New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1926-09-04

Nandyke beard, with a slight linn
and cast in his left eye!"
Mrs. Prentiss laughed, appreciat
ing the banter.
We'll, go on" she said.
well, the indefinite prowler came
downstairs, snapped on a small light
maybe desk Hght,-that wasn't the
candle, was it,"
mo, I recollect the effect clearly
1t was doubtless, as you suggest, q
small desk light or reading lamp"
Then, in a few moments comes
another person, who flashes on the
full lights of the room"
"Of course, though it need not
have been another person. 1t may
well have been the first, the indefi-
mite person, still hunting what he
came after"
Right! You are born detective,
Mrs. PrentissI Well. anyhow, that
Zig light stayed on till about one
o'clock. That right"
Yes, as near as I remember the
hours. Then the candles showed"
Yes, and it was during the time
of that big light,-between twelve
and one o'clock, that Mrs. Heath
was killed. Or, at least that's the
way | see it. For the candles were,
in all probability put in place to
represent funeral candles. Now that
must have been done after the lady
was dead. Then, having arranged
things to his satisfaction. the muir
derer snapped off the big light, and
left the room. whether he left the
house or not"
But there were more lights on
and off after that"
That is the most important of
all. If my belief is the truth, that
the crime was committed just before
the candles were lighted, then who
ever came into that room afterward,
saw the candles. saw the dead wo-
man, and has, so far, kept quiet
about it."
CHAPTER XVII.
Might have been some of the SER
suggested Mrs. Prentiss.
Yes, it might easily have been.
And the second trip, as we may call
he time when the big light was
again flashed on for a short time,
may have been other servants come
% confirm the news already told"
Now you're romancing," Tod
hunter Buck broke in. II say, Mr..
Cunningham, I'm keen on this de-
.ective business myself. I wish you'd
ct me help you. I'll promise not to
De a nuisance"
Glad to have you I've no illu-
'ions regarding my own powers, but
have a capacity for work, and q.
bulldog tenacity for digging at
clue"
Good. Well, then I think you've
10 right to assume the servants any
more than the guests Of the house
lold. Nor, to my mind, have you
my more reason to suspect them,
han that the murderer, himself re-
urned to the scene of his crime two
,r three times. There's no argument
hat he shouldn't. He killed the lady,
ind in all probability he afterward
made up her face in that strange
ashton. But it is quite as likely
hat he was in and out of that room,
nd that he snapped on and off the
Jig lights as that any one else did. |
Why, If the guests or servants had
one there inadvertently, and had !
cen that awful sight. they would |
ave given an alarm at once"
That's so, To-day" said his aunt,
'olsing admiringly at her nephew.
1 wish l had looked more carefully |
Or shadows on the blind. l did !
metimes see one moving vaguely |
bout, but it was so indistinct that
was impossible"
You didn't see any one out of |
oors? Any one leaving the prem
esp"
Now, you speak of It, seems as if
did see some man sort of sneakin'
ut. But 1t wasn't Perry Heath. 1t
as a short, thickset fellow, and I'm
retty near sure it was that Katie's
oung man. I've seen him before
e always brings her home after
err evening out. Katie's a nice girl :
respectable girl, and she's engaged
} her beau. But they do stay out
wful late. My, If she was my maid,
led be In the house and the back
Dor locked by ten o'clock. And no
her maid a sneakin' down to let her
/, neither. But Mrs. Heath, now,
lie gave her orders, and then she
list took for granted they was car
ed out! Yes, that's Myra Heath all
yer. She'd give implicit and ex-
Iicit directions to that bunch of
,rvants over there. and she'd as
lme they're all obeyed to the letter.
and, they amt! She always held
err head so high-regular Johnny
ook -In-the-Air, she was, Well, poor
ling, she'll never hold her head
Ugh again!"
Her servants were not loyal,
len?"
"Oh. loyal In way. They liked |
er for all her airs. but of course,
- iitiii"ii iitiuiC W oNdlllp Stl WIG
nobody's looking"
"Oh, sure. But do you think the
,rvants were Up and about at that
our of the night"
you heard what the girls told at
lie inquest"
Yes. And they seemed honest
Id Straightforward. Emma let
attic in and then went back to her
'om. Katie visited the icebox, and
zen went to her room"
Yes Mrs. Prentice spoke dubi-
lsly. That's what they said. And
ke enough twas true. But what
scame Of Terry Heath? How did
, get out and where did he go?"
WAS he man to be friendly with
e maids? Would Emma, say, have
t him out as readily as she let
attic in?"
II wouldn't put It past her, as far
Emma's concerned. But / don't
ink Mr.. Heath was like that. Not
at you can tell a single thing about