Evening capital. [volume] (Annapolis, Md.) 1922-1981, 1923-01-26

bottle standing near the edge. Az the
time, / was not aware what the bot
tie contained II fell from the shelf,
breaking as ii hit Miss Alden, and |
her with its lethai contents. |
Her shrieks were appalling. but the |
cries soon grew less, and then ceased |
altogether. The acid had done its !
deadly work. | was so overwhelmed |
with horror that l completely forgot |
the money and sought only for a |
means to hide any clue to my visit.
noticed tue cat. which was in the
room. and the layer OF dust upon the
shelf. An inspiration, whether good
or bad. came to me. and by bringing
my fingers together made a passabie
imitation of cats paws in the aust
OF the shelf. hoping 1t would be sus-
pected that the cat WAS the cause OF
the accident. In moments of such
terror the mind works quickly. That
is ali, except that. repeat. ] entered
the studio with intent to rob. not to
kill. Thank God. you have discovered
the truth! How did you do it?"
I'VE proved that the flngerprints on
The daguerreotype. those on the shelf.
and later. those ON this paper were
one and the same Ralston informed
him.
ION the daguerreotype? Oh, yes.
When went to see Mary In regard
to the loan, she showed me the pic
ture of her grandfather, who was my
grandfathers brother. which she had
recently received. ii must have been
af that time that. in examining the
daguerreotype, | left the fingerprints
by which you traced me-"
'"You will have to stand trial for
murder. as your testimony given is
entirely unsupported
~"I realize that, Mr.. Ralston. Ny
case is a black one"
At that moment Miss Marshall was
announced.
rs there another room where | can
see her privately" inquired the de-
tective.
YES. Show Miss Marshall to the
room across the hail. Alden directed
his secretary.
Spencer, you will remain here with
the Senator and Mr. Roland. l will
return in a short while" And Raj
ston crossed the hall to vacant room
where Miss Marshall awaited. She
was not expecting to see the detec-
tive, and her face blanched.
Il came to see Senator Alden. at his
request" she said as he entered
YES" Ralston replied; ''he asked
you to come at my suggestion. 1t will
Undoubtedly crafty you to know that
we have discovered the author of the
crime in the studio"
AT these words she grew, if pos
sible, paler
"Who is he?" she asked tremul-
ously
I'VE have. all proofs" he continued,
that your cousin. Mr.. Roland. is the
guilty man. He has confessed"
''No, no." she cried, "he did not kill
her. He did not kill her!"
He has just admitted that he did"
mo, no. 1t was an accident" she
spoke eagerly. 81 saw it all"
How is that possible when You
were not at home that EVENING"
II went out early, but though l did
not admit it to the police, ! returned
about eleven or eleven-thirty ! had
retired when l was awakened by
Laura's screams. ] rushed up to the
studio. The door was partly open.
and the lights were on. A man wa:
struggling with my cousin, his hand
over her mouth. As | peered around
| the edge of the door, watching the
scene. / saw the mans right arm
thrown violently against the shelf
and the wax bottle toppled over.
/ breaking in two as it hit Laura's
head. Her shrieLs were awful. As
! the man sprang back, | recognized
| Victor Too horror-stricken to speak
/ watched in silence while Victor
seemingly beside himself with terror
made some movements with his hands
upon the top of the shelf. He then
extinguished the lights, and coming
1sinto the hall. closed the studio door
behind him. l blotted myself against
the wall, and he passed without see
ing me. He rushed downstairs, and
| / heard the front door close. ] was
50 overcome with the tragedy, and
with Victor's participation, that
hastily dressed for the street and
went to. a small hotel for the re-
nlainder of the night"
why did you not notify the
police?"
Because. knowing was alone
with Laura in the house. | was afraid
they might accuse me. When / learn
ed that the horrible death was at
tributed to the cat, / kept silent about
what had seen, because / knew Vic
tor to be innocent of.murder"
Come into the Senator's Office,
Miss Marshall" Ralston invited, lead
ing the way.
At their entrance Victor RoIand's
eyes turned appealingly to his cousin,
while the Senator's pose was distinct