New Britain herald., 1926-09-15

! Cunningham stretched himself luxuriously in a chintz cushioned steamer chair, with pipe and glass at his elbow. and ruminated on the possibilities of Anderson's getting any trace of Heath.
 At nine o'clock his host had not 1 appeared, but few moments after nine he saw a shadowy form ap- preaching and a man came quietly up on the porch and sat down be- side him.
 Though dark, there was enough | light from house window for Gun i ningham to see the features of this ! man, and to his stunned amazement | he realized 1t was Perry Heath!
 Don't raise a row, Cunny," Heath said, calmly. Tt won't get you anywhere. you know, and If you sit tight, I may be able to help you"
 Cunningham's quick wits accept ed this, and he said:
 "All right. old man - I thought you'd turn up sooner or later. Now, tell me all about it."
 Where's Anderson? He's the one I came to see. l thought it was he sitting here"
 No, he's gone to New York to | hunt you. But he'll be home now, any minute. You'll wait for him?"
 Sure. I say. Cunny what are you doing in the sleuthing line?"
 Why, I - good Lord, Perry, I can't sit here and talk calmly to you! l ought to be telephoning the police and all that!"
 Don't try it.. I'm not the mur- derer, you know
 Who is?"
 Larry, of course. I only blew In here for g minute to tell Sam that and to ask him to see justice done. I know they're suspecting that mite of girl, little Bunny. but she didn't do it. Only a blind, pig-headed im- beetle could think such a thing!"
 Why are you in hiding?" Cum ningham demanded.
 III uoI III llldiJS- ilI ouI bt- cause didn't want to testify against Larry, but when that kiddy is ac- cused, have to put in a word for her"
 You saw Inman commit the crime?"
 CHAPTER XXXI1
 Sure. But I don't want to go into details I'm never coming back, why should I? I've lost Myra, she was all I cared for. Inman was in love with her, and-well, he was in love with her money, too. But I'm not going to blab about him. He can fight his own battles. It's the Moore baby I'm looking after Oh, no, I'm not In love with her, but I won't see harm come to the child. I'll appear against Inman, rather than that. Now look here, Al. I can't wait any longer to see Sam now. You tell him I was here, and tell him what I've said"
 But. Lord, Man, you cant go off like that! You've why, you've knocked me galley-west, and l don't know what I ought to do--'
 You've no say in the matter. You tell Sam Anderson all I've told you, and you and he must work together to get that little girl freed of sus- picion. If you don't-or can't, I'll appear in propria persona and fix things up myself"
 But - but, tell me more. How did you get out?"
 Walked out, of course. And Lar ry locked the door behind me-"
 Who painted her face?"
 Larry, of course. And he set up , that fool card, thinking he could duplicate me-"
 And you went off, rather than testify against the man who killed your wife, Who desecrated her dead body with that ghastly painting! And who tried to make it seem that you were her murderer. I can't swallow all that, Heath!"
 NO, I suppose not" Heath spoke wearily, and brushed back the long | lock that fell over his brow. But Cunningham, it's because you can't understand a man of my tempera- ment. My wife is dead, nothing can bring her back to me. and rather than go through the narrowing scenes of inquests, detectives, trials and interminable questioning, I'd rather get out and leave it all. You know my beliefs about immortality and all that. Or rather you know I don't believe in it. To my mind, Myra is gone and gone forever. That clay is no more my wife than any other bit of earth. I want her prop crly honored and decently buried, but all that will be attended to, I know. For Larry is her heir and her kinsman, and he will look after such matters properly. l shall go off by myself and begin new life far away from here. I've no ties i'll Gaybrook Harbor,-on the contrary, it holds for me only horrors and sad memories. I never should have reap peared at all except that l fear for Bunny's safety. But if you and An derson give a true report of my ap- pearance here and state that 1 VOW and declare that I saw Larry Inman kif my wife, think there can be no further question of Bunny's guilt. It's too absurd to think of that child in connection with it, but Mott is stubborn, and having the idea in his head he won't easily give it up. However, if the persecution of Bun ny goes on, I will come out in the open and protect her. That would mean entire exposure of Larry's guilt. Whereas, if Bunny is exoner- ated, perhaps Inman can get away with not proven case. Oh, well, do what you can" And, to Cunning hams amazement, he found himself alone!
 Heath had disappeared, silently, as he had come. He merely rose suddenly and stepping down from the porch had walked away so rapidly into the darkness of the Shrlbberv on the lawn that Chm