Show The Eye of Lucifer I IBy By Frederic F F. Van de Water Th The Je 10 of ot r n ai th the tb n na same m Inn to ts an ast enormous green cree diamond 1 found oun as aO aco to and coining down own through hIstory h by pOr niece than life ills Itself liMIt and each ach ch In III turn thereby toeing losing both bOlh Th The New rew Tork York stale troopers trooper ar are ar called I upon llOn to w solve eol l the mysterious murder r ot of Strake Str l u ju millionaire and nt Delaney J k I. working with wh a rookie Sieve Cameron Cameron Cam Cam- eron on the Job Ana the tb dead oJ sass's maa s er has ba been bun b be- be cau au e she ah discovered the murder r Her brother lions Horl e dro her away afterward after afler ward and sod the pair paIrs movements movement have hay aroused suspicion u Then l ii I stabbed to d death dath ath and ad Ana Ass is Ii b beIng cared eared for at atthe atthe the farmhouse of Eli 11 Sleek Meek b by Sleek Muk kether Somers mer Steak Meek hint him self elf h. h hn has lowed Into Inlo Mi hIs garage carter a ear ur that was wn Wrt wrecked k d the night of the tb murder and the gasolIne tank of which was Wu as m mysterIously cut open What for fort 1 is I. the Ih question which hat has stirred the lb trooper troopers wOrking on the murder Chief of ot Wilker and Cameron are ar r al rivals In this this' business U a n a. well 1 a for forthe forthe Tn the attention o of ther More lr mystery I Is 11 added to the affair when Ell Eli Sleek Meek report a robbery at his hi house hou but find nothing f stolen Ana still III ill and hysterical I I. I unable to ta be questioned Meantime nil Ell Sleek Meek h. h nan has disappeared lea testing his hla ear car beside the road and It looks looka like foul play Delaney and Caneron Cameron Cameron Cam Can eron find the boll body boily ot of Ell Eli Meek Sleek tied to A. A tree and tortured Nearby the they discover dis di cover Lea Le lo 1 an old settler Danny Dann Cameron blurted Incredulously in incredulously tn- tn credulously youre oure letting that that U Delaney Delancy grinned savagely and shook his head H. Les Is telling the truth Steve he ho said lie He hadn't a athing thin thing to do with it Like 1 I told you before he hasn't the guts I Well We'll cU talk later Inter Take off your your sheepskin Ive I've cut holes already and with VIUl your our Jacket and mine we can make a a. to faIr middling stretcher Well We'll cU hn have 0 to carr carry Meek out our lIe He came to for tor Just a a. minute and then fainted a again and his heart sounds like lUte a a. clock running down Pretty far gone Shock mostly You cant can't normally kill kUl a man by hurting his feet even en the way those devils did Cameron fumbled obediently at atthe atthe atthe the buttons of ot his Jacket and still stupefied d with incredulity handed it over to the sergeant I r dont don't see he lie stammered as Delaney Delancy gently withdraw his own Jacket from beneath Meek and squatted with both garments before the saplings he had cut I I mean 1 I dont don't understand why youre you're YOUre YOU're- Who did It then If it Les didn't didn Dont know know quite quite the sergeant replied still still bent over o hi his work worl only it wasn't Les Lea and it was was was- Listen Kid Can you h imagine a Woodpecker smoking ts of ot otan an any sort especially trick ones with pasteboard tubes at their ends Well 1 I found four such uch butts right in front of ot that birch tree They'd j been using them on the poor old bO boy And Anti another thing he lie added as ashe ashe he ho thrust a pole through a a. sleeve ol 01 each of ot the Jackets a man unless unless un un- un- un less Jess hes he's got more brains than all th the woodpeckers put nut together doesn't stop a Job of and torture to shoot a a. gray gra gray squirrel squirrel-as tin nn alibi There There- that's as as good a a. as we can make It'll hold him al all right lIe He stood up again lean Ican an and competent competent com corn in his gray ray and black uni torm lorm and thrust one hand into a breeches pocket And furthermore said Sergeant Delaney elaney some one did take a a. cra crack k kat at Les Just as he said We r heard the the shot shot and Ive I've got ot the empty cartridge He lie held field the tiny brass cylinder cUnder out In his cupped palm I It was fired from the same pistol pistol pistol pis pis- pis- pis I tol that that killed Ithamar thamar Strake he I concluded gently A double explosion came down the lie wind followed by shrill hallooing Les has sighted a car the ser sergeant geant exclaimed Lift him onto that stretcher Easy now All Allright right Lets Let's go o. o The They lowered tl their burden over over- the embankment into the road and rested it gently on on th the pavement pa Cameron wiped the sweat from his eyes es with a a. scarred briar hand Delaney Delaney De De- laney Janey knelt beside the motionless figure and then rose quickly and nodded to Walker alker lies Hes still all alive e he said sardo Give a hand Wade Get him lm into the the- car On the broad face o of the police pollee chief indignation battled with unwilling unwilling un un- un- un willing horror From Front the front se seat t tot of ot the car the fingerprint expert craned his neck and behind the machine machine machine ma ma- chine Lea straddled Harrigan Harrigan Harri- Harri gan and clutched the bridle of ot Han Han- one of ot his long lone on legs cramped in In a too short stirrup the other with its injured ankle dangling lax Murder anker managed to utter Till Thi yap was right then Th Thought hed he'd gone crazy craz- and was at us first Who did this Danny Well ell talk later latet Delaney snapped This is a hospital cac case Wade Vade Got a blanket Spread It Iton Iton iton on the back backseat seat scat then Now Wow lift IUt him in no kid Th There re Hell He'll ride comfortably com corn I guess He lIe hesitated an Instant eyelids and lips Ups compressed and then cut short another of ot Walkers Walker's queries with a a. string of ot commands Les Lea climb off oft that horse and get et etIn In back here bere Squat on the floor and hold that body on the seat Ill I'll want you Jou later Steve Ill I'll ride as far tar as the West Duquesne Duquesne Duquesne Du- Du quesne house arid then go the rest into town the running run run- of Oc the thea a way on ning board You ride down to Meeks Meek's eek's and tell his children what's happened Break it t as easily as you ou can Walt nit there till I phone Ill I'll call up from the tho hospital Drive slowly and easU easily Wade or you'll ouli have ha a corpse to take out of there The poor old boy it is almost gone one Slop Stop for me at tIle the hotel Ill I'll stable Harrigan and be with you 1 0 T Walker nodded A no none too hearty agreement clambered ov over r his as- as 1 blatant and plumped himself behind the thc wheel Les Lea 1 Pouting already was WI squatted on the floor of the Delaney Delancy swung Into the tle saddle tossed Hannibal's bridal rein to Cameron and spurred into a gallop in the wako wakool ol of f tho automobile Cameron rode roe more slowly down tho hill hi toward the Meek home Ilia Ilis Ils tusk task was wad bitter biter In Iii his mouth and rehearsal after thereof mode made mae It only additionally dIstaste dIstaste- fu ful Hannibal's trot slowed ed down of ot Its It own o accord to to toa a a e sober walk as Its 18 he turned Into the lano leading heading to tho the house The trooper tied te him himin himin hm in the barn ban and approached the dwelling with wih his hi task takk still sti l pared re Molly Somers opened the he kitchen door deor dor at his hs hc hesitant rapping I and smiled shyly Hello he croaked croake an and cleared his throat Hello Helo she Ih h replied and ar then the splendor of ot her task tak overcame her timidity Look Lok she he said pointing to a a mound of ct evergreen on the kitchen kichen I table Im Fm Im making makinI Christmas wreaths wrEaths to to hang in the he windows Sister showed me how ho and they'll theU please Santa Santa Claus Clous she said sid You do honest and truly believe beleve In S Santa nta Olaus done you rou Honest and truly he answered with wih a a. constriction about abut his heart hert Wheres heres your our sister honey In the parlor and I mustn't go in she sho replied But maybe you ou can Did you yota OU find Dad Da f he opened the hall hal door Oh sure Cameron replied with wih specious carelessness You go ahead with I 1 wont won't disturb you any any anymore more He lie Ie hesitated a a. long minute long minute be- be tore fore ore rapping on the closed door be beyond beyond beyond be- be yond which he ne could hear Esther moving about In the kitchen kichen Molly MoUr her faith In Santa Claus reinforced sang over over her work it in fn a high sweet voice olce and the pungent odor of ot evergreen evergreen ever ever- green oreen drifted dried out and stifled tion ton He Tie found himself trying to rub from his mind the memory of the th sagging figure bound to the feet birch tree and the terrible broken G Gosh Sll he lie muttered to himself at Christmas time timi He le squared his shoulders drew a adeep adeep adeep deep 1 and knocked upon the door Yet he lie hesitated ed a s second cond when Esthers Esther's yol voice e him with a touch of ot suspicion Who is isit it S She She he opened the portal herself herselt after aCer his reply Her face was wa flushed and her tier eyes bright ht and over he her liet shoulder he caught a glimpse of or a i tree a dark fragrant triangle of fire upon which a a. few balls ant and stars of tinsel already shook and glittered Open pasteboard paste paste- board boxes packed Backed acTed with wih even more brilliant briliant trinkets trinket stood on the table with a unwound half roll rol of ot cotton coton presently to be transformed lito into snow S Come Corne in the girl whispered and shut the Im I'm Im fixing Im fixing this for Molly and I dont don't want her to know about it Have you ou heard anything about dad Id I'd Id almost forgotten him Ive I've Ive been having sucha such sucha a a. a a good time His lIis eyes and nose turned traitor to his resolution The gleaming trifles tri tn- trl- trl flee fles on the tree stirred as he lie closed the portal and the warm scent of b balsam l blurred tle the stark picture in tn Ills mind with witha a a. hundred halt half memories He ile Ie cleared red his throat and In amazement amazement heard herd himself speaking almost casually I 1 came to tell you rou its it's Is I's all al right We c foun found him over toward Woodpecker Wood pecker hollow He Me le must have misunderstood mis- mis understood us we were going joing to meet meet him there Hed He'd hurt his foot foot fell foot fell down and banged it ban It up Delaney Delane and Walker alker have up taken laken him into town to have It i looked jitter fter In he lie saw that there was neither alarm nor suspicion in her face mused and Poor old Dad she poor us us us-a. a little too Hell He'll Hel be about as cheerful as a a a barn owl tomor tomor- row riv w. w Was as he hurt much We Ve couldn't tell tel whether th the le leg S was was broken or not Cameron went ent wenton enton on smoothly The were going to take him to the hospital for tor an X ray I think Her eyes ees were on the tree tee as she replied S Somehow I wouldn't mind so ao much if It i they kept him in the hospital hospital hos hos- pital until alter after aler tomorrow Th That's tsan ts t.'s tsan an awful thing to say sy she caught caught herself hersel up about anybody at Christmas time isn't it But he complains so and hell hel throw fits its over O the extravagance ance of ot this tills tree though Ive I've saved every penny penn out of what he gives me to run the house on Id I'd Id like Molly to have hae one r really l y- y yh h happy r Christmas tm 8 before she site gets too big bit to believe beJo In Jn it I alI all al I kno know he supplied gruffly as a she sho paused us d. d But Hut Im I'm Im not going to fu fuss tUIS a about It I she resumed with wil a a. bright snub Imle and picked up a a. tinsel star from tim the table Do you ou suppose before you ou go you OU could put that 0 on te Ie top the of tree for me I cant can't quito quite reach it i is it As s a Christmas tree decorator he lie assured her taking the star atar Im ImIn Im ImIn In tr great at demand In the best beat house house- holds l Fifteen leen minutes later he lie placed a final dab of ot cotton on a lower branch ane and stepped back with wIh his head hend cocked on one side aide to admire the effect The dark habit of ot the tho fir fr was over with bright 1 meretricious geniE gems ems dotted with wih snow ZI zig Z and crossed cries by strands of ot tinsel I bo be bettor better h he announced announced announced an an- an- an weve a I. I good Joo Job job Youve done a I good Job she corrected Im Im awfully awfully- It I would be nice he he sa said d slowly lila his eyes ces still upon the effulgent tree If next year e do It I n again together I I-I I I sort of feel wed we'd do things well en together always She hummed to herself as ns she slid bent over the table replacing covers coverson on the pasteboard box boxes and piling ping the tho Only the reddening curot curve cur of ot her him she had heard Ether Esther ho ordered red look Atme at atme me She obeyed reluctantly and ho he found himself breathless and gropIng groping groping grop grop- ing clumsily for tor words Sho She spoke first Dont be ai illy she eh he suggested with Jh forced lightness but he saw nullification of 0 her words words' in her eyes and stepped toward her hie Dont be be- silly he retorted Esth Esther A tapping sounded 0 on the door Esther Molly's voice said plaintively plaintively plain plain- Miss calling you OU and the tIm telephones telephone's nes ne's ringing and ring ring- ing S Damn said sald Trooper Cameron to the empty room In an nn Instant she called caled him and he lie followed her lien out Into the hall hail hal She handed him the receiver cool and ands and's possessed If l again Ser Sergeant Delaney Delane wants you ou she said and ran upstairs Steve Delaney's voice sounded nasal nasally In ih his ear car The old boys boy's still sti alive Tell Tel Miss ss Somers theres there's no use USo in her coming to the hospi hospi- tal She cant can't se see see him anya anyway How did she take it I Well ell Cameron replied with wih a a. cautious cautious' glance glance- at at atthe the stairway above I put It mildly This is Christmas eve and they were getting got get oct oct- ting tin the tree ready and everything I hadn't the heart heart Doctor thinks hinks hell he'll hel pull pul through the voice voie resumed Maybe youre you're yourt right Im I'm coming back to the hotel right off oft Meet leet me there there Cameron hung huns up the receiver and retrieved his hi sheepskin Jacket from toe tile parlor As he returned to the hall hal Esther Somers Somer haled him from the head of or the stairs The They think he told her glibly Ibl that Sir Mr r. r Meek leek better sta stay In the hospital overnight Delaney Delane says I for you ou not to bother to come In n because It its it's after visiting hours hours- hour and you ou couldn't see ee him anyway h Oh and his lila leg isn't broken after ater all al He lie lingered Un ah Instant at at the stairs stair's foot while she looked down at him and then back through the open door of ot the bedroom Well 3 cl goodbye he said ald at 1 S length Goodbye she he replied and and 1 Merry erY Christmas S To b taj ha continued tomorrow |