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v . THE CHARLOTTE NEWS, CHARLOTTE, N. U, SUNDAY MORNING, JUNE9, 1921 4 B tee g: "V. adsworan Jjn II--THEJiLMFORP MURDER . i : RAY ' MAS 1 1 s is i On the afternoon before the Elm ford murder Garth, leaving headquar ters, made an unaccustomed, purchase. Not long ago such affectation would have appealed to his sturdy, straight forward mind of a detective as trivial, possibly unmasculine. He reddened as the handed his ten cents to the shape less Italian woman whose finger about his coat lapel were confusingly deft. He had no illusions as to the source of this foppish prompting. The Inspector had called him in and told him that Nora would welcome him at the flat for dinner that evening. . .The event appeared . a milestone . on the amorous path he sought to explore hand in hand with the girl. He real ized his desired destination was net yet in view, but such progress re quired a deviation from the familiar some peculiar concession to its signlfl cance. So he turned away from the cheap sidewalk stand, wearing, for the first time in his life, a flower In his button-hole a rose of doubtful future and unaristocratlc lineage. . . m. That night on the edge of winter it was thoroughly dark when Dr. John Randall left New York for his Loig Island home Treving had unexpected ly detained him at. the club. The in terview had evidently projected more than the unforeseen, for Randall's hab itual calm was suddenly destroyed by the color and the lines of a passionate indecision. He crossed the Queens borough bridge and threaded the Long Island city streets with a reckless dis regard of traffic which probably went undisciplined only because of the green cross on the radiator of his automo bile. His house, although just within the city limits, had an air, particularly under this wan starlight, remote and depressing.- Heavy trees, which clus tered near, appeared to shroud it. The doctor, scarcely slackening speed, swung up the drive. At the turn the house rose before him, square, frowning, black. It was only after a moment that a nebulous radiance from a curtained window upstairs defined it self as light. Randall sprang out, and nearly run ning, stumbling a little, climbed the steps, crossed the veranda, and pushed the electric button. No sound of hurry ing feet followed it. Randall, after waiting for a moment, took out his latchkey and entered. - "Bella!" he called. Immediately the relieving answer came: "Here in my dressing-room, John. Why are you so late?" He leaned weakly agafhst the wall. "I was detained." "You've - forgotten," she answersd. "We talked it over a week or so ago. and I thought you had agreed. Ellen's wedding. Naturally they all wanted to go. I had an early dinner and packed them off. But I counted on you. I was growing afraid, all alone in the house. What kept you?" "Old Mrs. Hanson at first. She's very ill. I should really have stayed the night. I went to the club for a bite" "At the club I knew I must come home tonight. I-1 sent your cousin, Tom Redding, to Mrs. Hanson." She shivered for a moment uncon trollably. "Bella," he said, "I've not been alto gether blind about you and Treving." She pxclaimed inr patiently, but ner shiver was repeated, and the unc3; tainty of her voice lingered. "But Treving's seemed a decent enough : sort in spite of the way he spends his money and his Broadway record, and you see, Bella, I've always Crusted you unquestioningly." "And now? Tell me what you're driving at, John. I won't put up' "Don't work yourself up, Bella. You know, I've told you. It's bad for you.- "What dq, you expect, when you in sinuate " "It's just this: we must talk it out. I've a right to know how far this folly's gone what it portends, so that I can take measures of defence for myself! n tA rv now ttt4a T Man id There is a new beauty to the Hupmobile this year. Its top, has a plate glass window in the back curtain. Such other items as outside door handles, windshield cleaner and Charlotte'" Mot 209 South Church St She yielded and sat down, but nowf she bent forward, her hands clasped at her knees to prevent their trembling. . "I overheard," she said. "It was Dela field and Ross. I went to Ross. I felt I knew him well enough. My duar! It's common scandal much worse, I'll do you the credit of saying, then the facts. You've been seen with Treving in cafes of doubtful "reputation, and out here on Long: Island, at some of these unspeakable road houses " - He turned away. The lines about his mouth tightened. ' "Treving," he said with an affecta tion of simplicity, "cam! into the club while I was talking with Ross. He had been drinking a great deal. I didn't realize it at first it's quite necessary you should hear this -so I took him out In- the hall and tried to talk to him reasonably. I told him. it must stop any friendship between him and you. As I told you, he had been ' drinking, but that didnvt explain- his astounding assurance. I don't want to do ycu an injustice, but I couldn't help fearing his confidence was basjj on an under standing with you. I to'd him, if I heard of his coming near you again cr communicating with you in any way, I would thrash him within a i inch of his life. Bella, he laughed at me. ' His eyes left hers.. A look of utter discouragement entered them. Ho spoke slowly, with unnatural distinct ness. "Treving offered to lay me any stakes he'd spend this evening with you." His eyes remained averted. Perhaps he didn't dare risk the vital testimory hers might have yielded. "But I don't think he'll succosd.. A:d I warned him as he deserved. .You may as well make up your mind. Bella that that incident is finished. .L'.-iJess, Bella that's why, when I saw the house dark, I was afraid you'd gone. Did you and he know about old Mrs. Hanson? Have you any arrangement with him for tonight" She pressed her lips together. Blood congested her cheeks. Somewhere in the house a bell com menced to jangle, and continued, irri tatingly, insistently. "Why, isn't it answered? Oh, yes. You might have kept Thompson at least. Let it ring. I shan't g-o down." "A doctor!" she said scornfully. She arose with an effort. - The laoe of the mauve dresstng-gown exagger ated the difficulty of her breathing. His glance,, which took all this in, was not wholly without contrition, ' "Answer it," she said. "I shan't fly from the house to any man's arms while you are in the library." She, stood for a time by the door, listening- Once or twice she- placed her hand above heKheart. Hsr faca st m the cruel distortion that proro 'es tears, but at the sound of her husband's re turning footsteps it resumed a sem blance of control. No tears fell. "Well?" she asked. His face was haggard, confessing greater suspense than before. "The Hanson's butler." he said. "I I'm afraid the old lady's off. this lime. Dedding had told him to get me. They sent the chauffeur some time rgo with a fast car. Man said he ought to be here." He paused, searching her, face in an agony of indecision. . "Bella," he went on. "Won't you tell me? Won't you promise? That old woman for years she's depended on me. I could do more for her than Red ding; I might help her a little--" She shrugged her shoulders. "Go to your work, I've no arrange ment with' Freddy. I don t expect him here. If he comes I shouldn't let him in. Your honor is safe enough in my hands for tonight. Does that satisfy you?" i "I trust you, Bella. .I'm sorry." His eyes begged, but sho offered noth ing more. So he went out, c'osinjj the door softly hehind him. Almost immediately he "i ard the sound of a motor. He couldn't find his hat. The front doc- bell rang, and, snaihing an ancient cap from the table, he opened the door No one stood in the veranda, but the glare of mm DM lie moto-meter add to its practical convenience. All of this along with that' won-. derful performance, and the equally wonderful economy, which have made people the world over give the Hupmobile a great preference. tor Distributors powerful automobile headlights blinded him. "You're Mrs. Hanson's chauf f eur?"he called. An indistinct voice came back affirm atively. Randall, caught the word "hurry." Therefore he ran down the steps and, his eyes still blinded by the glare, stepped into a large runabout and settled himself fry the driver. They swung away at a breakneck speed which before long swept Ran dall's cap from his head and forced him to cling with both hands to the side of the car. "Man!" he shouted. "This is danger ous. There's no point in such haste." The car swerved. Its speed was all at once reduced. With a disconcerting jerk it came to a standstill. As Ran dall, trying to recover l is balance, started ot speak angrily, something sett and blinding struck his face and -enveloped his head. His hands'.- raised purposelessly, were caught and pinion ed. The cloth suddenly . became moist and a familiar odor arose. The other laughed as he fastened a cord about the arms and body. Randall gasptd. His bound limbs relaxed. The driver turned the car, and, with one arm around the senseless doctor, drove in leisurely, fashion back loward Elmford. Hidden among the undergrowth at some distance from. the house stood a small, partly ruined stone building, used once, form the water flowing nearby, as -a spring house. The driver carried Randall to the interior of this building . and placed him on the floor. Lighting a match, he glanced around. He swayed a trifle, steadied' himself with an effort, then, as the glow of the match expired, bent over and thrust his - hand in Randall's pocket. He drew out a key ring. He struck another match' and ran quickly over me nag unui ne naa iouna xne Key he desired. This he slipped from the ring into his own pocket and returned the rest to Randall's coat. On the point of leaving, he hesitated, and with a resolute air stooped and removed the cloth from Randall's head and the cord from the body. After wards he took a small bottle from his pocket, forced the unconscious man'3 lips open and poured a quantity of tbu fluid down his throat. . When he had gathered up the cloth, the rope, and the bottle, the man left the stone building, laughing with a satisfaction that was not wholly vicious. He secreted the compromising bundle Phone 961 it Car Co sj " .s beneath a large stone in the bed of a stream. His lurch was more pronounced as he walked to the car, and his manner less confident as he drove on to the house. He alighted, climbed the steps, and crossed the veranda. He felt in his pocket for the latchkey he had takji from Randall,, inserted it in the lock, and noiselessly opened the door. He was very careful to see , that the doov did not latch behind him. He placed the ky on the hall table. He folded his coat and laid it with his , cap on a chair. Stealthily he advanced along the dark and silent hall r to the - stair way. . At the sound of his automobile Bella had half arisen. A board creaked in the corridor out side her door. She swung around, her hand at her throat. ' "John!" Complete silence followed. Unless something out of all reckoning had oc curred, , her husband could not be back. None of ;the servants would have used an automobile. The knob moved. Inch by inch the door opened, and inch by inch, as if impelled bya perfectly controlled im pulse from the door widening on the intruder, she retreated until the wall held her. .' . "Freddy!" ' she gasped. "What are. you doing here? How did you get in? Go, before . This is out of the question." "It's all right. Bella. Needn't be afraid. Randall's out of the way. -Ho won't bother us tonight.-" "Then you know about Mrs. Han son?" she asked. He nodded sagely. "I know a lot." "You can't stav hpro " shp. said, "fin " "Then you shall come with mo That's the scheme Been in the back of my head all along. We'll show a clean pair of heels. Time something definite happened. Bella! you know how I love you." , i. A slight impediment unfamiliar to the startled woman, made itself no ticeable in his voice. His control was limited. Already his true condition dis closed itself. Fear. as powerful as that which had greeted his stealtky approach returned to her eyes. "You kw5w I won't, come with ycu, Freddy. Perhaps later things will be arranged. John and I had a talk to night" He advanced. She stepped behind the table. He tapped the side pocket of his coat. "By gad! I'd have killed him tonight to get to you if it had been necessary. That's Wbat you've done to me, Bella." He reached across and grasped Jier arm. He held her tight while he glided around the table. A book fell to the floor, and another. A vase of roses toppled over and shattered musically. He got his arm around I her. "You've got to let me keep my prom ise.! ' Still laughing, Jie drew her closer. His flaming eyes were near. His breatn was revolting on lfw- cheeks. She struggled, gasping for words. - "Let me go. You've been drinking. He said" As he flung her back against the table the side pocket of his unbuttoned coat flapped against her hand. "I'm not going to letiiyou 'slip now, Bella." "Freddy! You're killing me!" She put her hand in his poejset and snatched out an unpolished, stubbv, evil cylinder with a square grip which perfectly fitted her hand. "Look out, Freddy! You hurt!" He ?aughed again. His lips, repul sive and cruel," crushed hers. Iler J smothered crying was bitter. An explosion, siignuy muinea, crowd ed the room with sound. Another fol lowed. His lips, a moment ago masterful with unreasoning vitality, no longer troubled -her. " "Freddy!" she sobbed- Ti sorry" He crumpled at her feet. Near the water, spiV.vI from the vase of roses, a dark r stain spread. She stumbled 'o her knees by 1he dead man. Her desolate cries fled ceaselessly through the open windctv. 0 Garth the next day read the brief and scarcely UlU'iWnatmij account of the Elmford nmcdor in the morning papers. Irritation at his own assign ment an "urfimportant case uptowr. let it slip through his mind without arousing any exceptional interest. When he returned to the- central of fice in the afternoon the'' doorman beckoned to him. . "Inspector's been asking after you." Garth went to his room and paused, ill-at-ease, just within the doorway. The huge man lolled in his chair. His quiet eyes fixed Garth genially. For once he failed to fidget with his desk paraphernalia. His rumbling voice was" abnormally mild. "Boys tell me you're a. little sore on the jobs you've had since you sm?neJ Slim and George and their favorites." Garth grew red. . , "Were you thinking of paying your party call tonight? Because I've got to . disappoint you. I "can't see ary thing particularly x dangerous about this job, but I'd like you to look it over this afternoon. It's thj Elmford murder. -Suppose -you've read about iu "There doesn't seem much to clear up except Dr. Randall's "whereabouts. The .men f I .sent Out this morning hav en't ..got a trace. Nothing's been heard from the ferries ' or the stations Or out of tovn. Seems there ought to be some Indication at tie house for a sharp pair ot eyes." " "There's no doubt then,". Garth ask ed; that he killed Treving?" The Inspector ran his hand through his hair. . , - . . -"Ask me if Cain killed Abel," -he an swered. "Trevinsc's aroiners-on with ltandall's wife have' been common gos sip. The boys blushed about it in tlw clubs uptown. .. Listen, . Garth. . I'v Garth stepped forth aggressively. "I want you for the murder of Frederick Treving there in the next room." found out things you won't get from any papers. Randall and Treving met at their club last night. Seems Rar. dall had overheard some of this con versation. I've had a few of the high hat crowd down here today, and one of the hall boys who (heard vhatN went on between Randall and Treving. Ran dall warned Treving away with threats. Treving lost his head and offered to bet he'd spent last evening with Mrs. Randall." S 0 "Good Lord!" Garth exclaimed. 'Was he drunk?" "Can't tell," the inspector said. "Any way, Randall came back with his own conviction. Swore he'd shoot Treving if such a thing came off. Well! Ran dall found Treving. late last night in the lady's dressing-room." "Pretty bad," Garth agreed, "and I suppose , she refuses to open her mouth." The inspector's small eyes narrow ed. - - . - "Wish I knew if she's acting. She's been""practically off her head -ever since that motor cop found her kneel ing ovpr the body, screaming fit tcj to wake the dead. Nothing but hys terics all night and day. Jones, reports she's had . some nervous trouble something about the heart. Her cousin, another doctor, is with her." Garth moved towards the doOr. "I know you'll bring Randall in," the inspector called. "I'll do my best." Garth answered. It was late in the afternoon whn he reached the station near Elmford. He inquired the way from the agent and set off along a road bordered by unlovely ' suburban dwellings. These soon gave way to fields and hedges which in turn straggled into a miniature forest. Just beyond that the gateway opened to the left. GarMi walked through and up to the secludf d house. He glanced at the two auto mobiles,, near each other irt the drive. A tired-looking man in plain clothes lounged in the veranda. . Another with a, lanauid air paced up and down at the side. They became animated and converged on Garth; anxious to know if ' 8 W. the inspector had got : any word of Randall. While he was talking to them Garth first became aware of a mournful un dertone,' sometimes punctuated by a shrill, despairing note, now smothered in a heavy silence. "rsee. Mrs. Randall," Garth said. "I'd Iroped she'd be able to stand a little talk by this time." -One of the detectives handed him a key. "Room's locked. This lets in from the corridor. Key to her bedroom door's in the lock." - . Garth entered the hall. Randalls hat lay as the inspector had described it: Its gilt' initials stared up at" Garth with an odd air tf appeal. He saw Treving's coat jand hat another trag ic excitation for the doctor if he . had chanced to notice them on a chair by thtf table. A key, which Garth found fitted the front door, lay at the table's edge. Garth replaced it there and con tinued 'up the stairs. The -table cover was awry. One or two books lay on the floor beneath. Half a dozen long-stemmed roses, faded as they were, still splashed color across the earnet of a neutral tint. As his eyes took them in Garth smiled, shara facedly reminiscent. He started. The formless, agonized cry of a woman arose and seemed to set in , violent motion the atmosphere of this tragic chamb'er. The cry was repeated. .Garth shiver ed. He had a quick uncomfortable fancy that the -woman was makin.;? horrid and superhuman efforts to over come some r obstacles to expression. He returned to his scrutiny of the room. Its disordered condition suggest ed a struggle before Randall bad fired the shots and dropped the revolver there at the .end of the table. A ' circle of no great radius would have enclosed the scattered and faded roses. No not all. One bud lay farth er off, nearer thejbedroom door. Garth tiptoed to it, stooped, and picked it up, . examining it curiously while he tried to reconstruct from it an active picture of the tragedy. The stem had been broken away, indicating since Treving or Randall had probably worn it, the close and desperate nature of their struggle.. For it was not like the roses from the vase. They were of a larger variety and wider open, and this lay, he estimated;, near the spot where Treving, conquered and killed, had fallen. ' . As he stooped there,, reflecting, con stantly troubled by the impotent sounds from the next room, a ray of late sun light jentrated the foliage, entered the open window, and " gleamed upon a sil very thread -apparently- in the carpet. In his haste to reach this thread Garth stumbled noisily against a chair, and, as uTtn response, while he detached the thread from the carpet, a gentle knock ing reached him from the bedroom door. A little ashamed of his racket, he thrust the thread in his pocket, arose, and opened the door. A tall man with iron-gray hair entered, closing the door gently behind trim. His tone was re pressed, but Garth did not miss its an noyance.. "Do you. want to kill that woman?" "I see. The chair," Garth said. "When do you think we'll be able to question her?" , "God knows! If this keeps up. She's in a bad way. Do you suppose I'd Waste my time here otherwise? I tell yon quiet is essential." "By the way, doctor, since you're Mrs-. Randall's cousin, you must have known the doctor pretty well." "Yes, yes, very well." "Did you ever notice was he in the haWt of wearfting a flower in his button-hole?" Its. economy is practically expressed in its low gasoline consumption, its high tire mileage,and the infrequency of repairs. t It is further expressed in the durability of its finish which seldom requires more than a thorough clean ing to bring back its original lustre. The gasoline consumption is unusually low. The tire mileage is unusually high. Caldwell, Tredenick & Lambeth. Inc., First St. " Bftpne 724 CHARLOTTE, N. C. x - The other glanced at him suSpjc iy. lous. I never saw him with one. wc a very masculine type no l as tions." - 10 affecta- Grth flushed. "And Mr. Treving?" he asked he?'" a "Bid "What? Wear a flower? I'm . don't know. Never noticed r?? 1 think it likely enough." ut i "Thank you, doctor. There'll k more noise here tonight. rm 110 about the chaid. I'd rather you say anything about those questing 1 Garth went downstairs. He in the hall long enough to taR3 latchkey" from the table and slin 7 his pocket. Then he walked to tu back of the house where the serL 6 were eollected in an uneasy 7r r" - "r .rrrtrrjj "vuna, a wt. ler, a cook, and a maid. Another they told him, was with Mrs tLSSS- Garth questioned them ahm, , night's .wedding and the hour of tvf return, but they were an inrnwlr lot, air talking at once, ana nothing useful- Therefore he return ! to . the veranda where he stood trvi to put himself in Randall's place ing about for his likely course 'u-h he had sensibly decided not to u v automobile. use h's The sun had set. The dusk had .1 Aiatinnt ClarV, cft it. l.anCe in. distinct. . Garth started. h a patch of shrubbery on the hillside the right. Certainly something hS moved there- It occurred to him S to a man in the shrubbery the thw forms under the veranda roof wonik in htis light invisible. a be Without speaking to the others 1,, walked to the end of the veranda a ! M-a.il. Aiding tha friendly dusk by keeping behind trep! on1 V111 eft oca o a 4Tn v and bushes. &g far as . i'wwkjiuiCi fin 3T1 preached the patch of shrubbery Aftir a moment there was no question rZ fnltfl.D'ft fHrl nnt wVinllv of a man. The man appeared to listen Garth's "hand tightened on his revoiv .er. The description fitted, but thai was scarcely necessary, for on this ccM evening the man was hatless. , Garth sprang up and, his revolve ready, faced the man. "Dr. Randall! I've plenty near." Randall stepped back. "And what about Treving?" in -a husky voice. of help he askel Garth watched him warily. . "I'm sorry" ," he answered, "but I've got to take you for his murder." "I'm wanted for Treving's murder'" "You'll come1 quietly?" "Yes. What's that noise? I thought I heard some orle scream, a a woman Where's my wife? What about niv wife?" Garth cleared his throat. "She's been hysterical well pra:ti--cally out of her head." Garth could not fathom Randall's ex pression as he walked at his side to wards the house. "Of course," he 'said, "she'll be cull ed as a witness against you in fact' the only human witness of the crime itself.". The. doctor smiled contentedly. "Yes," he said. "I should like to sri her." "Dr. Redding's with her,"" Garth ex plained, "but if it's in my presence I ve no objection if he hasn't." Garth waved the two excited detec tives away. As he led Randall across the veranda he was provokingly co scious of something missing. When jb had opened the door and taken his captive into the hall, he realized all at once what it was. Mrs. Randall's piti ful and chaotic crying no longer dis turbed the quiet, house. He noticed, i S3 v
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