The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1922-12-02
True
Detective Stories
MIDNIGHT MURDER

Copyright BY The Wheeler Syndicate. Ine.
fxTHEN the only thing you have
to 90 on Is the fact that sew.
eral people In Grafton street
recall having heard a cry few nights
ago, and the old man hasn't been seen
SINGER"
That's all. chief II 1t weren't for
agree that 1t was blood-curdling cry
1t would look like plain case Of dis
appearance. We've been all through
the house, but Of course we couldn't
search 1t thoroughly without regular
warrant, and there's no ground for Is
suing one. Epstein may have wan.
dered off somewhere to get away from
his wife. She's regular hellion. they
say-though she was nice as pie to
u.s."
John Kane, chief inspector Of Scot.
land Yard, rubbed his chin thought
fully.
''Tll 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
II 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 he surprised II 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 II Mrs. Ep-
stein was intending to move.
From the driver of the drny. Kane
obtained the Information that the lug
gage was to be taken to Charing Gross
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 whats
In It'll"
"What right have you to give such
orders?" demanded a voice from the
doorway. and the Scotland Yard man,
looking up, caught n 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. "I happen
to be the chief inspector of Scotland
Yard. and. as your husband recently
disappeared, I desire to know what 10
in that box"
It was In the dim. arely-furnished
parlor Of the house that Kane directed
the chest to he placed. The fiickerins
yellow light Of a single gas Jet cast
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 n ghost sat up and leered out In
to the room! 1t was the body Of the
missing man, the upper portion Of the
trunk attached to the lid of the boz
In such a manner that, when the toy
was thrown back. the body sprang In
to a sitting posture. as II It were alive
again.
Even Mrs. Epstein. hardened az she
was, cried out at the apparition and
then tainted away. .t
"Quick |" directed Kane. "Flnd 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 stiletto or q dagger.
though. The puncture isn't large
enough for thnt."
The chief inspector examined the
wound for q moment carefully, and
then. stepping across to where the
faintlng woman lay, began to tumble
with something In her hnif.
Throw 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 he
came aware, first. Of the body Of her
dead husband staring at her with sight
less. accusing eyes. Then she saw the
chief Inspector, standing In front Of
her, examining under pocket magni'
flying something that shone
and glIttered in the light Of the jet d..
rectly above 1t.
An instant later Kane stood over
her, his finger indicating the thing he
held In his hind.
"why did you kill your husband al
midnight. four days ago1" he demand
ed. ayes, you did! There's no use
DENYING 1T! We have witnesses who