick" directed Kane. "Find out
how the man was killed
"a thrust of some long. thin instru.
ment through the heart" reported one
Of the detectives. "A drop Of blood
on his chest is the only Indication OF
foul play, but that's what did 1t, all
right. Not a stiletto or a dagger
though. The puncture isn't large
enough for that"
The chief inspector examined the
wound for a moment carefully, and
then. stepping across to where the
fainting woman lay, began to tumble
with something In her hair.
'pThrow some water in her face,
he ordered, land then stand back.
want to find out something before she
gets a chance to recover her nerve
AS the woman's eyes opened. she be
came aware frat. Of the body Of hel
dead husband staring at her with sight
less, accusing eyes. Then she saw the
chief Inspector, standing In front o,
1 her, examining under pocket magni
flying glass-something that shont
and glittered in the light Of the Jet d
rectly above It.
4 An instant later Kane stood ovel
her, his finger indicating the thing ht
held In his hand,
"Why did you kill your husband Al
midnight, four days agof" he demand
ed, Eyes, you didl There's no use
denying I'll We have Witnesses who
heard the scream. We have proof that
you were alone In the house with him
We know that he had a considerable
sum Of money concealed ON the prem
isea and"-here his voice became thu
; voice Of doom-"I have here the weap
J on with which the murder was com
mitted-your hatpin, with tiny BIZ
Of the dead mans blood clotted CLOS
to the head where. you neglected K
wipe 1t OFT"
GoRS months later. Mrs, EpsteiI