Evening star., 1925-08-30

and at about the same time reached
his own decision. When he left Mr..
Farraday and turned homeward, he
was committed, in his thoughts. to
His plans were laid with scientific
accuracy and with artistic simplicity.
The ordinary doctor, he told himself.
If he decided on murder. would choose
a drug. The very use of the pistol
was, he felt, a stroke of genius on his
part. He sat late that night, con-
sidering the project. until there awoke
in him a certain zeal for 1t.
He knew something of the Farraday
menage: knew the routine of the
great house. 1t stood at the corner
of two intersecting streets, in a
neighborhood not much frequented,
and the house itself was near the
sidewalk. Mr.. Farraday was accus-
toned to receive callers in his big liv-
ing room on the ground floor; he had
a desk there.
Behind his chair. in the huge fire
place. a small fire burned. even when
the days were warm. The old fools
cold -blooded as a snake" thought DR..
Hounder. French windows opened on
the veranda; there was a mail box at
the corner. not six steps from the
veranda rail. 1t was secured to q
post set in the hedge that surrounded
the grounds.
DIR. Hounder took care to visualize
this mail box in his mind; ii had a
part in what he meant to do. Mr..
Farraday's man servant was an old
man. and, like Mr.. Farraday himself.
somewhat hard of hearing.
Another thing worth remembering.
DR.. Hounder reminded himself. He
closed his eyes and visualized the liv-
ipe NTrl,a hn Gr
Farraday tomorrow morning = the
door in a side wall. opposite the win
dows; the desk table where Mr. Far
raday would be sitting; the fireplace,
half q dozen feet away; the book
shelves along the wall. He weighed
his plan and all his movements with
some care. Only one thing needful to
his success: this one thing easily
naged-that the servant should be
elsewhere at the moment when he,
DR.. Hounder, entered Mr.. Farraday's
living room.
WHEN his plans were complete he
sought out a small cardboard
box of fit size to hold the pistol he
cut out one end of this box and laid
the piece of cardboard aside. Then
the box itself he wrapped in stout
paper and tied three ways with cord,
leaving the open end free. The pa
per at that end he did not fold.
Loose ends of the cord dangled.
He tested this device to be sure it
was practical; practiced inserting the
pistol. adjusting the cardboard end
of hte box, folding the paper and
trying the final knot, until his fin
gers moved like mechanism. Salts
al wit c1-i In, ,ic,
he tried another-wrapped the pistol
in a handkerchief and placed it in
his right-hand coat pocket: sneeZed,
drew out the handkerchief and pistol
as though to blow his nose-and went
through a pantomime of pulling the
trigger
There were other movements he
considered and rehearsed. alone there
in his office till late in the night. and
at times he talked to himself In low
and contented tones. When he was
satisfied with every detail. he went
to bed and dozed himself to sleep.
In the morning, as II final touch. he
addressed the box which would con-
tain the pistol to John i. Hands, 23Is
A Street. Lancaster. Calf. The name
Lancaster he got from map; the
rest was fiction. He then weighed it.
the revolver inside. and affixed the
proper stamps.
About half past nine he stepped
into his car and drove toward the
home of Mr.. Farraday. When he ap-
preached the house he drove more
slowly, passed, turned at some dis
tance and returned; passed again.
He thus waited without being con-
spicuous until he saw a man go in at
the Farraday entrance. Thus assured
that Mr.. Farraday would. on his own
arrival. be engaged, he drove boldly
up to the house. stopped his car, got
out, went up the steps and rang. The
pistol was in his right-han pocket,
wrapped in handkerchief; the card
:: :; !; =
IF he had personally stage managed
what followed. matters could not
have gone more to his fancy The old
serving man admitted him, told him
that Mr.. Farraday was engaged, and
suggested that he wait in the small
music room across the hall from the
living room. DIR. Hounder told the
man he need not return.
III just knock and, go in when his
caller goes he explained. and the old
fellow nodded and went mumbltng to.
ward the rear of the house.
DIR. Hounder settled himself to wait.
His nerves were shaky, but he knew a
remedy for that and applied 1t. There
after his senses became more alert
attuned. He listened acutely to the
sounds that come from the closed room
across the half-low voices. sometimes
rising. and once with a faint sugges-
ton Of heat. Farraday must on occa-
sion be an irascible old man, the doc.
tor thought.
BY and by the caller departed. Mr..
Farraday permitted him to find his
own way to the front door. himself
staying in the living room, with the
door open. 1t appeared he had not
heard DIR. Hounder's arrival. After an
interval the physician rose, his bag in
his hand, crossed the hall, and stood
in the doorway
Mr.. Farraday said: "Ah, good
morning, DR.. Hounder." He did not
rise and he apologized for the omis-
sion. MY old legs are a thought in.
firm" he explained
DIR. Hounder reassured him. Don't
think of 1t, sir. Sit still" He closed
the door, deposited his bag on a chair
and approached the desk. We'll, have
you Written?"
Il have the letter right here" Mr.
Farraday replied, and drew it from his
pocket. DIR. Hounder Sneezed You've
! 'A