Evening star., 1922-03-04
By Arthur 3. Reeve

crete the contents of this deadly tube
| in the creviccs of the metal work of
| Mrs. Closes bed. One of these per-
sons must have placed an order
| through confidential agent in Lon
don TO purchase the radium from the
| English Radium, Corporation. One of
| these persons had a compelling mo-
tive; something to gain by using this
deadly element.
"The radium in this tube in the cas-
ket was secreted. as l have said. in
the metal work of Mrs. Closes bed,
not in large enough quantities to be
Immediately fatal. but mixed it with
dust so as to produce the result more
slowly, but. no less surely, and thus
avoid suspicion. AT the same time,
Mrs. Close was persuaded will not
say by whom-through her nat
ural pride. to take course of X-ray
treatment for slight defect. That
! would further serve to divert sus-
picion. The fact is that more hor-
rible plot could hardly have been
Planned or executed. This person
sought to ruin her beauty to gain
| Z most selfish and despicable end
Again Craig paused to let his words
sink into our minds
Now | wish TO state that anything
you gentlemen may say will be used
against You. That is why l have ask
may consult with them. OF course.
while l ana getting ready my next
Ldisclosure."
AS Kennedy had developed his points
/ In the case had been more and more
amazed. But / had not failed to no
tice how keenly Lawrence was fol-
| lowing him.
With half a sneer on his astute
| face. Lawrence drawled: Il cannot
see that you have accomplished any
thing by this rather extraordinary
sumnoning of US to your laboratory.
The evidence is just as black against
DR.. Gregory as before. You may think
you're clever. Kennedy. but on the
very statement of facts as you have
brought. them out there is plenty of
circumstantial evidence against Greg
ory-more than there was before. AS
for any one else in the room. I can't
see that you have anything on us
unless perhaps this new evidence you
speak of may implicate ASche, or
Jameson" he added. including me in
a wave of his hand. as if we were
opinion that twelve of our peers
would be quite as likely to bring in
a verdict of guilty against them as
against any one else even remotely
connected with this case. except
Gregory. No: you'll have to do bet
ter than this in your next case if you
expect to maintain that so-called
reputation of yours for being pro-
feSSor of criminal science.
AS for Close. taking his cue from
! his attorney. he Scornfully added: Il
came to find out some new evidence
against the wretch who wrecked the
beauty of my wife. All I've got is a
tiresome lecture on N-rays and radi-
um,< / suppose what you say is true.
| Well. it only bears out what l thought
before. Gregory treated my wife at
home. after he saw the damage his
office treatments had done. l guess
he was capable of making a complete
job out of it-covering up his care
iessness by getting rid of the woman
| who was such damning piece Of evil
dence against his professional Skill
Never a shade passed Craig's face
as he listened to this TRADE. "Ex-
opening the door to leave the room.
Il have just one more fact to disclose.
l will be back directly"
Kennedy was gone several minutes.
during which Close and Lawrence
fell to whispering behind their hands
with the assurance of those who be-
| lieved that this was only Kennedy's
method of admitting a defeat. Greg
! ory and Asche exchanged a few
words similarly. and it was plain that
ter Interpretation on something than
Gregory himself dared hope.
As Kennedy re-entered Close was
buttOning up his coat preparatory to
lttlNlnS. anu Lid" ttlCc y" DIS ilS llIlS
! fresh cigar.
In his hand Kennedy held note
hook. My stenographer writes very
/ legib!e shorthand: at least l find it SO
from long practice. ] suppose. AS I
glance over her notes l find many
facts which will interest you later
at the trial. But-ah, here at the end
let me read:
We'll. he's very clever but he has
nothing against me. has he"
| No not unless he can produce fhe
agent who bought the radium for you
"'But he can't do that. No one could
ever have recognized you on your fly
| ing trip to London disguised as a dia-
that he could make his faulty dia-
monds good by applications of radium
and who wanted good stock of the
stuff
"'Stfll. we'll have to drop the suit
against Gregory after all, in spite of
what ] said. That part is hopelessly
spoiled
Yes. 1 suppose so. Oh, well, I'm
consent to divorce now and quiet
settlement. She brought it on herself
I'VE tried every other way to do it,
but she-she was too good to fall into
I it She forced us to it,
eyes. you'll get q good divorce now.
But can't we shut up this man Ken
nedy? Even if he can't prove any
thing against us. the mere rumor of
Sucn tnlns coming 10 the ears OF
Mrs. Tulkington would be unpleasant
| "'Go as far as you like, Lawrence.
| You know what the marriage will
mean to me. 1t win settle my debts to
you and all the rest
"I'll see what can do, Close. He'll
/; be back in moment"
] Closes face was livid. Its a pack
of lies" he shouted. advancing to-
ward Kennedy. "a pack of lies! You
are a fakir and a blackmaiIer. I'll
have you in jail for this. by God
and you, too. Gregory"
| zone moment. please said Ken
nedy calmly. Mr.. Lawrence. will you
4, l--"|-I