Evening star., 1924-01-08

ever since! L know Whdt the 'Nalu-
able and faithful services was that
made Mr.. Bernhard leave you $4,000
in his will. but mebbe you won't live
to enjoy it, Mebbe you're hull lot
sicker man than you think! We want
the truth, as though you were facin'
your Maker right now! In whose
hand was that revolver"
Old Henry rose up in his bed as If
pulled by invisible wires, his eyes,
stark with past horror, staring
straight before him. and in a strained
whisper he replied:
I'm Mr.. Benkard's."
CHAPTER XXI.
The Mills of the Gods.
Henry sank back inert upon his
pillows, and as DR.. Hood bent over
him Newbury strode quickly into the
room. His face had turned dull,
pasty gray, and his deep, solemn
voice shook as he exclaimed:
That is lie, This old man is in
ms dotage, he doesn't know what he
Is saying! His testimony would be
excluded from any courtroom. and
this deputy of yours deliberately led
hirn as witness, doctor! I was Mr..
Benkard's attorney at that time. and
attended to all the formalities in
cidental to Lawrence Shirley's suicide
IN ms rooms. j am thoroughly con-
yersant with every detail Of that un-
fortunate affair and / know that the
revolver was found lying under the
young mans own hand."
After IT had been put there"
amended Geoff respectfully but firm
ly. Who did 1t. Henry? You might
as well tell the whole truth now.
who put that revolver under Mr..
Shfrley's hand?"
1T was me. at the LAST" A con-
NiISlEe PaRn from hzl
Benkard-he couldn't, his nerye--Ya.il- :
ed him ] took the revolver ont of
ms hand and-put II where it was
round! It's true. Mr. Newbury, I've
spoke after all these years and II
the doctor-can only help me get nv
breath. I'll tell 1t ALL!
rms snail not be allowed" New
oury cried. rDoctor, ! forbid II, This
poor old creature ts being coercedr'
Doctor Hood drew himself up until
attorney
do I have to tell You the law
sirg he Numbered. ~Geoff. you &c
telephone down to the notary public
to bring his stenographer and shoe,
out here in Hanks titney. l want to
get this all down on record, and then
Veil let Henry rest"
Geoff left the room without a word
and was passing along the gallery
~ -hiiuIeu 1dSiey door opened
| ana she confronted him. Her pale
little face lighted up with pitifuily
eager smile as she darted out and
caught his arm.
oh; Geoff", she breathed: 81 am
ing has been terrible, but I knew
you would not fail us,''
Il amt, Miss MilIie." he responded
| gravely Things IS goin' long all
right now: but I got some more tc
I'M IN,
keep up for few hours longer and
reckon shouldn't be s'prized II
, you wasn't sleepy tonight and look ed
out o your window, mebbe you'd see
somebody standing underneath it or
the lawn"
''Geoff. honestly?' Her eyes glowed
II only said 'mebbe.'> Miss Millie.'
He disengaged the clinging fingers
with awkward gentleness.
you've found out, then. who really
killed my uncle? You know-tht
TRUTH
Yes, Miss NrilIie. I had it all
figured out afore ever I went away
bui had to git proof. Don't you
think bout that now; just you figure
on how you're goin' to slip out fol
ma knowin'-m ebbei'
He hurried on down the stairs and
into the library. Mrs Cayley ant
Stoneham Lane had taken themselves
tlStW ntIt. anu tTeOH DNOneu the UOc-
tors instructions to the notary pub.
lie and then returned quickly TO the
buffers room. as he crossed the
threshold Henry spoke, his voice g
little stronger now.
1T was all just as i said up tt
the last time young Mr.. Larry called
in October, before that New Years
cay. Then they had a very violent
| quarrel, Mr.. Bernhard and he. I know
my place and 1 wasn't trying t.
listen, but the apartment was quit.
small. and when they raised theil
voices it was impossible not to hear
He was accusing Mr.. Bernhard o.
wiping' him out on the market, de.
claring he was ruined, and worse
and that Mr. Bernhard had shown hin
| how to take what he had and nov
| he must show him how to replace il
or face the issue with him. Mr. Ben.
kard shut him up at that and pacif1et
him and got him away. and when hi
| came again on New Years I fanciet
| they must have met somewhere ant
| patched up the difference betwe ey
them
Henry, you aSe sure of this p
Newbury spoke In cold. shocked &C.
cents. ''Mr. Shirley said MIR. Ben
| what he had and now he must show
| him how to replace it or face tn,
| issue?"
Yes, sir. Those were his yer,
words. I've never forgotten them"
"But the story you have just tolt
| US, the story you told at the inquest
! was 1t true up to the moment wher
you heard the shot?'
| "All true, sir, except that when
! brought in the Scotch and soda 4
1 could see they'd been quarreling, ant
although Mr.. Shirley was laughing
1t wasn't pleasant sort OF laugh
! If you know what / mean, sir. Al
! for Mr., Bernhard, he had a look or
! his face that was dangerous! Tv'
! seen 1T few times since. but never
before then. and 1t gave me a queel
| feeling, II couldn't quite explain ii
When went back to my pantry
left the door ajar and listened, ant
| it seemed to me Mr.. Bernhard wa!
tleman up into frenzy, defying hin
and asking what he could prove. Mr.
Shirley said he could prove enough
| to drive Mr.. Bernhard out of Wal
| street, even if he couldn't take hin
behind the bars with him. and tina
[ he wasn't going to wait until thu
accounting was made 6GRe was goint
straight to the head the firm tn,
| next day with the whole story, ant
he'd only come to Mr.. Bernhard thel
to give him a last chance to keel
his word and make good the loss
"A last chanceT. Mrs. Bernhard repeat
ed after him, and 1 knew somehow
| from his voice that the end Of i
was coming. All right, you young
fool, I'll take that chance r-Thel
came. the sound Of that shot and-an,
realized in a fash what he mus
have donep
Henry" Geofr stepped to the sid
| Of the bed beside the doctor, "dft
you see Mr.. Bernhard slip that Their
| revolver into the pocket of hi
tlounging-robe afore you left hi
room when you went to tell him MI
Shirley had conner
mo. but it was his. He'd had 1