Evening star., 1933-08-12
TheWhife CoCkafoo
BY Mignon G. Eberhdrt

CNtly OlIC NdS III tAlC lOA4lSC- 4A4S1C W Al
no one to see. Yes, chance favored him
that time. But he preferred killing
stealthily-by poison"
And when he killed the priest-Fran-
els Tally?"
He returned again unobserved by
way Of the winding stairway, and later,
when it was over, left the same way"
But why did Lorn rescue you twice
if his aim was eventually to make you
tho victlm?"
He wasn't ready for victim yet.
And he wanted Sues confidence. And
he knew that the police still would sus-
pect me. l was in danger from him
from the moment he knew that I knew
OF the broken seal. And he had pretty
plan to catch me red-handed. But
Lovscheim didn't try to escape. And I
didn't shoot. And Pucci found Sues
In that hussy's hair" Mrs. Byng
was knitting with dangerous abandon.
And you knew-"
Il knew Nine. Grethe had put sonle-
thing in her hair when she came from
Lorn's room. Pucci pulled it out and
it was Sues half OF the token. I knew
it must be Sues half. for she herself
had her brothers half. And it had
come from Lorn's room"
Then Lorn was acting entirely
alone?"
Entirely 1t was simple matter Of
greed. There was that extraordinary
story There were the millions. Why
shouldn't he have them? Do you re-
member. Sue, how remarkably definite
he was at the very first about the lines
that a conspiracy against you must take?
He'd thought 1t all out He hadn't his
substitute yet, as the Lovschiems had,
hut l,o thPlIU7t uNll1d he sim.
pie"
Mrs. Byng snatched at the knitting,
which had dropped out Of her hands
and slid toward her knees. and asked
Did the prest-your brother mean,
my dear-did he suspect Lorn?"
"Lorn says not He's been-boasting
a bit He says he guessed the priest
was Tally, taxed him with it and they
arranged a meeting in the deserted
White Salon But Tally unwisely told
linn two things-told him he'd left the
anything happened to him Sue could
still prove herself and inherit the
money. And he also told him that he
had found Sues token. had 1t with him,
in fact, and that he was going to ac-
knowledge her as his sister at once.
That settled Francis fate then and
there Lorn was deft and quiet with his
needle"
Elise says she was rot near the north
wing the night Stravsky was murdered
until after his death. when Lovschiem
hid her in the fireplace cupboard. So
the black figure you saw must have been
the priest. What was he doing there?"
1 started to say prowling. but with
glance at Sue I said instead:
He seems to have tried to keep a
close watch on Sue I imagine he SIM
ply saw the light and came down the
north corridor to investigate. We can't
know. however. He must have barely
missed Lorns own visit to my room"
/ Sue shivered and spoke.
| Did Lorn confess about the sTord?"
Yes. He used it for the very reason
he told us a criminal who was clever
mieht have used it. He slipped into the
north wing merely TO reconnoiter. He
wasn't so hurried then, for he thought
there was no possible chance for the
BODY being discovered before morning.
And the first thing he saw was the
sword clock. He took the sword and left
the corridor Just in time, I suppose, to
escape Francis.
There was a short silence. I looked at
Sue-Sue With her millions-Sue looked
at Pucci. Mrs. Byng stared into space
snc her lips moved absently, and Pucci
scratched Mrs. Byng's cogitations be-
came audible: - and Stravsky ar
rived after Jim and, naturally. regis
tered. since he was to be about the
place for a while, and used momentarlly
the room Marcel thought was unused.
Marcel did not see hinl-that was luck
for Lovschiem Then. after Stravsky's
murder. they had to change the regis
ter hoping to keep Stravsky's identity,
/ and thus any connection with them, a
/ secret"
Then" pursued Mrs Byng earnestly.
/ what happened to the car Stravsky
had used when abducting Sue?'
/ 1T was Lovschiems car I replied
/ YEARLY All Lovschiem had to do was
pu; it back in the garage
Mrs. Byng gave me sharp look, gath
cred up her knitting and Pucci and
vanished. Vanished is a singular word
to use in connection with one of Mrs.
/ Byngs substantially, but that is what
she did.
1, too. showed back my char and rose.
Sue looked up. startled
I've got to go back I said I'm
glad things have worked out for you.
I hope you enjoy your-ten millions.
I had my foot on the first step Of the
stairs when Sues quiet observation
reached me.
I haven't ten millions" she said
What did you say?"
Il haven't ten millions. A cable Ii ON
the lawyer this morning said so. Some
thing happened; l don't know what Tx
ectly. Anyway, it's gone-the ten mil
lions
I walked to her. 1 said:
See here. Why did you take the
dagger from Stravskys chest anc> re-
place it on the clock?"
ITO protect you" she said stetdily
and then looked up
1t il mistake to say that the hap
piest moment in your life does not re-
peat itself. for it does. and even pro-
longs itself. Sue came up into my arms
and loved her so much that thete was
rothing in all the world but my Sle
She said she'd marry me and go any
place with me.
Then she became silent. I lifted her
face and asked what was wrong
Il was only thinking" she said. that
there's million or so left But it's too
late for you to do anything about It
now" she added hurriedly.
(THE END