The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-11-18

chair and edged n bit away from the
dark hangings as if he would like to
be nearer the friendly freight. An
increasing nervousness or expecta-
ton held the group as the silence
continued and. when the terky ut
terances OF Langa Doonh were .
sumed. there vas n slight movement
OF alarm by all except Smith. who
sat peering about him as IL there
were things to see which are not
seer in strong light.
"Sahib. l see chhota saman-llttle
shop. Bad man comes-finds old
mar asleep. Bad man steals red Jar
runs quick through many streets
to big house. Master of house-bara
sahib-meets bad man and ask
question about red jar. Bad mar
much frightened-they quarrel. Bad
mar takes big China vase and lifts
up high. Sahib. I-see-"
Suddenly the figu. OF the white
servant. near the portieres. leaped
from his chair and dashed through
the hanging draperics. With the
speed of an athlete the loOse-framed
Smith was across the floor and after
him-but there was no need for
Smith to act. y Commotion sounded
beyond the curtains and n police SER
geant entered, dragging with him
the runaway servant.
This man was going too fast to
be honest, sir" said the sergeant to
the district attorney. Il thought 1t
better to bring him back"
With the lights full on it was cen
that the servant was trembling and
ashy pale. Smith. without wasting
a second, seized him by both shoul-
ders and forced him to look up until
their eyes met. For a full minute he
held him so with hypnotic stare.
And you would send an innocent
man to his death to pay for your
crime?" he demanded.
The rva cringed before the
words, but was silent.
Look" commanded Smith and.
with astonishing strength,> dragged
the mar across the room and showed
his head close to the PROSTATE Lam
ga Doonh.
Slowly the great Hindu turned his
face from the fire until his jet-black
eyes fell upon those OF the trembling
man, now limp and entirely support
ed by Smith. There was a pause
during which the black eyes seemed
to burn a passage across the six
inches which separated the two
faces.
Suddenly, with impressive Eastern
finality. LanSa Doonh spoke. first In
H~industani and then in English:
"Sahib, wuh khuni hal. Master.
he is the murderer"
Instantly smith lifted the man and
almost threw him into a chair and
I under the powerful glare OF a near
by light. He brought his wi lean
face so that his deep. g~ray-blue eyes
bored their way into the eyes Of his
victim.
You struck the blow that killed."
he stated. You were caught as a
thief, and you struck to escape. but
you struck too hard. VIII you con-
fess?" The vibrant voice rose with
increasing energy. Must I call back
the dead man himself to accuse
your"
The servant gazed wildly about
him.
No, No." he suddenly chrieked
i"Don't bring him back! ! killed him,
but l can't bear 10 see him again.
You are a devil. Don't bring him
back. Don't! DON'T"
Aurclius Smith turned to the dis
trict attorney.
my work is done" he said. You
have the murderer"
! slowly Aurelius Smith approached
I the table and picked up the sheet Of
paper bearing the mysterious finger
prints. At the same moment the SER
cpant handed a large envelope to the
district attorney.
This envelope must contain the
record OF Nickers' tinger-prints,"
said Fordham. We will soon know
Ii It is possible for linger-prints 10
come-ah-throuSh the ether. Let
us compare them. 1t will be most
interesting"
1T would be n pity. Mr.. Ford
lam" returned Smith. ito destroy
the infallibility OF finger-prints un-
less the necessity were very great
II might do more harm than good in
this age"
Very carefully Aurelius Smith
dropped his sheet Of paper into the
fire.
When Jim Hardy and his friend,
the district attorney were again
alone. they say for Il long time in
silence and Their faces were very
grave.
lit was TRANCE about Nickers'
missing finger" said Hardy. finally
breaking the silence How much Of
this performance was real? Was
there anything that actually came
through thc-ah-cther?'
Il am not quite sure replied
F'ordliam. reaching for a cigar, but
when | shook hands just now with
Smith | noticed that his center and
onCcs finger was the only one that
was not smudSed with ink from my
ink p?d" There was a pause while
the cigar was lighted. 1T WAS. at
a beautiful third degree"