Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-04-22
True
Detective Stories
MIDNIGHT MURDER

to go on Is the fact that sew.
eral people In Grafton street
recall having heard q cry few nights
ago, and the old man hasn't been seen
since?"
That's all, chief. II 1t weren't for
the scream In the highland they all
agree that 1t was blood-curdling cry
lit 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
III take run down to Grafton
street myself as soon as | have got
ten these reports out of the way"
stated Kane. SIN 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
N
operative. "There's dray coming I'D
now. Wouldn't be surprised IL 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
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 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 glimpse of a tall,
yaunt woman glazing down at him
rom the threshold.
THE right of an officer Of the crown
% investigate suspicious circum- I
'tances," retorted Kane. IT happen
o be the chief inspector of Scotland
lard, and, as your husband recently
desire to know what is
n that box"
1t was in the dim, barely-furnshed
arlOr of the house that Kane directed
he chest to be placed. The Pickering
elbow light of single gas Jet cast
ghostly illumination over the scene,
nd even Kane's iron nerves were
hooked when the lid of the box was
brown back, and what appeared to
e a ghost sat up and leered out In
the room 1t was the body of the
Kissing man, the upper portion of the
a IN fhn ne h4x
l such manner that, when the top
as thrown back, the body sprang In
a sitting posture, as If 1t were alive
gain.
Even Mrs. Epstein, hardened as she
as, cried out at the apparition and
len tainted away.
Quick" directed Kane. "Find out
DIV the man was killed."
"A thrust of some long, thin instru.
ent through the heart" reported one
the detectives. "A drop Of blood
his chest is the only indication of
nj play, but that's what did 1t, all
CHI. Not a stiletto or dagger,
ongh. The puncture isn't large
Tough for that"
The chief inspector examined the
ound for moment carefully and
en- stepping across to where the
hitting woman lay, began to tumble
It'll something In her hair.
Throw some water in her face"
ordered, land then stand back.
ant to find out something before she
is chance to recover her nerve"
As the woman's eyes opened, she be-
me aware, first, Of the body of her
ad husband staring at her with sight
;s, accusing eyes. Then she saw the
lief inspector, standing in front Of
r, examining under pocket magni-
Ing glass-sometf1ing that shone
d glittered In the light of the Jet d.
lily above II.
An instant later Kane stood over
r, his finger indicating the thing he
Id in his hand.
why did you kill your husband al
dnight, four days ago?" he demand