Show r MI JL Y lH l 1 1 l J BL U I I orv i ju LH LI JI r f Jj V 4 Vt fr t. t i fr I C I 0 Lb D. D Fl Jf i The Te The Story of a B Baffling f ling Mu Murder der Mystery T j SI F I. I 0 in the Smart J Set of Washington D D. C. C B BY r Y NA NATALIE TALIE SUMNER LINCOLN A Author hor of The The Man The Trevor Case Case c OI ItlO byn y Do Ap Ut P 0 IM i SY SJ SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING 1 CHAPTERS ERS Police D Detective tecUyo Martin arUn probing th the themi mi murder of James Jarne a nes Donald Donald- has hs suspicion Miss MIS lon IOU I s tots Tremaine the dead mans man's fiancee SI Simultaneously the detective and Dr are seeking to reg regain ln posses posses- slon its it's of t a compromising letter written by br Join Joan to Mrs Enid Forsyth ntH nid subsequently stolen len by Donaldson J idge an old friend of the the Tr d the Is shot ft apt t-kl t killed 1 a at d his home hoine and a Coroners Coroner's finds s Capt Barry Darry ree e rt r tf r the hand of Miss Hiss Phyllis i J gu guilty of the tho crime L Later ter evidence Iden h however ten tends s to cleat clear ln l Has Has- l n and aid attie same sarno time to es ee tab a II a direct f fre t conn connection In t tl ti of James Donaldson Judge t r g t Sanf Sauford t rd CHAPTER Collection edlon Delivery Delhery TEP r right this way s suh suh b. b Mr l. l S STEP STEP Ruth Rutherford ford will be down Iy and Iy and Jackson ushered Capt Barry into int- the tho drawing room g-room The the Tho io ng had bad lost the debonair debonair- manner which had been on ono one of his chief chief characteristics Suddenly he be by hearing a wellI well knowe I Voice v voice Inquiring for Lois Tred Tre- maine And d If Miss Lois cant can't see me Jackson Jack Jack- son Eon as ask Mrs Rutherford berford If It she ahe can rs 3 1 J L B spare ale me ten minutes th the voice con m yris miss nis n i S stop right In In Jackson sO pulled b back k the tho po portieres and Phyllis Sanford walked into the dJ draw draw- n Barry Phyllis placed placeda a trembling i ba hand I d on on r ni the window sill to steady her her- self elf V ll f i 1 J AsSod is my witness v I never shot shotS S in your f iho ho s said ld sol solemnly I am aru amno no murderer B Beloved l b believe in me S i r lo I gny my y love I gave my I Her vo voice e q quivered hered but but she shel I t t trust U u r bravely on I L 1 have faith alth in I j went ent b ay fi word rd Barry I l' l l' l 0 My t My r darling ho ho mur I wi- wi i. i A 1 v- v in i r r Lot Lotus us' us 1 iton on that sofa Phyllis t r le led th the the- WY it t the tho one indicated So jis hed were cro ere the lovers that they thoy f T. T never ejer noticed d' d a t face ce peering peelIng at them f behind d' d the portieres a face in ini I i which 1 ch ungovernable ble rage almost ten ren- tf l d. d the f features unrecognizable I p i i i Tell me Bany ariy what took ook place be be- i. i f y en yo yoU and aId fat father I I asked yo your r fathers father's permission to toI o I fearry you you began He f f then asked me what my prospects n After Arter were ere and about my family ii Hearing ri all I had to say be he was silent J for tor some moments then he be said that he b 1 would consent to 10 our engagement 5 nd s 's JA rr age on one condition I A And that was was brok broke in Phyllis e eagerly g p i That t I from the Royal Navy an and take e u ur my toY my rc residence ence in the thep p United States paused I then went on steadily The condition conk con con- k I. I u un n surprised I 1 asked a few tow in minutes les In tn which to think It over t j f 1 Your fattier father consented and I 1 walked o ito to the be vInd window w w. w deep deeply y pondering S e j c. c h no sound in th fh the room 1 No Nota a sound The The shot came like clap f. f thunder r. r out put of a ibue si sky sicy y I wh aro arou around aroi i d a saw saw your father rather slip r forward w rd on ont on th the d desk s and stood stood ap ap- ap- ap l palled I The liene next t instant t I gathered ii lt together together and rushed to his Bi side r reaching g him Just as the tho door 9 o open cn and Dr McLane anU t d- d For For- j 5 rt dashed ased into the room Wh Whit What t occur oc- oc curved cuned cur red after probably bl know T you do do not think that f father err really llY himself and did shoot ot spasmodically fling n ng the the revolver under the tho chair s where It was found 1 No o. o The BUrge surgeons nR declare th that that- t. t the S wound could not have been In self C v said Phyllis PhylUs Thank God for that j hive ve found found Barry BatTy th that t a Do r rv revolver v iTer I f father th l purchased In London l last st r II l l Is missing f fr from m the drawer w c he lie kept It Yo roti don't dont mean It M sprang t to lila feet teet I I was vas sor l Jed over OTer that revolver and it Jt resemblance t one toone ona I had Oh Mrs r 1 r rd s suddenly con conscious clou of t th s wido a presence I 1 did not not B see e yot yov cO n t In IlL JAn An amused smile lighted ted Mrs Ruth 4 erford's merry eyes as ak as she kIsse Phy Phyllis S 'S I lau laughed laughed- edI shyly In spite apito of hei i v embarrassment embarrassment- r ba ra S D t- t I came to se yot O and md Lois Lois- 1 did not expect to find Barr ii kes S 4 5 than delighted that I 1 1 am more you did Mrs Rutherford's handsome face I Iwas Iwas' Iwas was was' wreathed in smiles I sent for tor for I Capt because I had a particular particular par par- piece of or news for him bim I What Is it 1 chorused Phyllis and Barry Darry I That Capt was seen looking out of the library window a athe as the tho shot was fired tired Thank God stood erect his handsome face faco aglow with feeling then regardless of ot Mrs Rutherford's Ruth Ruth- erford's presence his arm arm rm slipped sUpped around Phylliss Phyllis's slender wal waist t and sh she I pressed h her r tear stained fade face against I his shoulder I Who was it who WIIO saw me Mrs Rutherford Rutherford Ruth Ruth- Ruth Ruth-j erford 1 demanded Mas er enc i I cannot at pr present sent divulge his i name I IDid Did he fire tire t the e shot which h ch killed I father father- asked Phyllis breathlessly j I jNo No o. o If It I thought so I would wo go straight to the tho authorities s wl with such information as r I possess The Tho person who saw you oU Capt was standing outside the house not In tho the library Did he see the murder committed 7 asked No N he Is as much mystified as the rest of oC us Well Well well why Jackson dJ on tell telle me e you were b here ber r r exclaimed a t testy sty voice olce in the tho doorway and Col Tre Tre- Tre maino came over and greeted Phyllis and Has lIas LO Los Lois been down cousin Susan J I dont don't think she is feeling strong en enough ugh to leave her room r replied plied Mrs Mra Rutherford Phyllis PhllIs addressing address address- ing her directly Lois a asked ked me address I to tell you OU that she wants to sec see you Capt Ca t. t Mass tass rec e do you think it I eh eh wise for tor you arid and Miss Phyllis to to eli eh h court the comment your ap ap appearance together will excite asked Col Tremaine watching his two guests closely I l color olor rose rosc and a hot hot- tempered ret retort rt was on his Ups when Leonard M l ane strode into Into the U-e. room oom How you you do Colonel said he at his bis host but Tremaine's Tre- Tre maines maine's manner manne was i Jackson told me to walk In Good afternoon Mrs R Rutherford how arc you ou l his eyes opened in surprise at the Irishman n Ivo ulve been looking for you all day I had to go out on business business- replied re rc rc- rc I plied pIled He was wa conscious I of restraint int in the air How Lois day to-day Colonel asked Leonard eagerly Better was the curt reply TremaIne Tremaine Tre Tre- maIne did not look at the question Very Tery much better better put In Mrs s. s I Rutherford quietly She Sho came down down here a little w while ne ago and went only t upstairs when Se Senor Ribera Ethera Ribera called to see sec me S S Ribera 1 Has Ribera been here bere The Colonel turned his cousin with such abruptness t that she sie actually jumped S. S Yes he was sorry sorry- sorry not not t t. to see you Cousin Tremaine He called to say goodby ho he Is leaving Washington tomorrow to to- to tomorrow tomorrow II morrow for his new postin 1 Mr Forsyth Forsth announced Jackson from the doorway and the Col Colonel nel recovering from his surprise stepped forward to meet the newco newcomer er I Very glad to see you Forsyth Forsyth he hc I said shaking hands cordially You Vou know every everyone one present I think I Indeed I do Fors Forth Forsyth lh took the chair the Colonel pushed push d toward him Mrs Rutherford has my wife called here this afternoon No she has not Did you expect to meet her here Oh no I only stopped to ask aek if you I had any news from your son Colonel I r have havo not sir Mrs Rutherford I quaked Inwardly as she read the gr grim m mI anger gathering in Tr ma malnes nes ne's eyes oyes I I have already informed Detective Martin Marlin who came came to to see me mo earlier I this afternoon that I know nothing of t my sons son's whereabouts and I 1 wish it it distinctly understood that his i x is not to be mentioned in ray pr presence I beg your pardon Forsyth rose Instantly to his feet It is merely my interest t in your s son n which prompted the question 1 I havo tho honor to wish You a aTOry TOry good d day y sir He bowed gravely to Mrs Rutherford and the theother theother ther other r two two m n. n and before re the tho irascible stop him ho he had walked I from om the house hous Well d damn mn my soul t thundered S I Ithe the Colonel Colonel starting for the door H Half Halfway Halfway II way ray there ho he stopped and retraced I his fCo footsteps to where the others I waited hi in petrified ast astonishment If i Forsyth feels that way about it ii beI he be I can go I The butler appeared Mr M Martin Is Is' Is an says hemus' hemus mus II ter toy I Confound the fellow ejaculated jac ted I Cot Col Tremaine Hes making Hes making a Dulst nuisance nuis Duls- t ance anee of himself his his words were 1 interrupted ted by the detectives detective's en- en r. r tr cc S I r Paying n no na attention to the tho others present Martin strode directly ov overto over r to Col Tremaine and placed his his' hand handon handon on the Colonels Colonel's shoulder In In the tho name of oC the thc law Col Tremaine Tremaine Tre Tre- maine I arrest you for tho the murder of James Donaldson Slowly Col Tremaine comprehended ded dod ded the tho meaning of Martins Martin's words then rose shakily shakib to his feet teet Its Its ch ch ch a damnable lie lie ho he stuttered You have no ground on which to base basc such a charge harge Enough to secure this warrant tapping his pocket significantly and enough to your conviction Bah Bali more lies Martins MartInis s eyes fi the Colonels Colonel's s jeering tone one Tho charge hargo is already i on file but ut if it OU caro to hear the particulars particulars particulars par par- now now ho ho shrugged his should shoulders I d ders rs expressively You arc are a collector collector col col- col i I lector of oC r dlan trophies tes Mrs Rutherford Ruth Ruth- erford started and Martin smiled with satisfaction on as he observed her emotion emo emo- tion you youhao you have here in this house t bows bows how's arr arrows s. s and bowstrings Quito Quite true acknowledged Col Trem Tremaine Tremaine Tre Tre- m maine lne and what of ot it 7 James Donaldson was strangled with a bowstring Co Cal Col Tremaine i tugged fiercely at his mustache but i said nothing and l lart Martin art n continued Impressively im impressively lin- lin Im- Im t e y You were at the Belasco Theatre la last t Tuesday night I was not Tremaine stamped with sudden fury and glared at Martin Oh Oh ye yes you were retorted the latter Jatter you not only there but hut I you purchased standing room only knew where your our daughter and James Donaldson w were re sitting silting lly uy unobtrusively you sic down dOVon the aisle and stood behind Donaldson unnoticed in the darkened darkened dark darkened ened theatre then you deftly slipped sUpped the noose noole over Donaldsons Donaldsons Donaldson's Donaldsons Donald Donald- sons son's head and strangled him And what did I 1 do after that The Colonel lent ent ent forward o ward and confronted Martin All very pretty sneered Tremaine But nut low liow are you going to prove it 7 By th the testimony of or the person person per por so son who saw saw you you there Beads of moisture were gath- gath on Tremaine's browIn browIn brow In spite spite spite-of of your fine witness witness- es Cs es Martin Y I was cras' n n tat lasco Tuesday night Indeed 1 Yes indeed snapped Tre- Tre in LD a in ine e his relf elf almost giving way under Margins Mar s 's contemptuous contemptuous contemptuous con con- smile Having provided provided pro pro- vided me mo with the opportunity to kill James Jame Donaldson Donaldso and Donaldson-and- and 1 and the weapon weapon shall shall we aay sup say sup suppose pose you you tell me what motive your jour fertile imagination ascribes to me for committing the murder murder mur mur- d der S Your fear of Donaldson You are mad roared Tremaine Tre Tre- maine Am J I I significantly You forced your daughter to become engaged to Donaldson but that tha wasn't t enough crazed by fear tear you OU finally killed him r I did not I did not reiterated reiterated reiterated reiter reiter- Trem Tremaine ine with passionate fervor He Hev dropped back in his chair Leonard who with Mrs Rutherford Ruth Ruth- erford and Barry arry had ad watched the scene cene with ever ever- I I II S I II I Increasing horror rose and stepped over OTer to fu Martin Mart I Let Letus us end this he began sternly then then stopped s as Ja Jackson entered and approached Col Tremaine Tremain Sense me sub but byars byar's a package package package pack pack- S He held out age age done come fo yo ye 0 He his silver shyer salver Let me me see seo your warrant Martin Martinn demanded Tremaine busily examining his pa package Jage I dont don't stir sUr one step from U this ls His Hi's voice his throat then a ho hoarse ise ie scream of mortal I anguish burst from rom him him he reeled in his his se seat t and before could reach his side aide had pitched forward Good d God Leonard bent over OTer tho the fallen manIt manIt man It is of n no use usei Leonard stood up and glanced at his faced ashen-faced com corn He died like that that snap snap snapping ping his fingers Let me see that p package Here outer wrapping paper Mrs Ru Rutherford with trembling fingers handed it t to Lc Leonard nard His ey eyes s half I started from his head as ho he recognized zed the now familiar red and white label bearing the letters letters C O. O D D and Cot Cal name ss Whore Where is 19 the box he be shouted Hero here stooped over oer and picked it up from the floor where it had fallen The covers cover's still on It it Open it U man mau open it Jt Leonard was was half halt t beside himself with excitement excite excite- ment meat Obediently M ene snatched off the cover v Well what's Inside it iUn Nothing The boX bor that I I held up was empty I n CHAlfI The Secret Secret- t of the a areS are e. e you there called Mrs L LOIS Rutherford id i'd through gh tho partly oven open door dOOl of other her cousins cousin's bedroom Yes come right in and Mrs Rutherford Rutherford Rutherford Ruth Ruth- erford stepping inside the roan found tho the two girls sitting Ung hand in n hand band handon bandon on the sofa I 1 hope hOlH you haven't come to tota th ta take Ph Phyllis a aa away a add added d Lois Phyllis hIJ No replied Mrs 1 R Rutherford Ruther th r ford lord absently She was vas w wondering dIng h how 1 b best to of w st to break thc the news news' of the theIr Ir fresh sh tragedY tragedy to to Lois Lois- Where l' l Is Is Nurs H Hunt nU I 1 dont don't think she l has S S from |