The Meeker herald., 1922-09-23
True
Detective Stories
MIDNIGHT MURDER

CeDynSht u Tns Wnsessf 1ysocAts' Lee
<xTHEN the only thing you have
to 20 on Is the fact that sew
eral people In Grafton street
recall having heard cry q few nights
ago. and the old man hasn't been seen
since1"
That's all. chief. II 1t weren't for
the scream in the highland they all
agree that 1t was biood-curdling cry
1t 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 of 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 hia chin thought
fully.
"T1l take a run down to Grafton
street myself as soon as have got
ten these reports out of the way"
stated Kane. "In 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
to 90 away or something" said the
operative. ''There's dray coming up
now. Wouldn't he surprised II 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
4 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 drny, Kane
obtained the Information that the lug
gage was to be taken to Charing Gross
thence to be shipped across the chan
mel. The tags were on the various
articles. and 1t was not until the last
piece was Drought out of the house
that Kane noted anything out Of the
ordinary. Then he motioned to hls
men to close In.
Take that chest back into the
house." he ordered. Lets see what's
In itw
what right have you to give such
2 orders7" demanded voice from the
doorway, and the Scotland Yard man.
looking up, caught n glimpse Of tall.
saunt woman g,aring down at him
from the threshold.
.The right of an officer Of the crown
to Investigate suspicious circum
stances" retorted Kane II happen
to be the chief Inspector Of Scotland
lard, and. as your husband recently
disappeared, desire to know what 10
In that box"
It was In the dim, barely furnished
parlor Of the house that Kane directed
the chest to be placed. The hickerina
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 a 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 boz
in such q manner that. when the TOP
was thrown back. the body sprang In
to sitting posture. as II It were alive
sgain.
Even Mrs Epstein. hardened ~ she
was, cried out Mt the apparition and
then tainted away.
Quick" directed Kane. "Find out
how the man was Killed."
"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 . 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 Inc
faInting woman lay, began to tumble
with something In her hair.
Throw some water In her face.
he ordered, "and then stand back. J
want to find out something before she
gets q chance to recover her nerve
Az the woman's eyes opened, she be
came aware, FIRST. Of the body OF her
dead husband staring ut her With sight.
less, accusing eyes. Then she saw the
chief Inspector, standing In front OF
her, examining under pocket masni
flying glass-something that shone
and glittered in the light Of the Jet d.
rectly above 1t. Z
An instant later Kane stood over
her. his finger indicating the thing be
held In his hand.
"Why did you kill your husband a.
midnight, four days asor he demsa nd
ed. ayes. you did THERE'S no use
denying It! We have witnesses who