Evening star., 1926-11-18

sent him forth a wanderer on the face
of the earth.
That Jimmy Mills was the murderer,
that he killed to avenge his honor,
and because the green-eyed monster
had taken possession Of his soul, and
mention is made of the old shoe knife
that he used when he was cobbler.
To which the succinct answer is
made. Have you seen Jimmy Mills
Jimmy Mills, mild and patient, who
stood in deadly fear Of his wife and
daughter?"
That Mrs. Hall and her brothers.
Henry and Willie. went to De Russey's
lane to comfort DR.. Hall and Mrs. Mills
in order to get evidence for q divosce.
and that they took with them the love
dead couple, and that a fight ensued,
in which Dr. Hall and Mrs. Mills were
killed.
But. objects the opposition, there IS
no evidence that Mrs. Hall wanted q
divorce, and she had plenty of evi-
dence to get it on without going to
De Russey's lane for it. And, they say,
anyway Henry Stevens has an iron
clad alibi that he was so miles away,
at Lavallette, on that night.
That another woman who was also
much interested in the church and
who was likewise in love with Dr.
Hall killed them, or perhaps another
man who was in love with Mrs. Mills
followed them to their rendezvous and
slew them.
But who could they have been? A
couple of names are whispered under
the breath. but the evidence against
them is so meager that the argument
lanquishes for want Of support
Ku~ KIux Enters.
That they. were killed by the Ku
Elux as punishment for their crimes
against the church and the wife and
husband they had betrayed, and that
Mrs. Mills was mutilated because she
was regarded as the chief sinner.
Here the argument runs hot. Why
accuse the Ku Klux Klan of wreaking
this terrible revenge on two persons
for leading the double life when there
were plenty of others around in the
community who We're also guilty of
philandering? And why blame Mrs.
Mills more than Dr. Hall? Surely he
was more at fault than she, seeing
that he was older than she, that he
was rich and highly placed in the
humble woman, easily flattered. easily
tempted by his love-making; also that
he vas a priest of God. and therefore
doubly bound to lead a clean life.
That Willie is q dual personality,
capable Of Jekyll and Hyde trans
formation, at times the gently and
kindly child.man, interested in little
boy games and amusements, that
every one in New Brunswick had
known for 50.odd years-at other times
fierce beast, lusting for blood and
committing abnormal crimes.
But If this is the case. say the OBJ
jectors, why is it that in all Of his life
he has had only this one lapse from
that he has swung back so completely
to normal?
Willie Hypnotized.
That Mrs. Hall is q female Svengali
and Willie a masculine Trilby, SO to
speak; that she possesses hypnotic
power over him, and that under her
suggestion he committed the crime.
but that he had no memory Of it
whatever. That was why he stood the
long grining at the hands of the police
without breaking down.
Fine theory for a novel. say the OBJ
jectors. But did you ever know it to
happen in real life?
That DR.. Hall and Mrs. Mills We're
killed by thugs and footpads. Near
De Russey's lane there is a settlement
Of lawless foreigners, and not far
away was q roadhouse frequented by
desperate criminals.
Many Of the people who live there
about were capable of holding up any
unprotected man and woman who
might come their way, and Of killing
them if they made an outcry.
But, say the objectors. why did they
cut Mrs. Mills throat after she was
dead?
And nobody can answer that. which
Is the heart of the mystery, after all
And that is why everybody is wait