Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-13
CHAPTER XVIII
UNMASKED MURDERERS

UNMASKED MURDERERS
IN HE song went on-the song in
Duckworth's powerful voice
Roses of memory, roses of Sep
Il TENDER" Yet he was not in the
room, nor was there any one
playing. Richmond stood for a mo-
ment amazed as his eyes took in the
scene.
In the drawer of Evelyn's desk there
stood graphophone, used while its
owners were busy on their deeds OF
evil
Mrs Dalton, where is your hus-
band?"
With a cry of terror, Evelyn shrank
into the corner.
Guard her, Richmond. I know
where he is. will fetch him"
He strobe back into the darkness
and re-traced his steps to the Dutch
garden. He soon returned. With him
came Donald Wade and between them
they carried. the limp corded figure
OF the singer. Lionel Duckworth, or,
as ne was more correctly called. Lionel
Dalton. During the few minutes of
Jlmmie's absence the bridge players,
startled by the commotion, had de-
amazed group. while Richmond guard
ed the girl who had collapsed into a
chair. The graphophone had ended its
song and was scratching on unheeded.
Jimmie and Donald deposited their
prisoner on the floor. Jimmie turned
TO the little company of friends.
This is the man." he said, "who
Killed Miss Annabelle Querdling. lie
also poisoned Edward Green, putting
by his side a confession to that first
CRIME. Tonight he sought to take a
thlrd life so that the truth about the
olherS should not be known 1t might
nave been hard to prove his guilt. but
l lad trap, and he fell into it
No one replied. The only human
sound was moan from the girl in the
chair.
In the Dutch garden you will find
dummy figure dressed in my clothes,
inns man pushed over the stone image
on 1t. Just as he did when Miss Querd-
ling sat in the other seat.
IWo weddings have been announced
tonlght. Marjorie Blake married Cap
tam Stirling. but her sister EVELYN
married Lionel Duckworth three
months ago. They told no one. but
Planned to kill Miss Querdling to get
There method was simple. There are
graphophone records OF Duckworth's
voice. They said they detested such
machines, but had one nevertheless.
Ihey would enter the room and he
"oulo sing one song Then, at its
conclusion. the graphophone started
announcer while he crept out to DO his
evn deed. Those outside would swear
ne was singing all the time Behind
mat eurtained doorway his wife
would await his return, the door mean
WINE being locked To reach the
Dutch garden, throw over the figure
ana come back was the work of a few
minutes, Then at his return the
graphophone would be hidden and his
own voice would take I'D the song "
AS he paused there were means from
the two accused. but the others re-
NAMED silent, dazed by what Jimmie
was telling them
He told OF his proof that Green had
oeen poisoned and related how he had
informed Evelyn of this discovery. OBJ
serving her alarm at his words. She
had received the news of Green's death
and was happy at the termination of
her fears that he might recover. repudi-
ate the confession and deny his suicide
attempt. but Jimmie's disclosure stirred
fresh fears. and when he led her to be-
HeVe that he had told no one else her
fatal plan was born
Il said that I would sit in the Dutch
garden tonight beneath that other stone
figure and wait for Richmond. 1 knew
she would tell her husband and figured
that they would attempt to remove me.
The party I suggested was to bring to-
gether those under suspicion When
Duckworth threw the figure on what he
thought was my head, we seized him.
You know the rest"
But Richmond,s curiosity was not