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Show ifc ' 7 x f . SALT LAKE ihgt.' r i -- - -- ental ongin. To him, one nght, comes NELSON BARLOST, a young society wastrel who has-- Jfeh i 4 i. ,ji - asU! i - circumstances that put him u uthman $ From Barlow Othman worms a power. Story concerning STAMFORD MMSDEV, BarlmJtfrveid, .mfiAssA znittp yard The tale bos to do with a gwl, abandonhd years before m the milage of Nero, Maine, end a child, supposedly Meridens, Oth, man thereupon announces that he it tn love with fLORA MARSDEN, Stamford Marsden s daughter, and promises not only to help Barlow out of hit difficulties but to make him rick if he will bring about the match. Barlow agrees, rather dutasletully, end lavs out a cempmgn of courtship tn the course of which Othman rescues Marsdent unsuccessful shipping business, contributes to Mrs. Meridens pet chanties, and makes himself generally agreeable to die family. Meanwhile Othman has acquired control of e paper on which FIJI UP KENDALL, a distant cousin of the Marsden t, u working as a reporter. Kendall U hopelessly in lose with Flora, and is not at oil pleased when Othman sends him off la Maine to investigate the story about her fathers past. I la finds Marsden't supposed child, a girl known as Maria Marsh, working in a cheap hotel A kept by e certain Mrs. Chadwwli. woman book agent he is told, has been there making inquiries about Mane a short tune before. Dreamily the girl turns up in New York in the cere of a women who tolls herself Mrs. Smith and who claims to harm kept e boarding house which was the acme of Marsden's old affair. One day, mi the street, Mrs. Smith introduces Marie to Flore es her sister e proceeding which compels Kendall to tell Flore ebout ha investigations. All the tune Othman has been posing es e sympathetic friend of the Mar dens, trying to protect them fram e scandal of which, thus far, none of the family cent Flore knows anything. Kendall duply perceive how things ere working out, end when he recognists JENKS, Othman s butler, as e mat he once saw leaving Mrs. Smith's apartment, he accuses Othman openly of perpetrating fake. The two come to biotas, and ffien. doll it ejected from the house by Jenks. Othman displays hi bruises to Flora, who is swept by sympathy and indignation into e promisa to marry him. Kendall, in da Spair, sends Flora e note tellutg her ef certain discreditable things he has heard about Othman. Shortly afterward ha resummons from Menders. The la, ceives ter has been visited by Mrs. Chadwick, whom ha seems to know, and has been told by her about Maries disappearance from her home in Mama end the fact that Ktndall has been making inquiries about her. At the Marsdea home Kendall learns that Flore, upon reading hit note, has gone straightway to Othtnans house. Abandoning his quest of her father, he follow Flan, to find that Othman has been shot deed. Flore has been tom by serpents hurrying down the stem, end the house is full of police. The valet end butler tell the detective that another woman had called before Flora, and that Barlow was In the house token the shooting occurred, look also speak significantly of Kendalls hostility toward Othman, but the reporter slips away before the police have tune to detain him, .The detective then turn to questioning Barlow. sbm 5w INSTALLMENT VtO. flora Give Her Story. THOUGHT whoever did It couldnt be I told Mr. far sway, said the valet. Willltts to stay by the body while I took a look. I gave a look around the ybom here; then I went into the bedroom there and took a took; then I ran upstairs and looked through the hall. I didn't see anything ont of the wav anywhera Of course, I didnt take much 'time. I was gone maybe five minutes. Then I cams back to this room. When I got back here Mr. Bar-lohad gone. Mr. Willltts said hed gone down to the library to wait for the police. Nothing else happened until you came only -- Mr. Whlitta covered him up with a sheet" ' Sergeant Ferguson came to the corner, with a point to be decided. For while this searching and questioning went on upstairs, Kendall was sluing in the main hall, virtually a prisoner under the paternal eye of the stout, elderly policeman who had been stationed there. He had been growing restive under the confinement and finally made a vigorous protest which the policeman patiently relayed upstairs by means of the telephone. That reporter from the Forum Kendall wants to get out Pop George's got him -- V downstair." I thought he didnt come in." said WeL bssky. " Seems he was trying to break in at the ether door. Wilson found him at it and brought him Inside. He's kicking to get out . now." " Turn him out and don't Jet him in again," " the captain directed. Then to Jenks: Nothing more Just now. Ton con all go upstairs if you want to; bdt nobody can get out cf the house yet." He was rising as he spoke. The valet rose, also, tightened his bony Jaws, Ms narrowed eyes fired on the"offlcbr with an unmistakably significant look. Evidently there was something on bis mind, welhasky moved some steps away from the others and; with a look, invited the valet to follow. Thus apart from the others, Jenks spoke under his breath, the muscles of his Jaw stiffened, peering hard at the captain: "I heard what he said about a reporter named Kendall. If hes around here, he had some-Thing to do wilii II. He heteA He come up her three day ago, tight in this room, and punched Mr, Othman in the face. You can see the mark oil his cheek yet. Mr. Othman hired him for something or other I dont Vnow what it was about." His eyes narrowed still further, vengefully, He hated Mr. Othman, I think it Was some- thing about Mlsa,Marsden. He come up here and punched Mm in the face and swore he'd kin him. He would have killed him then, mebbe, if I hadnt come in. He knows the way UP here. He might have got a key to the servants door and slipped in. He had something to do with 'It" With a sudden , heat he added: .Mr. Othman was as liberal a master ia ever lived Shot down that way " Ilk a dog! Kendall had something to do with tu This information was somewhat disconhe could not Ignore certing to Welbasky; but Sergeant Ferguson, It and shouted, Dick! "sent the word dowhowever, had already No nstair. and Kendall was out of door n. - rr::,;x3.- - gr fit "r m mman rNa !L with the police come objective drama. They stop on the other side of the street also, in front of the house, as much as the policeman in wet uniform will permit. He remonstrates with them In a sort of afflicted patience; Dont block up the sidewalk) move along, move along. Theys nothing to see here, nothing st all to see; keep movin'." So be shoos and shepherds them on. Reluctantly the knots move on caught la ' sky-objec- ted. was standing twenty feet from the door. shut it yoorseuf as you wsnt outT up her Ups a little, hut admitted: Yes, I shut It myself. Othman was standing twenty feet or so from the door. You walked out of the door. then turned round and shut the door behind ' yom Is that it?" He asked the question kindly, k faint smlls twinkling' in his eyes, For J:e,b4a quits unprofessional, proteytly., feeling toward this graceful, hunted creature, with beautiful eyes and sweet Ups. Professionally he had her in his grip, hut he didnt wish to hurt her. ,Het was forty- - , . , three-foiirth- his,-strict- Yretar! Atterenp.! bArdoraetti.s.,;r., about him that I hadqt known before. I didnt know whether tt, was true or not. so I sent for Nelson. Barlow an old friend., Thats the way he came over her Hssaid - hAuirr 'S4r.s6to-,-;- -' man. I knew about this little dinner at his bouse. He was going ta send the announce- - " ment to tb newspapers, 1 thought I must top that at any cost. I telephoned his hous but they said her wag out 1 knew hs would be back soon 'on account of ths dinner, so I called cab. My father and mother have to Tarrytown tonight W keep only up gone had a Job to do. one car. Bo I called a cab. " Now, Mias Marsden, give another " I telephoned again, but he hadnt some thought to Nelson Barlow. He tells me be in. sd L left word that I eras coming. Then was talking to you Just before you started I got in the cab and went up there. We to Othman 's house. Is that true? " went upstairs Mr. Othman and L I told Ehe bad felt quite assured and certain of him ha mustnt announce the engagement I -herself when this man came In. .Now she wasn't ready yet; it must be postponed. I felt in a trap, and helplessly- struggled was terribly disturbed about what I'd against It a moment and admitted: "Ye heard. I couldnt tell him what It was. It that's true" was too shameful. I only Insisted it must be her: he laid It earns before "He Coolly postponed; he must give ms back the anYou had a here early this evening. talk nouncement. He wouldn't do It arguing. with him about Othman. While you went Her face suddenly puckered; "Really, I to Oth man's house ha went to his rooms couldnt tell you what I said or what he and got a gun. Wtv found the gun. He said. I was too disturbed. The more he re-You admits It Ha followed you up ther slated, the more disturbed I was. I know he went out of the room end shut the door finally said that I'd promised, and on ths behind you because you didnt want to see strength of it hed made some money arwhat wa going to happen." The words rangement today for the benefit of my were pitiless, yet he spoke them kindly fathers business; it wasn't fair of me to give like holding out a hand to help her over a my word and then try to take it back after difficult place. I hed made three money arrangement 6he winced from the turning of the thumb, said he could take the money arrangements crew and exclaimed; O, no! O, no! It back; I must have the note; he must wait; I wasnt that Truly, It wasnt I didnt wasnt ready to go on with it. I couldn't tell know anything was going to happen. I him, you know; It was too shameful. W didn't know Nelson waa going there." contended, in that way. Finally he gave me He waited a moment for her fluttering hack the note, because I said Id deny ths hands and breast to subside, and still spoke engagement if he announced It. Hs gave me amiably; " You as I have my duty to per' I had it-the not form, Miss Marsden. I dont want to be Her voice suddenly faltered. Ehe looked any more disagreeable down, biting a corner of her lip. about It than I have to. , "I had ths note in my hand. Ha be he But I am bound to tell realized it was all over with between us. He you that shielding Nelson Barlow is no good caught me In his arms." She bent forward tn her chair, speaking with an absorbed earfor you. Hs wsnt to his 1 knew it waa coming, but f had nestness. lodging and got a gun. no time. I tried to get free. But he was Hs admits it Hs was a strong man. It was more than his muscle. In ths house when Oth. I knesr it was craning two seconds before man was shot We hs touched me. as though hs had said. found him there. We found the gun where., Youve taken my money; you dont walk out You this way. There Was something about It that hed hidden Yt see, beat ms dawn before he touched me. But he trying to shield him can was strong, too. It was as though you were only get yon In bad. KesUy, you'd best tell drowning going down you felt It got to me what happened." do all you knew quickly. I wrenched away, She hit a oorner of got an arm free struck him on Ihe point of herher Up, steadying the Jaw. I knew how. It shook him so that self. " I don't know, I got free, and ran out I shut the door after Mr. I left ms thought he might follow. I was all captain. alive. I didn't bowled over, captain running to the riair-etaknow Nelson Barlow Then I heard that sound behind ma waa in the house. I didnt know what It was really. But It He smiled faintly. startled me more and I ran on down. " But you shut the door The captain nodded and said, When you behind you. Why did you do that? heard that sound, you thought Bartow had I dont know," she murmured. "No shot him." reason. I was disturbed." Her eyes wavered and fell but she re? "You'd had a quarrel with Othman, peated, "I didn't know Nelson Barlow was " in the house." "A difference." "Tou thought Barlow had shot him," he Sergeant Ferguson stepped In, carrying a repeated, rather fatherly than otherwise. light yelllow glove and a crumpled not But the said again, " I didnt know hs was That waa in the coat pocket, he said to In the hous" As the Welbasky, handing him the not The policeman waited a moment to let her captain read it a frown gathered on his think it over, and spoke quite kindly again: face; and he looked ever at Flora with a "Miss Martden, I believe you up to a cercertain accusation which had nothing to tain point Whats more to the purpose, any do with homicide accusing her, after all. Jury in the Onited States will believe you of being but a frail daughter of Ev up to certain point You know, youre the The not was In the pocket of your coat, worst kind of customer for us officers of the crumbled up. It read Mr. and Mr Stamlaw to tackle toughest nut in the whole box. ford Marsden announce the engagement of With anybody else gunmen, yeggs, burg'ara, their daughter, Flore, to Mr. Frederic end so on weve got s sporting chance. No data has been set for ths wedding We can land em if we have any luck. But Your handwriting?" a young woman as handsome as you are To" she said. ehoo! If ehes got any sort of sympathetic "That waa what your quarrel, of difstory to tellagalnst a man who was a bad ference. with Mr. Othman a a about?" actor, why, e might as" well sit down and "Yes." twiddle our thumbs. Im under no illusions, " He didn't care to have It published? you see The public wants it that way. Its Her face puckered with pain. O, no. capWe police the public that turn em tain! Not that! I didnt take that not up servant of the public, so if the public are there tonight. 1 had given It to him before, makes an unwritten (aw that an attractive at his request. I went up there tonight to young woman cant be punished for shooting get it back. That' what the quarrel was a man whos misused her, thats non of our about." business. See what I mean? Ive no motive' ,The captain politely preserved an immoor Inclination to make It a bit harder for bile face, but it was clear enough to Kendall, you tharj my duty requires. I'd rather not at least, that he didnt believe it. In fact, even take you away from home tonight with something like a shrug he handed ths He saw the shock in her eyes at that sug note back to Ferguson, and the sergeant, and went cm . , gestion, then gave him the glove, silently pointing to " But you see how the ease stands: You a spot. Welbasky examined the spot careand Barlow have a talk about Othman. You fully and gav slight nod. Like a patient start fof Oth mans house, Barlow goes tor man with an unruly pupil he returned to bis gun and follows you. He shoots Othman Flora: and hides the. gun. Now, the butler and a Mist Mareden,. yon were rigorous about footman and yourself heard the shot. Sure tt. Ths leather is broken over the middle sufirise it was fired almost as soon as you as knuckle of your glove here. The skin Is left the room. Ther was nobody else around. broken on Othman chin where you struck The butler seems a respectable old chap. You him. Your hair was shaken loose; you shed say yourself that be was down on the second hairpins. I must do my duty, you know. floor. The footman was down in the main Too make it harder than it need be for yourhall when you got there. He couldn't have self, to say nothing ef me. You fought with shot Othman upstairs and beat you down to him, struck him, ran out, and shut the door. ths ground floor. The valet was opt of ths Honestly, if would be much better for you house. We've checked up every other serto clean It up tell me what happened." vant. You see? Let 'alone finding Barlowe Ehe was wincing, fluttering like a snared gun, which h acknowledge there was nobird, her brow contracted; she struggled an body else to do it. Now, Im going to leave ou her a few mtnutes.- Misa Marsden, to instant and turned to Kendall,-helples- sly see if you have anything else to tell me. " giving up: Leave us, please, Phil Id rather tell him He went out into the hall. She heard him alone." give a slight whistle; but he left the door A significant little motion of Capt. and took open behind him, so be could-tur- n head enforced the plea, and he diat her at any moment. Then ehe heard him rected. "Take him downstair pick. See talking on the stair The talk was between Welbasky and what he has to say." Flora raised her eyes to Welba ley's face Sergeant Ferguson, who had been interrogatand said steadily, Pm going to tell you the ing Kendall. The reporter alibi was circumstantial. He gave the name and a detry th, captain." He thought with satisfaccom tion. "That'treal-goodginowjihscription of (he bua conductor jUK-whobaclt platform all the , log through! She waited a moment, with a little twisting way up to Othman street; leaving the bus he bad gone directly t Othman' of her lip to get the narrative straightened house, out in her mind, and began flrmly: "Mr, arriving Just aa ths police were cojning up. This would have been about half an hour Othman and I were engaged day before yesafter the murder. The bus conductor would terday, He cams down here last night to talk It over with the family a family dinner, my , be able to tell, within a few minutes, the time when his 'vehicle wa at the corner father and mother and Mr. Othman and my- self. He was going to make some business - where Kendall alightdIn fin;d, if tfea bus - arrangements for my father's benefit and a conductor corroborated Kendall's statement, the alibi was conclusive. And if Kendall shot donation to charity as a betrothal gift to ma Othman. why ould he have been hanging when the engagement waa announced. We around when the police arrived? Welbasky talked It over. Id promised to marry him told Ferguson to let the reporter go for tht ' with my eye open. I waa going through with it I wrote that note her last night and present, but get him out of the bouse. He returned to ths living room then, but handed It to Mm before my father and remained standing. "I wish youd tell me mother. I aaid he could announce it publish how Othman waa shot," be said, with pa whenever he wished. It In the newspaper This note was a pledge that it was all set- . tieiica. r Ts be continued, tled between ns and with my family. Mr. tceorichti 1834s By Will Pay Othman said he had some friends, in bust- - j JwPi -' , j - , But Use police." That occurred to I me," said Nelson. didnt know anybody , had telephoned the poHe was pale, lice. keeping his eyes to the policeman in the way of a hunted creature in the presence ef , an. enemy, but holding himself in hand. 1 wanted nothing in the bedroom or anywhere else, he added. Yhe nezt question 1 Jarred hlnu When did (you last see Flora Uara-tden- r " He tred to make his one easoal: O, two, three days ago." Why did you follow her up here to-night? The shock Showed in his eyes; there was a nervous questioning in his answer, . " I didnt know she came up her - tonight " You came her in a cab. Whar from? Nelson wavered an instant, tike a fly in a web; but probably they nould trace the cab. From my room Benedick apartments. Oth-ma- n ir Fifty seventh street, Welbaeky gave him an sMitosUv little nod. " You went there to get the gun. How long had you been there before you came here? " Thats your gun," said the police captain. Probably they oouid find that out from the doorman, eo he answered. Not tong; a tew mlnutea." Welhasky repeated the affirmative Tou went there to get the nod. You'd seen her Just before that." The web enmeshed him; he mentally floundered in it 1 moment and admitted, "Well, its true; I did see her. But it had nothing to do with this. I didnt see the use of mixing her name in it You sew her, got the gun, and followed her up here, Welhasky affirmed. 1 dont know what youre talking about," Nelson retorted. With the iritability of crack-lonerve. " Ive got no gun." " But you brought one up here." "No! , Welhasky gave his bead a Uttle shake, like a teacher disappointed in the performance ef a pupil, and aaid to his subordinate, Show him where he hid it." The walls were lined with bookshelves to a height of five feet. The detective went over to a corner, knelt, and pulled out half a dozen books. Reaching behind them, he produced a new black automatic pistol. That's yours," said Welbasky. Nelson said nothing, but an overwhelmed 'confession was in bis pale face. Of course," said Welhasky, as though it were really too simple to require any explanation, " we'd took first for the run. Tou came down to this room and the first place to look would be behind the books." Drily, he sjrted, " Nine times out of ten, when they hide Anything they hide it on the shelf that's hardest to get at lower shelf If It's a bookcase, top shelf if its a closet. And now lets begin (gain: You had a talk with Flora Mareden. You two decided that Othman needed killing. Yon went home to get the gun. She came up here. You followed. Haring plugged him, 'you came back to this room and hid the gun. But you wanted something in his bedroom, so you went up there again. The butler came in before you got it. What you wanted, I dont know; but it doesnt matter now." Barlow gazed a tong moment at ths rug. When be looked up it was evident he had reached a decision; AH right. Say I shot him if you want to. Lock toe up. Ill say no more about it tonight, There was sufficient resolution in it to Indicate that extracting anything further from him would be a matter of time and patience; Captain Welhasky, well sat. tailed indeed with the prpgres so far, had no further time Just then to spend upon Nelson Barlow. The iron, was hot now, and he meant to strike a conclusive blow by getting the young woman into his hands as quickly as possible. But first ha went upstairs to see whether the doctor had found anything significant and to give some direc- tions . is lean, red Item and big nose were no lures tor ladies' eyes a fact which he accepted with a shrug, for mostly women were nuisances. anyhow. But this woman waa so different from the muddied sort of women with whom he mainly dealt fresh, fragrant. Hi wished to he gentle with her. But he reaction was an unprofessional, protec tivs feeling. And his expert eye Instantly pers of ceived that Am weuld have , the Jury with ha from the first took. was tbs first surprise Not that Capt. That Welhasky was bloodthirsty, nor that what a Jury did was any business of speaking. But naturally, if ha made an arrest on evidence that seemed satisfactory, hs wanted a conviction. Anybody that oonvtet-,- r ed this young woman for shooting a dlsrepu- - by tlet out of the room told him. to go downstairs and telephone . ness. He hadnt many associates to weO in society, you know. These war man who had been more his friends than anybody else Be wanted to give a Uttle dinner to them at-hhorns tonight and tell them first. And r'ter hed told them he was going to scad it toth newspapers. Thats the way we left it last night." Her eyes fell and came back again to his i you wanted to get the , y You ptnpejj The detective, Joining Daphne's room. ' ORourke By name, bad Juki brought him back to the library .r Welhasky swung up a chair to face the Captive, and began blandly; You knew Othman pretty well. What do you make ef this? " Nelson shook his head. Its beyond me Some enemy, I suppose. But I dont know the details. How did it happen?" Welhasky ignored the question, and put another: "What did you want in Othman 's bedroom?" Nelson had heard the first question hopefully, but this one pointed a finger at him. Nothing," he reI thought I'd plied, look around see If anybody was there." Still "blandly Welba- - Will Payne fUMraa . FictionJ new got abroad, but abroad it was. A foot , But when Jennie showed them Into the sit passenger, hurrying through the slop, with ting room on the second floor, Welbasky got two surprisca The first surprise was fur upturned cost collar, under an umbrella, notes the group of spectators, catches the wished by their quarry herself. Indefinitely, ' air of something sinister, speaks to a gaping hed bad something In his mind about henr-th-e man st the edge of the jerowd; sort of woman who would be raized up ' What's with Frederic Othman. What he saw was npv gave the subordinate some directions. Soon The man turns his head, absorbed in a afterward he went down two flight of stairs quits different from the vagus picture. Apto the library on the second floor, where vaguely imagined drama, and replies. parently shed beard them in the hall, for Kelson Barlow and the dtocttoa$ggi(tgpqs" Dunno. Somebody ahoy sar, , H fa9,stapdlngjwhenjitJi?jsins, inithe... Frederic Othman, That s his house over room gracefully poised, a young woman who te tr,g for him. there Whereupon the newcomer stops and 'knew how to carry her head qnd should era The police, on taking possesion of Oth- stares through the snowy mist, for Othman Ehe was pale but expecting them. What wan s bouse, had found Nelson in the i famous uama One might suppose they Welhasky especially saw was a freshness, a library, to which ho had returned after view- - matter now, the captain commented. Well non get him again." Be (tapped ever to nee what the doctors were doing; bat in a few minutes another detective came up to report Welbaaky received the report with evident relish, and -- tv - "s. FRIDiniC OTHMA'i, a man of toms mystery, Iwes in lima York in e housor of forbidding ax pact, surrounded by art treasures end other evidences of wealth. mT ark Othman, folks call hun, suspecting Jus orb iccyu-'orj'.- vHt?- V'S? Thus Far The-Stor- - CORNING, APRIL 13.1924.. Y. 2R?7 ' ? TRIBUNE,-SUNDA- J ,v the indefinitely realized tragedy, asking questions which the policeman will not answer, tossing speculations to one another, crossing the street to the crowd that is privileged to stand and stare eo long as it doesn't get too large a crowd like some fascinated, hundred headed monster, with craning of necks, elbowing for a better view. They all know shout Frederic Othman, with his great - -' , Oth-ma- - Liau--all- bull-lik- . , There was only one wound, fired at close range and producing instant death. The old bruise, caused by Kendalls blow, showed on the cheek, hut the physicians pointed to' a small spot on the point of the chin; and when they moved the body a hairpin lay on the rug beneath it. Ylth those slight addltiooal clews Welbasky took Sergeant Ferguson and left the hous Soggy snow was still falling, a disagreeable night out of door; but qn the opposite sidewalk two score or more people braved Us discomfort to gape, across at the house No one con id say bow the otk mystery. wealth and a sort of Satanic glow to his repu tatlon. Individuals detach themselves, disappear into the snow; others fill in the vacant places. Individuals, conscious of wet feet and shivery spines, may give up and move away, but the crowd, collectively, stays and stares hanging upon the show, determined not to miss a detail, avid of every thrill. Some more authoritative persons Join It going boldly up to the policeman, looking Into the lighted driveway, standing wherever they like. They are reporters, nosing for bits that wilt go into flaming mosaic on tomorrows front pages. For tomorrow morning all New York, all America will figuratively Join that crowd across the street and hang upon the drama as the newspapers disclose it One thrill the patient crowd does get Two men, viably clothed with authority, stride into view in 'the lighted driveway. The uni formed policeman runs to open the door of the ear at the curb. The men Jump in, the car roll away, with an imperative hsnk of its horn. Its all over ln half a minute; but for that half minute a comer of the curtain has been lifted; the crowd has seen a flashing bit of the drama; It draws a satisfied breath and waits' patiently for more. The two men in the car are Welbasky and Sergt. Ferguson speeding down Fifth avenue, where the traffic Is comparatively light In the between tides hour, t)j.e. theater crowd having ebbed sway and not yet ebbed back again. They talk it over, or, rather Welbasky does y i he talking whllsYua companion listens. there is a sort of good nature about burly Sergt. Ferguson, whose breed. blunt nose show the scar and dent where it Was broken while ha was still in uniform; also ther is a bull like directness of action when that seems advisable. W elbasky is speaking: "A tong, dark brown coat plain, you know, without any trimming to speak of sort of a rough weather coat, I suppose; big pockets sewed on the outside; and the hat and gloves she wore tonight. All they can remember about the bat is Just a cloth hat, and nobody seems to remember anything about the glove Probably covered gloves rough weather. Eat if we can nail her before ahs gets to anybody, she'll come through, Itll be smeared over every front page ij the country tomorrow mornlng-- I'd like to wind it up tonight." When he rang the belli! Maredehs he was hot as a dog on a fresh scent; and when lb matronly1 maid named Jennie opened ths door she was shocked before ths 'caller spoke-- . Looking up at a tall, Jean man, whose narrow face waa pulled out in a big nose, and a burl? on whose blunt nos had been broken, she read a dread air of authority, something hot to ho denied. Ehe could fairly have spekeq the words tn the tall mans place: Miss 'Marsden In? Were from the police department. Cspt Welbasky end Sergt, Fera guson." , table man would hay his work cut out; for If she had a sympathetic story to tell, shed bowl the Jury over like so many tenpins, and the district attorney might as well twiddle his thumbs. The second surprise was that the young woman had company Besides her stood a young man who looked stubborn, having a square brow with rather Intractable brown hair above it, round gray .eyes, and a dent in his chin. Hello, Kendall," said Sergt. Ferguson. Tou here? We're looking for you. To Welbasky be added, "This Is the Forum reporter." At spy rate, theyd got two birds with their stone, instead of only one. Captain Welbasky addressed Flora with Shall we sit down? " dry humor If you please Her brown eyes held to his face as ah slipped into a chair; he noted that her nerves were sound; she bad herself In hand. Quits as pleasantly, being seated, be added; "Will ou tell us.how Othman wse shot? I dont know, ehe answered, low. It happened after I left him. When I went was out of the room on the fourth floor he standing perhaps twenty feet from tbs door, perfectly well and sound. I know nothing ' of what happened afterward So she was going to deny it! Welbasky had rather expected that from the instant hs saw her standing there with the young man beside her. Denial, gates closed and drawbridge up, had been in her ,alr.- - But with no sign of ill humor, he suggested- - . "But you must have heard ths shot. The servants heard it Her supple fingers Intertwined in her lap, but she spoke steadily: " I did bear pound. But I didnt know it was a shot. Tbs. door I I cams out of was closed behind m came on downstairs and out of ths house. I didn't-know that anything had happened until Mr. Kendall cam here only a few minutes ago and told me Mr. Othman had been shot" The captain abruptly shifted his ground; When did you last see Nelson Barlow, Miss Martden? He noted that the fingers twisted more tightly together, and fairly In spit of herlittle. He self she screwed up her lips knew ehe was holding her eyes to his face by main force, end her voice sounded false: "I think it was Wednesday. sines WednesLightly he asked. "Not - e -- Wel-bask- ei day?" Ehe looked down as though in an effort I think it was Wednesday." There was a slight pause, and .Captain Welbasky remarked. Well now, Mias Mars- den, wed like the coat and hat and glon Will you have that you wore up ther them got for us? The tame ones, please, that poo wore up there- - Sergeant Ferguson will take charge of them." Her nostrils quivered as she drew In a deep breath, rising and stepping over to ring forth m.ifd, Ferguson stood up, too, but nobody spoke until Jennie appeayeij at ths door. Welbasky and Kendall heard Flora murmuring to her at the door and eyed each Other. Ferguson went out with the maid. Flora returned to her chair. , The door that yon cam out of. Miss Marsden, was shut behind you, but Othman to remember: . !. ' Hi |