Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-06
FOURTH INSTALLMENT.

T T would be prolix to record in de-
tail our interview with Hasta, the
butler. He said he had, on Car
i Balloons recommendation. been
given his present position. with
which he had thus far every reason to
be satisfied. He was a native of Cuba
and had worked in various cities OF
Spanish America.
You speak English we'll enough" OBJ
served Morse.
MY mother was American"
He declared that Francis Ballion had
been an indulgent employer, but admit
ted that he was subject to moods of de-
preston, or again of anger, and volun-
teered that he was very angry now. 1t
took a good deal of threatening on
Norses' part to get him to concede that
Mr.. Ballion had recently seemed dis
turbed about something.
Was this only an impression. Morse
inquired. or had he definite grounds for
thinking SO?
well. sir, it was yesterday morning,
before Mr.. Ballion left, that I caught
some words between him and Mrs Bal
lion"
Where were you?" asked Morse. sar-
castically.
II was in Miss Eleanor's room, mend
ing one of her window ropes She was
there and can bear me oft. They were
in the hall"
What them"
st heard Mr.. Ballien say-but really,
sir, it's only his way He doesn't mean
anything. And it's none of my bust
ness"
But it's my business" raped out
Morse.
well, sir If you will have 1t. heard
Mr.. Ballion say this, For all the life in
you, for all the good you are to yourself
and any one, you might be in your
grave And she said, I am in my
grave"
did you hear anything elseP"
II think they were having dispute"
about what?"
"I believe, sir, about money. There
was something to do with a check she
didn't want to sign. Miss Eleanor closed
the door,
Morse sat for moment, tapping his
pencil against his teeth. Then. taking
an Ink pad from his pocket, he de-
manded Hasta's f1ngerprints, which the
latter stamped on piece of paper with
out hesitation.
"That1l be enough" said Morse. eff
MISS Graham is able, tell her that she'll
greatly oblige me by coming down. IF
not, I'll see Mr.. Balloon"
Once more we heard the sound OF
voices in the hall as the door opened.
Tossing his pencil on the desk, Morse
stirred uneasily.
Il feel as If moose were tightening
on my own neck. And yet that fellow
Hasta's a scoundrel-I'll vouch for it.
Somehow or other, his face haunts me,
but can't recall where" His voice
trailed on.
Eleanor Graham came in, looking
very white, but poised and determined
Morse, having acted the bully a moment
past, was now Astounding in solicitude
and delicacy.
YOU'RE very rare person." he muir
INJURED. Il had scarcely hoped But
I shall not detain you long-there are
merely one or two matters"
There is one matter" she interrupted
1evelly, that believe no one knows
as yet about this affair. 1 concealed It
deliberately. It seemed to me that
had no right to cast suspicion on an In
nocent man--that 1t, as long as I be-
lieved him innocent. It's a struggle
even now" She made an effort to
steady her voice, looking with strangely
troubled eyes at her examiner.
What have you to tell us?" said
Morse. Believe me- no one is more
eager for justice than / am; and no
one would. be less inclined to accept a
notion for fact At this stage, we are
trying merely to understand. and retice-
ence OF any scrt is stupid, If nor
,Crlminat.
"It was this" replied Eleanor. when
I called DR.. Ames to my sisters room, ]
told him that fancied I had heard
footsteps. AS q matter of fact. HAD
not only heard, but had seem"
She paused for a second, as II In
search of words. There was absolute
silence. saw Norse's lips drawn to q
line.
standing at my bedroom window.
saw on the driveway q mans shadow
cast by the light beyond the corner OF
the house. I could not see him. The
shadow was Tnagnihed: 1t stood mo-
tionless second, and then disap-
peared Not long afterward heard In
the distance the starting of motor"
"But, may I ask" said Morse. why
yoI should hare been unwilling to COM
niunicate this fact until now?"
'It was because thought-because
I imagined recognized that shadow,
but could not be sure"
"And you imagined 1t as whose?"
Our irtentness at the moment was
well nigh painful. It seemed to us that
everything turned on her answer.
"As the shadow, she whispered, "of
Francis Balloon"
heard Norse's sharp breath, as II
IN token of finalits.
"He wears. she went On. . black