Evening star., 1922-06-22

on him, hard at work, l
don't see how you stand
this feverish activity
stand it?" he repeated. holding
up a beaker to the light to watch a
reaction. Its my very life. Stand
it? Why, man, If you want me to
pass away-stop it. AS long as II
quit shall be all right. Let it quit and
Tll-Pn go back to research work, ne
laughed.
Evidently he had been waiting for
ms,.-for as he talked he laid ASIDE
the materials with which he had
been working and was preparing TO
go out.
Then. too" he went on, 81 like to
be with people like Spencer and
BFixton. For example, while was
waiting here for you. there came a
Gail from Emery Pitts"
Emery Pitts?" l echoed. Nv nat
does he want?"
THE best way to find out is-to
ffd out" he answered simply. 1t
Eeiting late and / promised to De
AHere directly. l think we'd better
take taxi"
"A few minutes later we were
ushered into a large Sth avenue
which interested even Kennedy.
mot even blood spot has been
disturbed in the kitchen. Nothing
has been altered since the discovery
OF the murdered chef. except that
his body has been moved into the
next room.
Emery Pitts. one of the Thousand
millionaires of steel" overwrought
as. he was by a murder in his own
Meusehold. sank back in his easy
chair. exhausted.
Pitts was not an old man: indeed
IN years he was in the prime of life
Yet by his looks he might almost
have been double his age. the more
SO in contrast with Minna Pitts, his
young and very pretty wife, VINO
stood near him in the quaint break
fast room and solicitously moved a
pillow back of his head.
= Kennedy and l looked on in amaze
nent We knew that he had recently
retired from active business. givins
as reason his failing health But
neither of US had thought. when the
Aasty summons came early ina,
morning to visit him Immediately a,
his house, that his condition was as
serious as ii now appeared.
In the Kitchen" repeated Ken
nedy, evidently not prepared for any
trouble in that part of the house.
Pitts. who had closed his eyes, now
how contracted were the pupils
-Z1'Yes," he answered somewhat
'wearily, my private kitchen which
Ihave had fitted up. You know.
am on a diet. have been ever since
foffered the 100000 for the sure
restoration OF youth. | shall have you
taken out there presently.
He lapsed again into a half dream!
state his head bowed on one hano
resting on the arm of his char. Ihe
mornings mail still lay on the table
some letters open, as they had beer
when the discovery had been an
teunced Mrs. Pitts was apparently
riiIch excited and unnerved by the
gruesome discovery in the house.
z..You have no idea who the murder
er might be-" asked Kennedy, ad'
dressing Pitts. but glancing keenly al
his wife.
No" replied Pitts. "if had
should have called the regular police
WANTED you to take 1T up before
they spoiled any of the clues II
the first place, we do not thlnk i
could have been done by any OF th'
other servants. At least. Minna say:
that there was no quarrel.
s-Ssffow could any one have got II
from the outside?" asked Craig.
: There is a back way. 2 servants
Entrance. but 1T is usually iocked
of course. some one might have OBJ
Mrs. pitts had remained silent
throughout the dialogue. l could no,
help thinking that she suspected
Something, perhaps was conceallns
ed equally anxious to have the ma
rauder apprehended, whoever he
might be.
INV dear" he said to her a.
length, will you call some one ane
have them taken to the Kitchen?
through
large mansion preparatory to turn
ing us over to servant she eX,
blamed hastily that Mr.. Pitts hac
long been ill>and was now taking
hew treatment under DR.. Thompson
Lord. No one having answered he1
bell in the present state of excite
Inent of the house. she stopped shor
at the pivoted door of the kitchen
with a little shudder at the tragedy
and stood only long enough to relat'
TO us the story as she had heard l
from the valet Edward.
early breakfast and had sent Edward
TO order it. The valet had found tn!
Kitchen a veritable slaughter house
with the negro chef Sam lying deat
on the floor. Sam had been dead, ap
parently since the night before.
AS she hurried away kenned.
pushed open the door. 1t was a mar
yelous place. that antiseptic or rathe
h.eptic kitchen, with its white tilint
and enamel, it's huge ice box ant
cooking utensils for every purpose
an of the most expensive and moderI
make
Z There were marks everywhere of ;
Struggle and by the side Of the chef
whose body now lay in the next room
awaiting the coroner, lay a lont
carving knife with which. he had evi
IDENTIFY defended himself. On it's blad
r nj O taa ,Nf
Of blood. The body of Sam bore mark
of his having been clutched violentl!
by the throat, and in his head was 1
Single deep wound that penetrated
the skull in a most peculiar manner
it did not seem possible that a blow
from a knife could have done it. 1
was a most unusual wound and no
At all the sort that could have beel
made by a bullet.
: AS Kennedy examined it me re
marked, shaking his head in con
firmation of his opinion, THAT mus
have been done by Behr bulletles
gun"
"A bulletless gum" I repeated
Yes. a sort of pistol with a spring
operated device that projects a shar
blade with great force. No bullet an
no powder are used in it. But whel
Of the skull so that the aim is un
bring. a trigger let's a long knit
Shoot out with tremendous force, an
death is instantaneous"
! Near the door leading to the court
yard that opened on the side stree
were some spots of blood. They wer
so far from the place where the vale
had discovered the body of the che
that there could be no doubt tha
they were blood from the murdere
himself. Kennedy's reasoning in tn
matter seemed irresistible.
I He looked under the table near tn