Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-30

Questions on the fireplace refers to.
we'd be pretty close to solving the
mystery that hangs over Brides House !"
Have you indeed? Now that's very
interesting Cropsey adjusted his
spectacles. Handwriting is rather a
hobby of mine And this" he bent to
examine the lettering more closely, an
eager light in his short-sighted eyes,
looks as though it had been done
under the stress of some violent emotion
fear, possibly-or rage. The plaster
was wet of course at the time. Other
wise the edges would be rough and
Clipped" Strengthening up again.
Quite fireplace, isn't it? Almost
too large for the room"
The editor of the Free Press would
have liked to go on studying those
fascinating up strokes and down strokes
little longer; but his hostess was
cycling the door suggestively. He made
as good an exit as he could, registering
q solemn If inward vow, as the gate
clicked behind him, to return at no
very distant date to puzzle out the
meaning of that strange inscription.
Miss Vests next visitor was Seth
by Abby, and sat down on his hat and
the nearest chair, all without saying
one word.
The local chief of police had reacted
to the murder much as a sleep walker
would have reacted to q bucket of cold
water flung in his face. He was dazed
He was speechless. There was no
definite plan in his mind as to how
to begin the present interview. Miss
West saved him the trouble by be-
ginning it for him.
you found no trace o. the murder
er?" asked the one who was to be
questioned.
mot a trace" In a discouraged tone.
Not even the weapon"
1T must have been something
dreadfully heavy. An ak perhaps"
Yes. marin The boys head was all
stove in. DIR. Martin says he was
STOPPING over at the time. Leastways,
that's how it appears the thing caught
him"
Miss West had not much desire to
hear the details of the killing I've
theory-I don't know whether it might
help you any-that my stable boy had
made a discovery of some sort. He
was curious as woman and from the
minute we came here he started
shopping about the barns and out
houses. looking to see what the former
owner had done with his farming imple-
ments and old harness. The fact that
he was down there, in the cellar of
that he was on one of his tours of
investigation and that it had begun to
worry some one. / think my maid
told you about the warning which was
pinned on Otto's pillow yesterday
morning."
Mr.. Toby tapped his breast pocket.
Il got it here. Evidence"
1T may have been the CONN.," Miss
West pursued. IF Otto found"
Comm" The sheriff sat up. Il
didn't hear about no CONN. When was
that?"
1t was Miss Vests turn to look be-
wildered.
why, down in the cellar. right
where Otto lay. 1t rested on two pack.
ing cases. You must have seen 1t, Mr..
Toby"
The man shook his head. ct bin
down in that cellar 20 times this morn
ing and there wasn't no sign of a
coffin except the one we just put the
boy in; and that was brought over from
the crossing by one of my own"
Miss West cut him short. She had
been thinking and thinking rapidly
viii you come with me to the family
burying ground? 1 can show you
where the coffin / speak of was taken
from" This was no time to be critical
about ones English.
The sheriff Of Hales Crossing rose
recovered his hat, and followed his
hostess to the door.
Over by the burying ground the will
lows dropped despondently under their
weight of raindrops. A lizard on the
stone wall scuttled damply into his
| hole. Everything about the place
looked sadder and less cared for than
ever.
Miss West led the way around the
monument to the side where the Run
nels family buried Its female dead
There" she said, and stopped. her