Evening star., 1940-10-12

didn't mean any harm, really. Only
pretty stuffy. and I thought I'd in
ject little zip into it"
Your sense of humor is some
what perverse," remarked Hum
phries dryly.
"Oh, there's no need rubbing it
in" Milo replied. Besides, how
could I have known that some one
was going to take just that oppor-
tunity to polish Stephen off? 1 was
lust exercising one of my few tai
entS."
"Talents?"
"Yes. I'm something of an ANA
teur ventriloQuist. I'm telling you
this because if I didn't you'd be
sure to find it out sooner or later,
and you might as well get 1t from
me. Oh, I'm no Edgar Bergen, but
7 did clown around in some OF the
PLAYS at Harvard So, you see, the
ladv in the rusty black was right
when she said that the SOUND
seemed to come from somewhere In
the roof of the cavern. 1t was just
simple matter of voice projection.
And then, when the lights went on,
and I saw Stephen crumpled In
heap on the floor, my first thought
was that the sound had given him
more of a shock than had intend
ed. and that he'd had a heart attack
as a result. That was why felt I
had to see for myself just what had
happened. And after I did-well, to
tell YOU the truth, I was in a panic.
I was afraid that you'd suspect
right off that the chap who had
laughed had done it just to divert
the attention of the group while he
was performing the ghastly deed"
Wasn't So Sure.
THAT was my first thought"
Storm admitted. "Afterward, l
wasn't so sure. But you must admit
it was pretty childish sort OF
prank He fixed his direct gaze on
Milo.
The young man writhed under his
scrutiny. Il know it was, sir" he
said painfully. Then by an effort
of will he forced himself to resume
his air of bravado But, after all"
he said. with obviously forced light
ness. you can't arrest me simply
because I went in for a little anna
teur ventriloquism I'm sure it's not
a penal offense even in Colorado.
1t was a silly trick, I'll admit. but
YOU can't prove that it was anything
more"
"Oh, we'll take your word for it
for the time being" Humphries said
quietly. He jotted something in his
notebook. You may go now. Mr..
Shelton. Please tell Dinwoodie to
send Leslie Ballard in next"
"Right-o," said Milo. He was out
Of the room like shot.
A moment later Stephen Billiards.
stepson entered the room. There was
an electric and vital quality about
Leslie Billiards. personality that
contrasted favorably with the some
what dissipated aura OF the young
man who just left.
$50 this is the chair of inquisi-
ton" he said, sinking into the bat
tered oak armchair that Milo had
Just vacated. His hands grasped the
arms of the chair. They were COM
petent hands, finely made and dex-
ferrous. Storm remembered that Iris
had intimated that Leslie had at
one time thought of entering the
medical profession.
A Surgeons Hands.
"You have a surgeons hands" he
said almost involuntarily.
"I thought so once myself" Leslie
said a trifle ruefully. Took pre-
medical course in college. as a mat
ter of fact, but I gave up the idea
long ago."
"Was your stepfather instrumental
in making you come to that de-
cision?"
wherever did you get that idea?"
Leslie looked at his questioner IN
some surprise.
1--WE have ways of finding. out
these things" Humphries answered
noncommittally.
But his discretion was hardly
needed. Leslie evidently knew his
cousins proclivities for gossip.
Iris probably told you that" ne
remarked. I'm afraid the milk OF
human kindness turns sour When
ever Iris thinks of my sister Joan
or me. But actually, had no quar-
rel with Stephen on the subject.
You see, didn't want to go in for
Just a routine medical practice. I
wanted to specialize in tropical
medicine. It would have meant years
abroad under the most difficult cir
cumstances. Stephen told me frankly
that he thought the whole idea was
far -fetched-just boys dream. ne
said. Of course, feeling the way ne
did about it, he wouldn't finance me