The Omaha morning bee., 1925-04-09


At nine-thirty Chalfonte left thel
Dixie Cabaret. got into a taxicab. and
drove to Harry Nernon's residence.
Vernon, who had preceded him by five
minutes. let him into his den and
closed the door.
It was one-thirty when Chalfonte
left vernons in a taxicab, shivering
a. little with fatigue and nervousness
at the thought of going back to the
Dunseath house after several hours
Of lights and music.
He realized again, az his cab twist
ed through the maze of streets, that
it was beng followed steadily by an
other, but he resigned himself. "They
have to watch everybody. l suppose,
he thought. after all, the Dunseath
emerald, SO to speak, is still missing,
and the murderer is still at large
unless Grant Fowler is the man,
which ] don't believe" Just to make
sure that he was being followed,
and partly for the sake of a brisk
walk, he dismissed the cab when half
way up the lane, and walked on alone.
A moment later, waiting in the shad-
ow of a tree, he saw second cab
stop. Its lights went out. He walked
on slowly; then, as the night cold
nipped at him. more briskly.
The house was totally dark as he
approached Strange that there are
no lights on at ALL" he thought. In
the dense fog sitting down out of the
dark sky, the house looked grimmer
than ever. There seemed to be about
II monstrous resemblance to Emily
Dunseath--her soul done into stone.
Then, as he came closer. he stopped,
rigid with terror His fists clenched.
ta HE mind In
be leaving him. Crouching low he
crept quickly to a window. straight
ened himself cautiously. and peered
into the room, straining his eyes
against the darkness. As he did so.
the lights from an automobile swept
across the drive, like a gust of day
light. Chalfonte's arms went TO his
head, to shield his face from the sight
of someone within, and he staggered
as from a blow. Then the light
swerved off into the night and went
on UP the hill.
In the darkness Chalfonte sprawled
close to the foundation of the house,
in a convulsive last effort 10 escape
being seen through the window. For
Ave minutes he lay there quivering,
and then, with a Jerk, stood up,
ashamed of his panic but still trem-
bling. Up the porch steps he went,
and pounded sayagely on the knocker
of the massive front door. As nobody
came, panic began to mount in him
again.
At last a light came on somewhere
and through one of the narrow side
windows he made out the form OF
Soames. muffled in a great red dress
ing gown. coming down the hall.
"Thank God~ Chalfonte muttered.
Soames peered out through the
glass he unclaimed and unlocked the
door.
''oh. It's you. Mr. chalfonte. Some.
hody had turned out the night lights.
| didn't know you We're out yet, sir.
Chalfonte. still agitated, brushed
quickly past him. call me early in
the morning, Soames,' he said from
the steps
but it's after two now sir. Won't
you want more sleep2'
"No-call me by sixthirty, at least.
''Very well. sir
Chalfonte hurried up the stairs. al
most stumbling In his haste, and I'm
his own room, looked about quickly
locked the door. tried 1t twice. and
then examined tho windows to make
sure they were locked. Carefully he
pulled down the window shades.
stuffed paper In the keyhole. and put
his coat along the threshold to pre-
vent any light from shining Into the
hall. Then he hung n hat over the
doorknob to make doubly sure that
no light should show through the
keyhole.
That done, he started 10 drink from
the pitcher OF water on hts table, put
the glass down untouched, recollect-
ing that poison was in the house