Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-27

getting at. wasps. empty bird cages Boy
Scouts-now waSpS again"
"Tm sane, or almost So" said Matthew KEEL
ton, with q chuckle. You see, Evan, the
scheme of human existence Is made up Of .
myriad of small, trifiing things, each unimpor-
tant, perhaps, but all necessary to make the
complete pattern. Well start with the wasp"
He took the dead insect out of his pocket.
This misguided creature strayed into my
apiary today" he said, land as did not want
him there, cornered him, and took him in my
hand to eject him. He flew into rage and
stung me. I was wearing gloves, fortunately.
Presently, he died; but did not kill him. He
belongs to the species that can sting but once,
and then dies as the result of stingng.
Nov, he knew this. Insects have curtously
developed instincts, as, for example, the spider,
who knows in advance that, If he makes love
to o lady of his Species he is sure to be eaten
by her. This wasp, I feel sure, knew that
to sting me meant death to him. But his hate
was stronger than his sense. Some men are
like that Evan"
what are you suggeSting?"
Samson pulled down the temple on his enc
mics, even though he had to crush himself in
doing it. Love, my dear Evan, is strong But
there is nothing stronger in life than a good,
deep-seated robust hate. Now let's take quick
review Of our case. Cope hated Oakley. Cope
lived alone, and brooded. Cope had hundred
chances to shoot Oakley down in the past few
yearS-and didn't do it.
why? Because Cope was both cruel and
cunning. He wanted to punish Oakley; not
merely kill him. So the warped mind Of Cope
worked out really brilliant scheme. Cope
knew that he himself was doomed that he
would die from his disease within a year. It
would be small satisfaction to murder Oakley,
even If he could do it and escape detection
since Cope himself must soon follow his victim
So Cope decided that he would die, and die
in such way that Oakley would be con-
nka h.xV1r F0r III holt
revenge as I ever heard Of
Scope worked out his plan In minute and
careful detail He was the burglar who visited
Oakley's house He took the plate and jewelry
for blind. His real object was to get hold
Of Oakleys gun, and fire it, so that when it
was found, there'd be an empty cartridge in it.
Taking the black pearl stud was probably an
inspiration. 1t would be just one more damning
bit of evidence against Oakley when it was
found near Copes body.
"Then Cope picked an evening when he knew
Oakley was home and alone. He may even
have had the hope that Oakley would actually
kill him Oakley didn't, but Cope provoked
him to shout threats and angry words, which
the butler heard Then Cope left the house
when he heard the butler shaking the furnace
and shot himself a few yards from Oakey's
door, with pistol exactly like Oakleys.
1.-The case against Oakley was perfect. Any
district attorney, with such evidence, could hang
Oakley. You felt that way yourself, Evan. I,
myself, at first saw no chance for Oakley to
clear himself. Cope had certainly put moose
around his hated enemys neck only looked
further into the case to please you-and because
was puzzled by a problem in psychology,
namely: Was it possible for a careful, Shrewd
man like Oakley to commit so stupid and I'M
planned crime"
tits an interesting theory, Matthew" said
the lawyer, despondently "but it doesn't wash.
It fits into Copes character-but one point
you can't theorize away: What became of the
pistol that killed Cope? Pistols do not vanish
into thin air. No weapon was found near the
body, as 1t surely would have been, IL Cope
had shot himself
THAT" said Matthew Kelton, ''brings me
to the most ingenious part OF Copes plan, a
bit of real creative imagination, Evan. Do
you remember the bag Of bits Of meat In his
pocket"
eyes"