The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-12-31

Naturally, you wouldn't, All
right, Mort, l understand
Haggerty scowled We'll. I've
warrants for you both in my pocket.
Well now jog over TO your brothers,
MY brother's2,
"surest thing. And watch your
step. Tonight I'm the law with
big L.
Very well. Come on, Mort said
the younger Van yechten.
Solemnly the three of them went
down to the street and climbed into
Haggerty's taxicab.
The Van Vetchen home was about
a mile north of the club. The jour
ney was half made when Van
Yetchen began to laugh, bit hys-
terically, it is true
whats the joker" asked Hag-
gerty alertly.-
Pm afraid you wouldn't under
stand"
..oh. I don't know. Tn a pretty
good hand at cracking jokes myself.
Have YOU found the motive?"
: The young man did not answer.
1t was o'clock when they entered
Roger Van Vetchen's library. Roger
were blazing with murderous fury.
Here they are. Mr.. Van vetchen,"
said Haggerty amiably, according to
schedule"
Roger" interposed Robert with
dignity, before we go any further,
be good enough to look at this paper
signed by Blake and witnessed by
Forbes here"
Haggerty cooked his ears.
Il don't know that / care to see
your handwriting" replied the elder
brother.
Better look at it, advised the de-
tective. 1T may throw some light on
this affair"
"Mr. Haggerty is right, Roger"
said Robert. THE good Samaritan
these days is as rare as the aux.
Here, read this"
Slowly and reluctantly Roger Van
yetchen extended his hand. He went
over to the reading lamp and opened
up the letter.
ITO Roger Van vetchen:
Il have to confess to being the au-
thor of a base and contemplate act
1t is true that you left Mrs. Van
Vetchen alone a good deal, quite con-
fident, after the manner of husbands,
that it wasn't necessary TO guard
her. In this you were absolutely
correct. She did not need guard
ing. 1t took me some time to learn
this, and when / did so, my chagrin
led me to stop at nothing to bring
discord and unhappiness between
you.
Il hated you for your good luck
and her for her supreme detachment
from anything which did not concern
you. So ! waited. l knew you and
L. l. 7 L.
arms that night. you saw only my
face. Unfortunately your brother,
coming in from the rear, saw her
face. No doubt l smiled when l saw
your expression.
Good women are always shocked
dumb in moments such as this, but
you did not know that. Naturally,
she stammered and looked guilty,
which was my purpose when, in fact,
she was only terrified and sick with
horror to learn that her kindness had
been abused. For l had stuffed her
ears with lot of twaddle about my
loneliness and unhappiness.
Had l been in your place I should
have given Archibald Blake fine
threshing for the good of his soul.
Had YOU not opened the door for me
as you did, your brother would have
lected. | solemnly swear that this is
the truth.
"ARCHIBALD BLAKE.
''W 'tnessed;
J. MORTIMER FORBES.
ROBERT VAN V1TCHEN."
At first Van Vetchen's hands were
steady enough. but toward the end
they began to treplble. Haggerty
watching him. was consumed with
curiosity. This was the queerest case
he had ever tackled, and it began to
look as IL he hadn't even scratched
the surface.
The younger brother spoke you
were always hot-headed. always
jumping at conclusions and sticking
to them. rightly or wrongly. You
will remember that | was in the
house that night, | had gone into
the buffers pantry for bite. Com
ing back / saw what YOU did not see.
Her face was toward me, and | saw
the anger and horror upon it, The
blackguard caught her in his arms
just a $ you entered the hall, for your
special benefit.
And you Jumped headlong into the
trap he laid for YOU. There is no
woman alive more honorable than
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