New Britain herald., 1926-09-22
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went on. " 1t could have been tn
 injured husband You don't thinl
 Perry Heath did it?'
 How did he make getawa.
 afterward? I understand the hous,
 was locked up like a bank"
 Anderson seemed willing to talk
 at least until his guests arrived, st
 Truitt kept him at it.
 Yes. hear 1t was. But why woulc
 Mir. 1nman kill the woman h. loved"
 Do you remember a line Of a 10. nous poem. Mir. Truitt? it runs: "'For each man kills the thins he loves.'
 Not entirely true. of course, but 6 man might do that from jealousy, or unrequitted love. And, too, Mir. In. man is the heir. Oh, I don't know Of course, but he seems to me a far more likely suspect that Heath. I've heard the Heaths were married fo, several years, and though as a bachelor such things are outside of my line, I don't think the average man Is jealous enough to murder his wife after they have lived to- gether as long as that"
 That's so," Truitt agreed, and then Sam Anderson's guests began to arrive and the callers left.
 From Tod, from Bunny, from Mrs. Prentiss, and even calling in one or two of the servants, it seemed Steve Truitt would never cease his end less firing of queries.
 On all sorts of subjects, seemingly with all sorts of objects, but all more or less connected with the Heaths or with other Harbor peo- pie.
 At last, he went off by himself and smoked a cigar In silence and solitude.
 He returned, smiling and debon- air. And made himself so entertain ing and agreeable that he seemed no more a prosaic detective. but a gay and jolly chum of Tod's.
 But after Mrs. Prentiss and Bum ny had gone to bed, Truitt turned to Tod with serious face.
 "Old man." he said, that woman was killed by either her husband or her cousin"
 Right, oh, oracle! I'm glad you see it that way"
 Heath, you know, is still in the neighborhood."
 Was last night"
 "1s still. And tonight, my laddie he will visit the house next door,"
 Important, if true.'
 Yes, that's just 1t. Maybe he won't. But think-I strongly be- lieve he will"
 Do you happen to know what he will come for?"
 T do. He will come to get a book out of the-is there a library"
 "No, books are in the studio"
 "All right then. He'll come to get } book out of the studio. Shall we conceal ourselves behind the arras, and nab him when he arrives?"
 T was awake most of last night"
 "Oh, puddinghead! Stay at home, then. I'll go alone, or, better yet, | I'll get your aunt to go with me. I must have a witness.'
 Admitting to himself, but not to Tod, that it might be a wild goose | chase, Truitt led the way and fol- owed by his friend, went silently | Lcross the lawns to the Heath house.
 "Sit there" he whispered. point ng to a lawn settee, and don't nove till I tell you"
 Tod did so, and ten minutes later, Fruit came to him and logged his lbow. All set" he whispered.
 To Tod's amazement, one of the Trench windows in the studio was pen.
 How'd you do that?" he ex- laimed, but Steve only said Hush!" and pushed him inside.
 CHAPTER XLV
 Once in, and adjured to silence. ,od merely watched while Truitt loislessly closed and locked the french window and then stationed 'od behind a good-sized screen that vas across the corner of the studio. 1e gave him fairly comfortable hair, though not a large one, and hen he ruthlessly cut an eyehole T the screen at the right height for 'od's eye while he was seated in the hair.
 Nodding in satisfaction. Steve 'hispered that his purpose, as Truitt oped 1t would.
 No matter what happens, don't lake a move until I do," and then, fraid lest he might not be implicit , obeyed, he added solemnly, Bun y's life may depend on your abso- lte silence"
 This stretched the long bow a lit- e, but it served it's purpose, as ruitt hoped it would.
 Truitt had dared a low light to lake these preparations, but he had lrned that off and they were now l total darkness. His greatest fear as that Tod would fall asleep, but e banked his hopes on the word he ad passed about Bunny, and trust that the hint would keep the boy wake.