Evening star., 1940-06-30
CHAPTER XII.

S11AI L cTb ALI.
Lucy awakened the next morn
ing to the sounds of commotion in
the upper hall. 1t was 7 o'clock,
she noted as she threw on a robe
and opened her door and stepped
out
Elizabeth and Uncle Merit were
In the hall, and Uncle Merit was
rapping loudly on the door to La
Vals room. Just then Bertha ap-
peared at the head of the stairs,
with Guy following her. Shed evil
IDENTIFY been sent to fetch Guy.
Bertha worried because Laval
didn't come down." Elizabeth told
Lucy, "and now-we can't seem to
rouse him"
But it's absurd to think-anv-
thing could have happened to him, /"
Merit said.
"Oh, is it?" Guy asked. ct SUD-
pose what happened to Uncle Luke
was absurd, too? I thiught last
night when Laval boasted of know
ing something that would pin
the murder on some one, that
he was an ass for saying any,
thing about it before he'd seen
Chalmers. This proves it, III
wager" He pushed past Merit and
tried Laval's door, to find it locked
Bertha, however, produced a key
that fit. There were she explained.
Two keys to every door in the house.
Uncle Merit followed Guy timidly
Into the room, while the three wom-
en- waited in breathleSs anxiety out
side. 1t wasn't more than a second
later that they both came out again.
Guy closed the door swiftly and his
eyes met Lucy's with an ominous
look.
Uncle Merit Pale.
Uncle Merits face was bereft of
every vestige of color, his breath
came in harsh gasps, and, his FORE
head cleaned MOSTLY. His lips
trembled as he tried to speak, and
he remained silent, putting a hand
weakly to his forehead as if he
might be faint. He sank into the
chair Bertha, with remarkable pres
ence of mind, showed toward him.
Laval" he gasped. Somebody
tried TO-
Tried but not quite succeeded
IN killing him!" Guy finished. He
blinked at Lucy as he took off his
thick glasses, wiped them. You'd
better go down and phone Chal-
mers right away, Lucy; tell him
what's happened. He'd better bring
an ambulance"
But who-would could have"
Lucy began. She was remem-
bering how something had awak-
ened her in the night. That must
have been when it had happened.
She shivered involuntary.
Are you going?" Guy demand
ed. "Oh shall I? What are you
waiting for? Do hurry, Lucy! Every
second counts! I'm going to stay
here and make sure nothing's
touched"
Lucy stumbled down the long
stairway to the hall phone. No
one outside of the five of them in
the house knew that Laval had in
formation for Chalmers. But it was
impossible that it could be one
of them. Her hands shook as she
took up the phone, and when Chal-
mers answered she was almost too
agitated to tell him what had hap
pened.
Miracle" He's Alive.
Chalmers and Tony watched
closely as the doctor gave Laval
a quick examination before having
him taken down to the ambulance.
NASTY blow at the base of the
SKULL" Chalmers muttered, with
this paperweight."
Whoever did it fully expected it
to finish him." the doctor observed,
land it's only miracle that he's
still alive"
How long will it be before he'll
regain consciousness" Tony asked.
He may not" the doctor said as
they went out into the hall.
There may be fingerprints on the
weight, but I doubt it," Chalmers
said. Our only hope is that he
does become able to talk and can