Show fiCTION T THE LAST CRY Y Gat tet III By NORMAN O FREILICH TTE STOOD outside his uncles uncle's HE room and as he listened for tor a brief moment to the labored breathing breath breath- breathing ing coming from within his features features fea tures became distorted by some sinister emotion For the physical wreck within the room his uncle between him and his tance Only upon Jason Stoneleigh's death would he come into his estate and only yesterday he learned from Doctor Phelps his uncles uncle's physician that old Jason would perhaps live for years It was then he had made his decision Alex clenched his fists as he thought how simple it would be to strangle the life out of the old man Minute but but there was a an 3 3 Fiction easier way one which would never throw an inkling of pf suspicion his way His uncle kept a loaded gun in his room eccentric as he was be lived in fe fear r of his life lite He lie kept only one servant who would be away today and there would be away today Alex smiled to himself deeply satisfied with his plan as he entered entered en en- the room He lie greeted his uncle with robust good cheer but buthis buthis buthis his uncle a dark scowl upon his thin thin bony face tace sat lat in his chair silently There was no movement In his body I Arent you feeling any better ho he asked with feigned concern and then the eyes of the two men met and their glance seemed to sweep aside all oU pretense between them Its Ita been a long lone wait walt hasn't It t Alex the old man said with biting contempt but bot Im I'm afraid It will even eveD be longer Doctor Phelps has bas been quite Quito encourage lag ing Alex edged toward the desk In which the gun run would be He lIe opened the drawer felt the brittle coldness of steel He lie swept about to Jason Stoneleigh and the gun was in hi hl hi hand You miserable wretch he heI slurred I wont won't have to wait walt a aday day longer lonier I The old mans man's eyes oel stared wide with terror Ills His body did not rise from tram his hi seat loat as though b be might be frozen with fear teat There was wal only a pitiful cry bang for tor It It AlexiA Alexi A MOMENT later with detached A calm Alex wiped the gun BUn clean of 01 his hta own fingerprints tI and then placed the weapon in the murdered mans man's hand He ne took one last glance glanca about the room saucing himself there was no trace of ot evidence He lie was sleeping soundly that night nigh happy in the thought that in th the morning be he would be a wealthy man But Out I it was almost midnight when he was awakened by bl the police He lie was ordered to get Itt into his hi clothes at It once But X I dont don't understand he protested pro pro- tested hl hi his face tace white and drawn drown Then Theu be he succeeded in tD controlling his fears realizing of course that this would be only a routine invest gatlon gation Surely nothing could have gone wrong He hastened into his clothes The police drove him to the house of his uncle It seemed all of them were awaiting him the him the states state's attorney at torney men Jasons Jason's servant and andIn andin andin in the background Doctor background Doctor Phelps Im here to give you gentlemen gentlemen gentle gentle- men every help he be said gravely and the sound of his voice gave him sudden ludden courage Im terribly upset to hear bear of my uncles uncle's an sui cede cide Suicide Youre You're certain It II was suicide Tho The question waa was hurled burled roughly at him Panic gripped him and his eyes turned desperately to Doctor Phelps Surely Doctor Phelps you can cantell cantell canten tell ten them how absurd it is to think otherwise You can tell teU them of my uncles uncle's brooding over his ill The doctor stepped toward Alex his face stern almost menacing I T can only tell ten them the truth Alex Alex Alex- Yes the truth Alex pleaded Your uncle suffered a stroke a week ago and ago and the gun which Ic killed led Jason Stoneleigh was found In his right hand hand t the hand the le doctor paused paused- and that hand and the whole arm were paralyzed |