Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1939-11-07

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WRITTEN FoRAND
WRITTEN FOR CENTRAL PRESS ASSOCIATION
CHAPTER FORTY

THE DETAILED instructions OF
Captain Lancy and the chief were
still ringing in my ears as led the
way back to the lounge. There
found that, except for Mrs. Ruther-
ford and Chloe, who had been sent
to sit with her, every member OF
the household at Hill House was
present, with the addition of Alan
Murray.
II have called you all together
tonight to listen to an announce
ment I have to make, also to ask
for more information, began Cap
tain Lancy.
II am sure the announcement
will be a great relief and satisfac-
ton to you ali. Chief Forrest and
1 were never convinced that DR..
Peake was concerned in the muir
der of his mother"
A long breath Of sheer relaxation
and relief went up from everyone
present. Josie's soft eyes filled with
tears and Neals strained express
sion faded away.
eve have decided that the wound
in Mrs. Peake's breast was made
by a very slender instrument, SIM
liar in style to the paper cutters
we showed you some time ago.
Naturally, we Immediately sus-
pected doctors knife, as there are
two doctors in the household. We
took both DR.. Peake's and Dr.
Rutherford's cases of instruments
for examination"
I started at this bit of informa-
ton. I had not known that Dr.
Pauls case as we'll as Meals had
been under suspicion. l was we'll
aware that I knew only bits of
what the police were doing, but I
had not given DR.. Paul a thought
as the possible murderer. He, as
the first sufferer, through his
mother, I had classed as a victim
along with Neal and Josie. But the
police had not overlooked the pos
sibility of his guilt.
Captain Lancy was going on:
"Our analysts have reported that
the instruments in both cases have
not been used since they were
cleansed with a certain disinfectant
which is used only in hospitals.
This disinfectant, as far as we can
learn, has never been in this house.
That clears up that line and we are
now following another"
1 wasn't foolish enough to jump
to the conclusion that, because the
instrument examination proved
definitely that none of them were
used, Neal and DR.. Paul were for
ever eliminated from the case. But
it was one line Of suspicion which
was proved unjustified.
1.-The three paper cutters have
also been examined, and it is def
nitely proved, by the bits of dust
and rust embedded in the engrav-
ing, that not one of them was used
We, therefore, decided to search
again for the weapon. That search
is now going on while you are gath
cred here"
A prolonged rustic went over the
room. Surprise and dismay were
expressed on each face as we all
exchanged glances. I, personally,
knew that I had nothing to hide,
but it was upsetting to know that
while l sat there someone was 60
ing through my things. I had
swift vision of Josie's room after it
had been searched by the unknown.
Would ell the rooms in Hill
House be in that condition? If so,
1 had a mental picture of Chloe
and me toiling for hours to return
them to their usual orderly imma-
culateness. My heart sank. Even
my thankfulness for Meals &C
knoWledged innocence, on the count
of the instruments, at least, could
not make me feel anything but dis
may
when the grounds were searched
the morning after the murder"
Lancy earnestly continued, 1--WE
found three sets of footprints in
the soft earth of the rose arbor.
Two of these were identified as
those of Miss Gordon and Duncan
Abbott, made when they crossed
through the arbor in their search |
for Mrs. Peal1e. The other is, so far,
unidentified
"Mr. Orion tells us that, when
he ran around the cottages that |
night in an effort to locate the
screamer, he saw a figure come
from the rose arbor and turn to-
ward the front Of the house. Owing
to the density of the fog, Mr.. Orion
is unable TO describe the figure
otherwise than as a fleeing form
Miss Gordon, running toward |