The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-03-24
True
Detective Stories
MIDNIGHT MURDER

to go on is the fact that sew
eral people in Grafton street
recall having heard cry few nights
ago, and the old man hasn't been seen
since"
THAT'S all, chief. If it weren't for
the scream in the highland they all
agree that it was blood-curdling cry
it would look like plain case of dis
appearance. We've been all through
the house, but of course we couldn't
search it thoroughly without a 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.
"I'll take a run down to Grafton
street myself as soon as l have got
ten these reports out of the way"
stated Kane. 'In the meantime keep
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 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
crime had been committed. But
there would be no harm in looking
things over, particularly if Mrs. Ep-
stein was intending to move.
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 it 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 it ~
"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.
"The right of an officer of the crown
stances" retorted Kane. II 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 Pickering
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
missing man, the upper portion of the
trunk attached to the lid of the box
in such manner that, when the top
was thrown back, the body sprang in
to a sitting posture, as if it 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 killedw
"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 it, all
right Not a stiletto or a dagger
though. The puncture isn't large
enough for that"
The chief inspector examined the
wound for moment carefully, and
then, stepping across to where the
fainting woman lay, began to tumble
with something in her hair.
Throw some water in her face,".
he ordered, land then stand back. /
want to find out something before she
gets chance to recover her nerve"
AS the woman's eyes opened, she be-
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 glass-something that shone
and glittered in the light of the jet di-
rectly above it.
An instant later Kane stood over
her, his finger indicating the thing he
held in his hand.
"Why did you kill your husband at
midnight, four days ago?" he demand
ed. "Yes, you did! There's no use
denying it! We have witnesses who
heard the scream. We have proof that
you were alone in the house with him.
yVa knov that hp had q considerable