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Show BY WHOSE HAND 7 By EDITH SESSIONS TUPPER, Author ol "By a IImU'i Drtsdth," " The ttlack Dhmnad,' Etc. Copifliht, 183'). ty Wlll.rd Fracker & Co Copjrliht, 1W), lij Street & Smith. it S mmnmmmmm iwwwm mmmewam . ihwh .. aww H CHAPTER IV Continued. "Well, It wnt a most shocking nnd mysterious affair," I observed, as 1 Hung my cigar away and, rising, consulted con-sulted my watch. I saw that I hnd barely timo to catch tho train from Sea Vlow. My horsu was at tho door, and bo, without even a parting word to Angelc, I rodo hastily nway. I had tesolvcd upon my next step, and could scarcly wait until I roarhod New York, to put ray design Into execution. exe-cution. Tho noxt morning I was ushered Into tho prcsenco of the kindly-faced, keen-eyed chief Inspector of police I told him I wanted tho whereabouts of a man named John Williams, occupation occupa-tion that of a valet. A detective was called and at onco detailed to begin tho search, and I went to my ofllco satisfied thnt something some-thing was being done. On tho fourth morning nftor the detective de-tective called at my olllco, and told mo where to find my man. As good fortuno would liavo It, 1 discovered that he was valet to a prominent nctor whom I chauced to know very well. I Immediately took my way to tho apartment of Mr. Harry Sinclair, leading lead-ing man In one of the best-known companies com-panies of tho city. 1 found him iu bed, reading tho morning papers. "I'vo not como to see you," I said, as wo shook hands, "but your man Williams." "Don't tell mo you want my treasure; treas-ure; I really couldn't keep house without hint," Sinclair gayly cried. "No, no; I simply wish to see him on a mattor of business.' Ho may be ablo to glvo mo some valuablo Information." Infor-mation." "Well, here ho la now with my coffee," cof-fee," responded tho actor, as Williams entered tho room. A few words with him wcro satisfactory, and an appointment ap-pointment was made for tho afternoon. At thrco o'clock, thoroforo, tho slcok, tidy valet mado his appearance at my office Taking him Into my consulting con-sulting room, and closing tho door bo-hind bo-hind us, I nskod him point-blank: "You wcro In Mr. Dalrymplo's servlco, woro you not?" "Yes, sir," Williams answerod. "You, I bollovo, wcro tho first to discover his death?" "Yes, sir," said tho man, with a con-vutslvo con-vutslvo shudder. "Tell mo, did you discover anything any-thing unnatural about tho room? Did you find traces of any ono's presence?" pres-ence?" The man hosltnted a moment, and thon said: "Well, sir, I don't like to talk about this. It was a fearful affair. af-fair. I told all I knew at tho Inquest." "Aro you suro you told nil you know?" I asked, meaningly. Tho man started a little and looked anxiously at me. "You would not," I continued, "llko an innocent porson to bo suspected of having caused your master's death, would you?" "No, sir," said Williams, In a suppressed sup-pressed tono. "Thon you had host speak out, my mnn. I am determined to thoroughly sift this mystery. I havo Important cluos In my hands, which I propose to follow. You may bo of great assistance assist-ance to mo." Williams rose, walked to tho window, win-dow, and stood soveral minutes staring star-ing out. I waited patlontly, I saw there was a struggle going on In his mind, and was positive ho would speak. At last bo turned. "I thlnlc 1 had bettor toll you, sir," ho eald, quietly. "What I know has often dUturbod mo. I did not toll qulto all I know at tho Inquest. I answered tho quostlons which were asked mo, but I did not voluntoer any Information. Informa-tion. 1 havo felt thero was some awful secret back of my poor master's mas-ter's death, but I .havo never spoken M any one, except tho Profossor " "Except tho Professorl" I involuntarily involun-tarily oxclalmed. "Yes, sir; and I did not toll him qulto everything. I told him about the bits of root I iound, but not about tho scraps of cloth, torn from some woman's dross." My hoart leaped to my throat What did this man know "How did you como to toll hln nbout tho root?" I asked as calmly a' I could. "Ho asked mo, sir 'Williams, Balr" ho, a day or bo after ho rcturnod, I think It was sir. 'Williams,' said ho 'did you find any bits of this stufi scattered about either of thoio rooms during my nbsonco?' Then ho show ed me sonio roots ho hnd In a little Jar nn ono of his Bhclvs. I looked closely at them, nnd says I, 'Yes, sir, Hint's llko tho scraps I found along sldo Mr. Dalrymplo's bod, sir.' He turned deathly pale, and, rays ho. 'Havo you told any ono of this?' 'No sir,' says I. 'You did well,' says ho, and I must say, sir, ho treated mo most handsome, for ho gavo" mo n good-sized bill, nnd told mo nover to speak of It, and ho would always bo my friend, nnd If I was over In need, to como to hlra." "Doos ho know whoro you arc now?" I nskod. "Yos, sir. 1 wroto him nnd told him I had n good place, and then I met him a few wccUb ago on Fourteenth fctrcot. and he stopped nnd spoko with me, nnd said ho got my letter, nnd was glad I had a flno situation, and said again, If I was over In need, not to hesitate to como to him. Well, sir, I ain't a fool, nnd I couldn't fall to boo thcro wns something back of nil this, and It lias worried mo a good deal at time1)." "Well, what nbout this bit of dress goods?" "I hnvo never spoken of that to n human being," snld tho man earnestly, "but when I was Btralghtcnlng up tho room that morning, down by tho foot of tho bed, lying well to ono side, wn3 a plcco of cloth. I picked It up. It was torn sort of zig-zag lookod as If tho wearer had caught her foot In It, or something of that kind. I'vo kept It ever since, nnd havo always carried it about me." iHI mil M!m JfL riSiiFw "This would tempt her from the cage." "Havo you got it with you now?" I asked with a beating heart. "Yes, sir. I haven't dared leavo It onywhoro, fir tho Professor's acting so strango set nil sorts of queor fancies fan-cies afloat In my head. Thon, too, 1 recognized tho cloth," ho concluded, ns -o opened his coat and drew from his pocket a pleco of filmy, gnuzy stuff, a hroad yollow and black stripe. I took It with shaking fingers. "You say you recognized this?" I asked. "Yos, sir, I'm sorry to say I did. I'vo soon u dress or that sort of stuff often on Miss Cnpel." CHAPTER V. My feollngs may hotter bo fancied than doscrlbod ns I sat staring nt this flimsy bit of gnuzo. Such a trifle light as nlr and yet confirmation, strong ns .Holy writ, of my suspicions. Everything pointed toward my thoory as tho corroct ono. Tho Professor hnd Hod to rao about his knowledge of Williams' whereabouts Ho was evidently evi-dently shielding Satuno, and did not caro to hao mo como In contact with tho vnlot. Waa tho Profossor on nc compllco? It surely '- oked so, and yet whnt motive could havo had? It was a puzzling knot to unfasten, but I did not dospnlr. It was but a week since I hud undortakon this quost, and already I had mado momentous mo-mentous dlscovorlos. "Of course, sir," Williams said, suddenly sud-denly breaking tho profound ullonce. "I dot. . llko to suspect a flno young lady, llko Miss fapel.of such a vlcked act, but, H has bothered mo terribly. I havon't known what to do. Bomo-timos Bomo-timos I'vo thought, as it might be my duty, to go to Mrs. Dalrymplo and tell hur but I couldn't bring myself to do It. Thnt poor lady has had so much troublo. So, whonovor Pro thought about It. something han always said to mo that I'd bettor keep Btlll and wait. Slnco I left there I haven't thought so much of It, but Just now, when you began questioning me, somo way I felt at onco that tho timo had como for mo to speak." "You have done exactly right," I answerod. "No doubt this my.tery will all bo clcarod away, anu no doubt Miss Capel can satisfactorily explain how a piece of her dress came In her brothor-lnlaw's room. You nd not worry over the matter at II. Kejp your own counsel, and if wlsii ou further I will let you ;now." Wllllann bowed respectfully, and con after wont nway. I sat for n long tluio In a brown-tudy, brown-tudy, and tho result of my coglta-Ions coglta-Ions took this shnpo; Miss Sntano Capel was years ago llted by Reginald Dalrymplo. 8ho la f a roongoful disposition. Sho bided her time. Sho discovered that tho 'onomotis roptllo which her cousin rought from Indln, could be tomptod "rom Its cngo by means of a certr n -oot, which tho Professor had In Uls possesion. Sho wntchod hor slstor Mine from their cousin's apartment that night. With diabolical dexterity tho arranged her rovengo. In her Trlght, or hnsto, hor gown wns torn, ind a damning bit of ovldenco left liohlnd She, by her oxtraordlnory powers of comprehension, saw that hor Rlstcr fancied horsolf to bo guilty, ind thus Intensified hor vengeance by holding this belief oer Angele. So far plain enough. Ho who runs may read. Now como two Inoxplicahlo features of tho caso -the Profossor's complicity and Satnne's sudden reformation. Those problems I cannot ns yot do-rlphcr. do-rlphcr. Bit I doubt not t shnll Hnd tho key. Shall I tako Angelo Into my confidence confi-dence and tell her what I havo discovered? discov-ered? No, not yet. I must hnvo moro ptoof before tho Iniquity of her sister Is disclosed to her. What noxt nm 1 to do? Where- turn? There Is nothing moro to be gained by romalnlng In New York. What may I not Btumhlo upon it I return to Sea Vlow nnd watch this precious pair? Besides thcro Is Angele. Sho must bo cheered, encouraged ay protected protect-ed from Satano. If this beautiful, wicked woman should get an Inkling thnt she Is In danger, sho would not hesitate to crush her defenseless sister! sis-ter! I must at al hazards guard Angele. An-gele. My decision mado, I proceeded to pack my belongings for n Romowhnt extended stay at Sea Vlow. I took the train next morning, nnd, having arrived In safety nnd arranged my goods and chattels, I dispatched a note to Angelo. A speedy reply contained the request re-quest that I should dlno with them that ovcnlng, Toward sunset accordingly accord-ingly I drovo down to tho Dalrymnlo pluco. Tho soft summer twilight broodod over the sea, stretched brazen and mo-tlon!es mo-tlon!es along tho beach. The crimson crim-son sun wns Just sinking from sight as wo turned Into tho grounds. I saw llttlo Marccllo flying about the tennis court. Sho cnught sight of ms nnilifin screaming with delight toward to-ward the carriage. I ordered the driver driv-er to stop and took tho pretty child In, who embraced mo rapturously. I next saw tho nmoko from the Professor's Pro-fessor's cigar In tho shrubbery, and iccelvcd ft gracious bow and wnro of the hand from him as I drovo by. Then I saw a stately flguro on the broad piazza, and Homothlng about that supple, pliant form caused a curious, clutching sensation about my heart. Miss Sntano Capel stood thero, leaning lean-ing against tho broad balustrade Her cuporb throat and arms wcro bnre; sho hold an enormous cluster of yellow yel-low roses In her hands and her gown was of somo filmy, transparent, yollow and black striped stuff, a bit of which nt that moment wns hidden In my waistcoat pocket. Nover had sho looked bo radiant, so dnzzling, as who camo townrd mo, holding out her linnil In welcome It was with dllllculty I could touch It tho hand of'a murderous! and such a murderess! Had sho taken a dagger In that soft, whlto hand nnd driven It homo In Rex Dalrymplo's heart, I could havo ' pitied nnd forgiven her. (To bo continued.) |