Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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— I ■m—r«'iM» The Barnwell People-Sentinel, BmrnwclU S. Thareday, July 2, 1936 By NARY HASTINGS BRADLEY Copyright by D. Appleton- Century Co., Inc. WNU Service SYNOPSIS Leila -Seton, young and beautiful, and an expert on painting's, is commissioned to go over the collection of paintings In the home of the wealthy Kellers In 'New York, where a party Is In progress. Prom her window she witnesses a man In another room strike a woman. Short ly after Mrs. Keller sends up word, ask ing her to Join the party at dinner. Leila hastily dresses and goes down. She is seated between Mr. Deck, a critic, and Monty Mitchell, a noted lawyer. Introductions follow. There are Mr. Harrlden, Miss Lelty Van Alstyn, Mrs. Crane, Mrs. Watkins and Prince hnd Princess Kancini, guests. Leila finds she Is taking the place of Nora Harri- ’den. Dan Harrlden leaves the table, and Mitchell explains he has gone up to see how' his wife’s headache Is. He returns shortly. Deck, saying he must put In a call, leaves. Upon his .return. he begs ’Leila to secretly take a mes sage to Nora "to take no steps until I see you." Leila consents. Leila finds the Harrlden rooms empty and so in forms Deck. Coming out she passes Letty. Harrlden asks Princess Ranctni to run up and see his wife. The prin cess reports the absence of Nora. Search Is fruitless. Harrlden admits that he lad a row, and believes she Is spite fully hiding. Letty tells of seeing Leila come from the room. Leila accuses Har rlden of having struck his wife. This Harrlden denies. From the Harrldens’ window Leila sees what proves to be Nora’s lifeless ' body. A ghastly head wound caused death. Dan says she was lying on her bed when he went to din ner, and when he ran up later the room was dark. Thinking she was asleep, he left without seeing her. Mrs. Keller comes upon a pool of blood In the closet. A diamond chain Is miss ing. Donahey, police Inspector, ques tions the guests. Harrlden falls to re port the row he had with Nora. He brands Leila's story of seeing a man strike a woman a lie, Anson, a maid, tells of seeing Deck outside the Har rlden door. Deck says he passed by in seeking a lost handkerchief. CHAPTER IV—Continued —5— “I don’t know what time I came up but I was loafing downstairs till I had to hustle to dress,” Mitchell reported, aod Keller stated that he had gone up before the time In question and had been talking through the open doors with his wife. Donahey turned toward Alan Deck. “You, Mr. Deck?” Deck answered. “I went up fairly early to my room—though I haven't any wife to vouch for it.” Ills tone was lightly mocking. “After I changed I went to the picture gallery on the third floor—by the south stairs,” he mentioned. “My presence there Miss Seton can certify to. We encountered each other there." The Inspector's Raze moved back to me. "Appointment?" “Accident," I told him. "We had never met each other before.” "What were you doing there?” I reminded him that the pictures were my business In the house. Alan Deck said merely, “Time on my hands —things to think out. Like a big place to tramp about In." Donahey made more of his little notes. Then, as usual, he asked for the exact time of this encounter and listened wearily to our uncertainties that finally decided It had been a lit tle before eight. “That's when I lost my handkerchief,” said Deck. “Now let me get this straight,” said Donahey. “Your rooms are In the south wing, second floor. Before din- uer you went up to the gallery on the second floor, using the stairs on your side of the house. You met Miss Seton there, accidentally. You lost your handkerchief. During dinner you went Up to call your paper, then you re membered that you had lost your handkerchief, probably In the gallery, snd you started out, to find it. You went along the hall that goes across the length of the house, passing the door of Mrs. Harrlden's room.” "Among others,” interpolated Deck. "Was that when the maid saw you?” Deck reflected. "No—when I was coming hack from the gallery. She was coming from the south, along the hall toward me." “O.K. The maid saw you and thought you might have been coming out of the room. That’s It, Isn’t it?” “That’s It,” said Deck In his non chalant voice. "I might Just have stopped, wondering If it was worth while to try that call again. I didn’t get It, the first time." Donahey finished his notes without comment, then concentrated again up on me. “Now then—about this thing at the window now—” “Can’t you forget that?” Harrlden demanded. "Why do you w\i:vi to waste your time—” “Now, now, Mr. Harrlden, It may lead to something. It may have been some outside fellow, somebody who came here to see her on the Q T He—" Harrlden made a surge forward and I thought the veins on his congested face would burst. He looked almost at the limit of bis self control. “Are you suggesting that my wife bad a clandestine visitor—” ' “Not the way you think at all," the edlclal rataraad with hit unmoved ue ’ tachment. “She might have owed him money, gambling dr something, or he might have been blackmailing her. Funny things like that happen. He may have forced his way In, and she didn’t want to give him away. She may have hid him In the closet and faked a headache so they could talk while you folks were eating. And then he made a grab at her shiners and they got to struggling, and he stabbed her.” Harrlden cursed him for a fooL “Do you think my wife was ever afraid of a blackmailer/’ he thundered. “Can't you see this girl Is just making this up to get herself some sensational limelight—" "Well, now, she hasn't any reason for making It up, has she?” Harrlden gave me a sudden, strange look. "How do I know?" he said wearily “I don’t know a damned thing about her except that she’s lying. She cooked up this story to cover up her going Into my wife's room.” "Don’t you think, Mr. Donahey," came Mrs. Crane’s practical voice from somewhere behind us, “that this In vestigation has gone far enough to night? It Is well on Into the morn ing:” Donahey conceded, “Something In it, lady. There’s guards around the place and guards Inside the house and nobody Is to stir out till we get through with this." We bad risen to go out when one of the policemen' came In, bringing a young man In the livery of an under butler. . ^CHAFTERV He was rather a reedy looking young man, with a cadaverous face, prominent cheek-bones and deep-set eyes. He looked excited, and .the po liceman with him was excited, as he boomed along to the Inspector. Don- ahey took the affairs Into his hands. “My man says you’ve admitted know- lug something. Now, what’s your name?" "Elkins,” said the man In a strained, nervous voice. “Y’ou work here?” . “Yes, sir, for three years. And I mean no disrespect to my employers In speaking out about a guest. I un derstand It’s my duty to tell any thing that I might know." “That’s your duty,” said Donahey grimly, “What do you know?” Elkins was breathing quickly. “People often forget that servants can hear," he said. ‘They talk out while we're passing things—It’s em barrassing. 1 was Just behind that Chinese screen In the lounge when they were talking. 1 was taking glasses off a table ; “It was the violence of what was being said that caught me,” Elkins went on. “Not like the ordinary run of talk of the cocktail hour." Donahey only nodded encouragingly. "But It waa savage sounding, sir. The lady was Mrs. Harrlden. She had been drinking with the gentleman, talking together for some time. And then, when I was behind the screen, I heard him say In quite a terrible voice, though very low. If you do, you'll be the sorriest woman on God'a earth." “And what did she say?" “1 didn't catch that. I got the tone of her voice — It was like she was laughing sort of sassy," said Elkins with a slip into the colloquial. “And the man said to what she said, T warn you.' And then he sold some thing about lying, he said, T’d say you lied in your teeth,’ and she said something again, that 1 didn’t hear. . . . Her words were all run together like. And then he said, ‘God, if you do!—I warn you.’ And then some body was asking for another shaker, and 1 had to hurry across the room. . . . And when I heard she was ly ing dead downstair—well, I couldn’t say this had anything to do with It, hut when the officer began asking me had I heard anything of their goings on and was there any bad blood about, why I'd have done less than my duty, sir, If I had covered the facts.” "Sure. You had to tell It,"' Dona hey said evenly. “Now—about this fellow. Who was he? You haven’t told us that, yet.” “There, sir. That gentleman there. Mr. Deck.” Deck stood there, and his white face, with his dark, bitter, defiant eyes, sent a queer terror through me. He was like a man In s pillory for all the world to gape at. And then my eyes went on, and found the figure of Harrlden. He had stood there, back by the door, during that time, listening. . . . And now he looked at Deck. Donahey’s head was thrusting out on his thick neck like a turtle's. "Well, Mr. Deck?" His silence agonized me. And then he said, “I don’t remember,” and his lips twitched In a mockery of a smile. “You don’t remember?" “Not a word. I was quite tight be fore dinner. ... I haven’t the faint est recollection of anything said down stairs.” Donahey ground out, “Yet you re member that you went up early to your room, you said?” “Oh, I remember that," Deck aald Jauntily. *i got to my room alLrlght,” he wtnt on, "and the cold water re vived me. But everything that went on downstairs Is Just a total loss." "Do you happen to remember,” said the Inspector with terrible sarcasm, “any reason why you could have aald the words you have no recollection of saying to Mrs. Harrlden?” Deck was silent. . "What was between you?’’ Donahey shot out. “Frlendsliip," said Deck. I know that I felt I could not bear to look al Harrlden, and yet I looked at him and saw him standing, Hke a man of stone, his grim, blnnt profile toward that younger man. The sheer beauty of Deck seemed somehow In solent and flaunting before that hua- band'a haggard eyes. 1 felt a sharp cleavage of sympathy . . . terror for Deck and anguish for that bereft man’s pain. It waa the easing of a physical strain when Harrlden turned and walked out of the room. I remember a dull surprise at find ing It was only half-past two when I was In my room. I was so spent emotionally that 1 was conscious of nothing but a crush ing depression. There was no denying the reality of Elkina’ high - strung wortta. And I had my own corroboration of Deck's desperate message, Take no steps. For all my exhaustion I could not sleep; my htoughts kept milling about In confused conjecturing. Had Deck been the man at the window—had he followed her up to finish the quarrel there? It might have been Deck, I thought. He might have slipped away when he ^heard Harrlden come in the next room —she might have promised to meet him as soon as possible in the gal lery. Then she did not come. Per haps her husband had stayed too long In the room. What was their quarrel about, 1 wondered, my temples throbbing hear lly against the pillow. Was she threat ening to leave him—was he mad with Jealousy? The sorriest woman on God’s earth. . . . Had he gone, up from din ner to rarry out Irtr-wTriTTlifealT Oh, no, no, no! Only to see her, to plead with her. For he had sent me up later to try to get word to her, to urge her to take no steps. . . . Oh, fool that I had been not to speak out before! Then my story might have carried conviction, but now It would seem a lame Invention of mine to save him. Or had his sending me on that er rand been merely a ruse on his part, to make It appear that he still be lieved her In her room, when all the time he knew that room waa nnten anted and her poor body shrouded In the shrubbery below? I did not know what to believe. My mind went round and round In the mazes of Its doubt. ... He had been so long away from that table. . . . But that had been because he was trying to reach her, my defensive heart instantly declared. He had told me that her room phone did not an swer—of course, he had gone to her door and knocked — perhaps even tried it I wondered If he had peeped In and found darkness and ghostly curtains blowing In the wind. Or If be bad found the door locked—locked by an unknown assassin who was still Inside. I determined to try to make Deck confide in me. Since I already knew so much, since I had proved stanch, surely he would tell me the truth. . . . But if his sending me hsd been a ruse —? My mind wearied from all thia wondering. At last I slept I woke very suddenly. I woke to the Instant Impression that some one was In my room. I lay there with my “People Often Forget That Serv ants Can Hear." eyes shut, not daring to open them, trying to feign sleep, feeling In every nerve that something was there— something Just within the door. There had been some sound, some Indefin able sound that had waked me. Every Instant the feeling grew more terrible; I knew then that fear could be paralyzing, for I lay there literally unable to move or speak, simply help less and terrified, waiting for some thing horrible to happen. Then there was a creak at the door and soft, muffled steps down the hall. 1 knew I was not imagining those steps; 1 heard them, though my own thump ing heart beats sounded louder to me. I suppose It was only a moment or two, really, that I lay in the grip of that helplessness, then motion and sense came back to me, and I reached out and managed to flasl on the night light with fingers tbat fumbled fran tically for the tiny chain as if each instant of darkness was a danger. Then 1 Jumped up and ran for the door. I forced myself to look out down the blackness of that hall. I saw noth ing. I heard nothing. I did not go out and look down the stairs; I dodged back and shut and locked my door. Should I call some one on the house phone? I moved toward It bnt hesi tated, caught back by the fear of some thing hysterical aad panicky. It was •aay for overwrought nerves la play tricks and In my half-asleep condition I might have Imagined those sounds within my door. The steps, though, had been real But the steps could easily be accounted for. Donahey haJ said the bouse was guarded and very likely one of the policemen was pa trolling the hall aad, finding my door ajar, had paused to make sure my room was occupied. I persuaded myself that this was so. What else could It be? Confidence had revived with the lighted room and I told myself the rustling had been only the night wind playing with the folds of my satin frock left lying on the chair by the door. My very excess of past terror and my ashamed reaction against It swept me now too far In the other direction, for I did not phone. It was not easy to get to sleep again but I did, ultimately, and It was bright day when 1 waked, with the sun streaming across the dark, polished floor, over the white fur rug, to glow on the rose-red of the deep-cushioned chair. But no sun could lift the de pression of that past night or banish the pictures moving before my eyes— Nora Harrlden’s limp, gold-clad body In her husband's arms . . . that hus band’s face, rigid, grlef-smltten . . . Deck’s defiant, high-held head and his bitter, tormented eyes. I must get to Deck,. I thought ex citedly, and hurried Into a cold show er, wondering what was done about breakfast in that house. I phoned the question and was Informed that break fast would be up. Coffee was my chief need, black and hot, and 1 welcomed it all the more since The maid who brought the tray told me that the Inspector would like to see me as soon possible. I took a last look at myself In the glass, then went downstairs. The balls were empty; so, too, was the big entrance ball, except for a po liceman at the front door. In the drawing-room Donahey was behind his usual table. He nodded in response to my good morning, then Jerked hU bead toward a couple of young men at a table at the far end of the room and sent me to have my fingerprints taken. That was to be expected, I thought, and certainly I had nothing to worry about, except that I was rather Inter ested In the process of print taking, for I knew something about the work, so I fell into chat with the two young men. It waa Just a formality, they said; there was nothing to be gained from all this print taking unlesa they got the print of some Insider, for all the household had been over the room. “Except Deck.” said a heavy voice beside us. I started, and found Harrlden star ing down at us out of red-rlmmed eyes. The man’s face looked as If years Instead of hours had passed) the deep Hoes in It were accentuated till they seemed like seams, sod tha flesh was sparer aod tighter over the hard-angled bonea. “Deck wasn’t In the room after the murder—and don’t you forget that,* be admonished grimly. I was Impatient to see Deck. I thought of phoning to his room, then I remembered that a policeman might be listening in—I thought of getting In touch with Monty Mitchell and trusting him with a message. But.Don ahey detained me then with more questions, and I hsd to go over what I had said before and tell him more about myself and how I happened to be there at alL At the end be told me I must appear at the Inquest on Sunday morning. I went out in the hall and wandered about a little irresolutely, thinking that if I kept out In sight I might en counter either Alan Deck or Monty Mitchell without having to phone and betray my eagerness ta the officials. As a pretext for lingering I read the papers over and over. The headlines were sensational— Society Beauty Murdered — aad the first pages were filled with stories of Nora’s life, and there was one account of the famous yellow diamond chain. The pendant on it. It was stated, was a flawless jewel which bad been worn on the turbans of a royal Turkish family, for generations; the last heir had given it to Mrs. Harrlden instant ly upon her expression of admiration —a costly gesture which her husband had paid for, later, by persistent losses at cards. The chain, so the paper said, had been assembled by Mr. Harrlden to match the pendant My eyes raced through the accounts of the guests; there was no reference to Alan Deck except as “a favorite In the Long fkland set." No reporter, I was sure, had been able to get In the bouse; the papers had had to take the facts that Donahey had giveitout, and the list of guests and do what they could with their imagination: After the Inquest, I supposed, Deck’s threats could no longer be kept se cret ; the papers would make what they could of that Luckily he would have his own paper to give a favora ble version. But be would have to give an explanation of his words—and 1 hoped fervently that the night had brought him counsel and Inspiration. Restlessly I wondered where he was keeping himself. I began to think tbat all of the guests were upstairs, gathered inti mately In the Kellers' private sitting- room talking things over by them selves; I felt so alone In that house that it was a comfort to see the Prince Ranclnl coming out from the long lounge Just behind this entrance hall. He looked at me with the Latin’s quick Interest In his big, brown eyes—a stal wart, handsome fellow, Wifch whlt< teeth flashing in his brown face as h« smiled at me. I smiled back at hint and be came up to me. “A terrible business," he said, soil Ing out his r’a. Very fervaatly ] &£rG€tl« (TO BE CQNTEWm. -•it «■ ( *•■*•*•* IMPROVED' UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL >chool Lesson Bjr REV. P. B. FITZWATER. D. D* Member of Faculty, Moody Bible Inetitute of Chicaco. • Western Newspaper Union. Lesson for July 5 THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN POWER / LESSON TEXT—Acta 1:6-9; 1:1-11, 12-38. GOLDEN TEXT—But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be wit nesses unto me both In Jerusalem, and In all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth,—Acts 1:8. PRIMARY TOPIC—Jesus Keeps His Promise. JUNIOR TOPIC—A Promise Made an Kept. INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC—New Power Through the Holy Spirit. YOUNO PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC—Empowered for the World Task. >411 >4round ihc House Fresh gingerbread topped with lea cream makes a delicious dessert. v . e • e The ends of rugs should always be left open when they are rolled and tied up for the summer. e • • Left over fruit Juices, should be canned for next winter’s use. Added to gelatin desserts, puddings, etc., they give a delicious flavor. a a • One-third whiting, one-third plas ter of paris (poison).and one-third flour mixed with water Into a smooth paste. Is excellent for tilling small cracks In plaster. I. The Missionary Program (1:6-8). The work incumbent upon the Church Is witnessing to Christ’s gracious sal vation to all the nations. After this Is done, there will follow the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom by con verted Israelites (Acts 15:14-17; Cf. Matt. 24:14). This was not clear to the disciples, therefore they put the question, “Wilt thou at this time re More the kingdom lo .Israel?"—Thft When pressing a linen suit, damp en with cheesecloth that has been dipped In water, then press linen on wrong side. • a a Meringue falls when the oven Is too hot. If you wish to bake a mer ingue successfully, have oven less than moderate heat © Bell Syndicate.—WNU Servlca. Davidic kingdom shall be established, but not until after the gospel of the grace of God Is preached and the body of Christ Is completed. 1. In Jerusalem (v. 8). This was done by the twelve Immediately fol lowing Pentecost. 2. In Judea and Samaria (v. 8). This was done by the disciples after the hands of the persecutors were laid on them. .Not only the twelve but many others took part In this. 3. Unto the uttermost part of the earth (v. 8). Beginning with the first foreign missionary enterprise, this work has been carried on till the pres ent time. II. The Coming of the Spirit (Acts 2:1-11). The power of the early Church was the Holy Spirit The watchword of God’s mightiest men throughout the centuries has been “not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit saith the Lord of hosts” (Zech. 4:6). L The time (v. 1). It was on the day of Pentecost By "day of Pent ecost’’ Is meant the feast which was held fifty days after the ware sheaf was offered (Lev. 23:15, 16). It was observed by presenting two loaves made of the new meal (Lev. 23:17). These loaves were baked with leaven, while leaven waa rigidly excluded from the passover feast (Lev. 23:6). 2. Upon whom the Spirit came (r. 1). Cf. 1:13-15. The twelve and others to the number of 120. The coming of the Spirit was not merely for the twelve but for all believers, all the members of the body of Christ They were In cne place with one accord waiting for the fulfillment of the Father's promise (Luke 24:49). If the church would be with one accord in one place, won derful blessings might still be expected. > 3. The marks of the Spirit (vv. 2-4). These marks were external and In ternal. ' a. External. (1) The sign of a mighty wind. There was no wind, only the sound thereof, suggesting the all- pervasive, life-giving influence of the Holy Spirit. (2) Tongues of flame. Each of the 120 was crowned with such a tongue. The tongues show the prac tical purpose of the Spirit's gifts and the fire indicates bis purifying energy, purging away the dross and making fit Ms witnesses. (3) Speaking In for eign tongues. For these humble Gali leans thus to speak caused great amazement. b. Internal. This Is seen In the transformation wrought In the dis ciples. They now have great cour age and self-possession. Peter, who a little while before was cowering be fore a Jewish maid, now with lion- boldness stood befo.e the thousands of Jerusalem, and a little later before the chief rulers of the city, and declared that they had murdered their King. III. The Converting Power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:37-42). Many people \yere convicted of their sins—about 3,000 repented and were baptized. This revival was real be cause 1. They continued steadfast In the apostles’ teaching (v. 42). They did not grow cold or run after every new teacher that came along. 2. They continued In fellowship with the apostles (v. 42). The surest way to grow is to keep In fellowship with Christians- Spiritual Indifference is sure to follow the neglect of the fel lowship of the brethren In Christ. 3. They continued In the use of the means of grace (v. 42).. They broke bread together. 4. In prayer. iThe apostolic church was a praying church. The Christian life cannot be lived without prayef. Works of Troo Merit Works of true merit are seldom very popular In their own day; for knowl edge Is on the march and men of genius are the vldettes that are far in advance of their comrades. They are not vAth them, but before them; not in the camp, but beyond it—Col ton. Groat Things Between the great thlngl^ that we cannot do and the small things we will not do. the danger li that we shall .do nothing. _ Good LIGHT Every Hi io hi WITH A fbleman LANTERN THIS U ths link Csknaa 1 Lantern with th« big fariUiane*. It lighte inntentJy and in mlwnr* rmdy for any Hahtiag job, in any i for oror joat tho llrfat yon nnod on tho fhim, for ban tin*, fkhing. oat Hm gonaino Pyroz balfo-typo gtoM. poreokk ron- tlUttar top. nkkk-pkted fount, baflt-ln pump. Lika Cotomnn Lamps. It makoo and burns Its own gas from rsgulor msolins. 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