Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-02

Ballion do the thing
that made you certain OF
hi. guilt" III, ,,or.o ron,,ea
'that I looked somewhat perturoeo
when YOU let me into the house on the
night when began my secret investi-
cation. The point is, I had seen Carr
Ballion emerge from the narrow door
the Door of Death-which had been
closed behind him. It was Immediately
after I had shown you my light and
was coming around to the door.
Nov knew that Carl Ballion was,
ostensibly. absent that night from Grey
house. What was he doing here, then:
at this hour, creeping out like q tnlel
when the house was dark, and by so
strange an exit? It seemed re-enact-
raent of what might have occurred be-
fore. Then, as you know. there Followed
the discovery of Eleanor's blood-stained
handkerchief"
"There's a point" I interrupted,
shat I believe I can explain. Eleanor
told me several days ago that she re-
members giving Carl her handkerchief
to keep for her on one occasion, as she
had no pocket. Doubtless he found 1t
In his coat and used 1t without think
ing"
Eyes" agreed Morse. II Understood
It in about that way later"
"But what" I asked, was he doing
there If the crime had been committed
the day before?"
OBVIOUSLY finishing his crime; but as
TO what actually went on we shall never
know. It's impossible to determine just
member that Miss Graham was fright
ened during the previous night by
sounds that recalled the moan OF the
wind, though no air was stirring. I
think it possible that these were his
cries. after he had been dragged to the
underground room and that the sound
was carried up along the corner sup
port of the house.
"It was from this time on that def
nitely suspected Carl Ballion, and every
ensuing event confirmed it-Hasta's
behavior with you, the dried leather OF
the rack, the discovery of a body in
Francis Balloons clothes, yet indicating
a form of suicide that struck me as
peculiar and far-fetched. Then came
the letter from Mrs Starnforth, eStab-
fishing Francis Balloons innocence.
The gem collection remained lost, but
an item Of 1t was put into the market
surreptitiouSly. discovered that Carl
had debts, and knew Of the difficulty
connection with the incident of your
car. formed my strongest evidence"
How SOP" asked.
because it confirmed what already
feared when I first warned you that
night at GreyhouSe. Carl Ballion,
struck by your encounter with Hasta,
would consider you a possible spy,
which was bad enough-but, above all.
he could not afford any shadow of
rivalry. You don't realize yet that ne
had to marry Eleanor Graham. Moth
ing remained Of his brothers estate, ex-
cept what would have had to be repaid
to her. If this marriage failed his
crimes would have been useless; be- |
cause, after ALL 1t was the need OF
money, the bait of its contingent pow |
or, that tempted him-though, doubt-s
less. he loved her also in his fashion.
"And, yet, observe that still had
no proof-nothing that could be put
before q Jury as counterpoise to Francis
signed admission of guilt and the find
ing Of q body that I could not deny |
was his. I had nothing tangible, not |
even q motive for arresting Hasta, who,
I felt certain, was guilty.
"But, at last, found what I wanted |
Surely, unless everything I believed OF
him was false, then he must be in con-
troll of other scoundrels than HaSta.
The tampering with your car showed
that, as well as the supposed body OF
FTAuCB. Anu 81 ~ POVcu' IA NoAAAASS
ton was established between him and |
certain characters Of the underworld. |
These were arrested, but 1t is significant !
Of the loyalty he inspired that we could !;
get nothing out Of them until after |
his death.
"This was not all. On the evening |
before your last invitation to Grey |
house I succeeded, not for the first !
time, confess, in entering his apart !
ment while he was absent and discov- /
cred, at length, the famous black felt |
hat of the shadow seen by Miss
Graham. It was in the same wardrobe
as a pair Of rubber-soled shoes that
f1tted exactly the tracings taken by
nooaa altar Nnlia,s murder and To !