The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-09


 made by Cray, the prosecuting attorney, is a series of footprints deep in the crusted snow. leading tL and from the French windows of the study-footprints that are unusually small.
 CHAPTER IF
 "Oh mo-" but Norton wriggled un- easily Ut couldn't be. No murderer Is going to walk through crusted snow, to and from the scene of his crime, leaving definite footprints like thosew
 "That's no argument. He might have cCme here with no intent of crime and afterward, might have been so beside himself he couldn't plan safely"
 "oh, well, get what you can from them" said Morton, pettishly. T suppose you deduce tall man, with blue eyes and two teeth missing" Don't be cheap, Morton. And. on the contrary, l deduce small man. They are small footprints, and close together. The Japanese are small men, Norton
 well, these prints are moro than 24 hours old, and they're not clear enough to incriminate anybody"
 "They haven't changed an iota from the moment they were made.
  frozen solid. Look at the frost still on panes, the Ice coating still Cn the window sashes, the ice coating still on all the trees and branches. In fact, 1t has grown steadily colder since night before last, and until 1t begins to thaw we have these foot prints as intact evidence. l will have them photographed"
 "They are small" Morton agreed after further examination. And as you say, too close together for an ordinary sized man. It looks like the Jap"
 Beginning to wake up, are you? You've sure been asleep at the switch. Morton"
 Nothing of the sort, MT. Cray. But I ought to have help. I've had all l could tackle, making the necessary first inquiries, and getting the facts strengthened out"
 "That business could have waited better than these other things. Now, there's Crlnlmins. the lawyer, arriv- ing. Let's interview him. But moi in the study. Keep that clear. The Missing Will. took him to the living room. The mater of the will was imme- diately taken up, and Mrs. Bates was asked to tell which desk drawer 1t was ir
 secretary, Mrs Bates indicated the drawer, and Lockwood opened it with his key.
 There were a few papers in it but no will.
 Nor could further. search disclose any such document
 'who took it?" said Mrs. Bates blankly.
 But no one could answer her. The others came thronging in, Cray's UT gent requests to keep out Of the study being entirely ignored.
 q knew it." declared Mrs. Peyton triumphantly. Now. I guess you won't be so cocky. Emily Bates-you or your 'authority""
 Mrs. Bates looked at her. T am the heir." she said haughtily. T as- sert that-but cannot prove it until the will is found. It isn't In your possession, Mir. Crimmins?'
 No; Dr. waring preferred to keep 1t himself. I cannot understand It's disappearance"
 "A lot of paper has been burned in this fireplace" said Helen Peyton, who was poking the ashes around.
 Morton hastened to look, for 1t seemed to him as If everybody was stealing his thunder.
 Nothing that can be identified" he said. carelessly.
 "No?" demurred Cray. At any rate. it looks as if some legal papers were destroyed. This bit of ash Is quite evidently the remainder of sev- eral sheets folded together"
 But no definite knowledge could be gained outside the fact that much paper had been burned there. As no fire had been made since the dis covery of the tragedy. 1t stood to reason the papers were burned by Dr. Waring himself or by his midnight
 
 We'll" Cray demanded of the law yer, If no will can be found then who inherits the property of pr. Waring? And is it considerable?"
 Yes; pr. Waring had quite a for tune" Crirmins told them. AS to an heir, he has distant cousin-a sec ond cousin. who. I suppose, would be the legal inheritor, in the absence of any will But, I know he made q will in Mrs. Bates favor, and 1t in cluded a few minor legacies to the members of this household and some neighbors."
 T know it," Mrs. Bates said. I'm perfectly familiar with all the be- quests. But where Is the will? It must be found! It can't have been burnt"
 We've no right to assume that those paper ashes are the will, but l confess I fear it." Crimmins an nopnced, his face drawn with anxi- ety. l should be deeply sorry, if 1t is so. for the cousin I speak of Is a ne'er do we'll young man. and not at all favorite of his late relative His name is Maurice Trask and he lives in St. Louis. I suppose he must be notified In any case"
 Yes" said Cray, that must be done But. please. all go out of this room. for the fingerprint experts and the photographers are coming soon. and every moment you people stay here. you help to cloud or destroy possible clues''
 Impressed by his sternness, they filed out and gathered in the living room. There they found a neighbor. Salt onstal Adams. awaiting them.
 came over. he said, with scant preiiminary greetings, 'because I nave something to tell. You in charge, Mir. Cray?"
 Yes Salt. what do you knowq"
 This. was awake late night be- Tore last--the night Doc Waring died ard was looking out my vii, ic " and 1t was pretty light, with tLe sncw and the moonlight and all. and l saw mana small man, creeping along sly like. And I watched him.