Evening star., 1930-06-22

tSnOs,I red through the house and in another
second the two men were racing up the stairs
two at time and had burst into the suite
which Carlin occupied
glimpse of the PROSTATE figure told them
they were too late. The detective bent over
the dead man.
THAT has saved the country the cost of n
murder trial." he said.
IT think not" said Mr.. Reeder gently, and
explained his reasons
Half hour later, Mr.. Lassard walked
out of his office, detective tapped him the
Shoulder.
Your name is Eter," he said "and want
you for murder
4" IT was very simple case. really. sir ex-
planned Mr.. Reeder to his chief "Elter,
of course, known to me personally but L
remembered especially that he could not spell
the word able and recognized this popularity
in our friend the moment 1 saw the letter
which he wrote TO his patron asking for the
money. 1t was Elter himself who drew the
$25O0O OF that am convinced. The man is, II
and always has been an inveterate gambler
and did not have to make many inquiries be-
fore discovered that he was owing a large
sum OF money. That would have meant the
end of Mr. Lassard the philanthropc custodian
of children. Which, by the way was always
Elter's role He ran bogus charitable societies
it is extraordinarily easy to find dupes who are
willing to subscribe for philanthropic objects
Many years ago. when I was young man L
was instrumental in getting him seven years.
I'd lost sight of him since until saw the letter
he sent to Mr. Eastleigh Unfortunately for
him, one line ran shall be glad il YOU are
abel to let my messenger have the money-and
he spelled able in the Elter way called ON
him and made sure. And then I wrote TO Mr.
Eastleigh, who apparently did not open the
letter till late that night
"Elter had called on him earlier in the eve
ming and had had a long talk with him. I
only surmise that Eastleigh had expressed a
doubt as to whether he ought to leave his
nephew penniless, scoundrel though he was:
and Elter terrified that his scheme for get
ting possession of the old mans money was in
danger Of falling. Moreover, my appearance in
the case had scared him. He decided to kill
Eastleigh that night, took aconitine with him
to the house and introduced it into the medi-
cine, bottle of which always stood on East
leighs desk Whether the old man destroyed
the will which disinherited his nephew before
ne discovered he had been poisoned, or
whether he did it after, we shall never know
When I had satisfied myself that Lassard was
Eter, sent letter by special messenger TO
Eastlegh-"
That was the letter delivered by special
messenger"
Mr.. Reeder nodded
1T is possible that Eastleigh was already
under the influence of the drug when he
burned the will. and burned too the four checks
which Carn had forged and which the old
man had held over his head as a threat Carlin
may have known his uncle was dead; he Ger
tainly recognized the detective when he stepped
out OF the cab. and. thinking he was to be
rested shot himself"
Mr. Reeder pursed his lips and his melancholy
face grew longer
Il wish had never known Mrs. Carlin-Iny
acquaintance with her introduces that element
OF coincidence which is permissible in stories
but is so distressing in actual life II shakes
ones confidence in the logic of things"
Copyright, 193O)