Evening Star Newspaper, March 16, 1928, Page 29

A MYSTERY STORY. By FRANK L. PACKARD. Conyrieht. 1927, by Frank L. Packand. Continued from Yesterda Peter turned automatically and went out of the cabin, himself between the two sailors. A sense of unreality, a sense of horror &nd madness, of utter Again’ he found | published description of —chall we say? 1‘ evidently in some way recognized you-— | and paid for it with his life. Certain- | Iy, you answer in every detafl to the | —yourself. It is merely a matter of keeping vou under restraint—and you mental con- may be sure that we shall do that any- fusion was still upon him. The thing | way—until we can confront you with | was_impossible—a nightmare, & nightmare from which he would pre: and can literally | some one who knows you personally establish your identity 1 ently awake and probably find m\ldl.“flu are Peter Blake it is quite uscless | Sweat beads from a tortured ima tion clinging to his forehead. these shuffing feet arcund him—and inas murmuring | The statement was merely axicmatic. that finsidious sound of Yolces! They were all talking now- not loudly—but all talking. Sepulchral- Iv! Like people at a funeral who didn't | am Peter Blake. A damn about the corpse, but 1shed their voices because it was the | exclamation the corpse—not | Peter glanced in that direction. They | man's hands were tightly clasped on thing to do. He w t helpless thing back there. |t0_deny it." were mouthing about him. Alec Dunn | | forward, his head sunk into his shoul- ~Peter Blake—two murders! s wouldn't do! He mustn't 1f down this way. He forced grim composure upon him- They had come Fachts lounge. He was marched along up from the| lower deck now and were entering the | to the far end of the room, and left| the two sailors. The a little apart, in low tones— phrey standing betwe others had draw were talking t. and then, a flung himsell tioned the othe: “Go on. Rand, “1 think there is no doubt but that, as you Say, your experience among the na- tives as a sort of magistrate fits you ter than any of the rest of us to conduct this miserable affair” Rand. who alone had remained standing. nodded o and advanced toward Poter. Peter's eves fixed on the other. The man's face was set, severe, judictl in its expression. but was something else lurking black eyes. a glint of smug com- placency, as though the man relished his task nd t vthing else, brought Peter a cold and steady composure—like the touch of a sword: man's blade as it engaged its op- ponent’s, awakening every faculty to virility and action. said Rand, there and | [ mind analyzed the statement t and coldly unprejudiced way Peter’ It admitted no denial. “Quite useless.” he sald calmly. *I ‘There was sudden Humphrey inarticulate Garth. | The | a from the arms of his chair: he was leaning n about to composed. ders, crouched. like a m spring—but his face w: though ominously cold. Peter's eyes | traveled to Capt. Mumm. The little; red-haired skipper was staring at the floor through eves that were narrowed | to slits and puckered into nests of | wrinkles around the corners, while his fingers kept plucking aimlessly at the | point of his tawny beard. It was while a watch ticked, no longer than that, that Peter had glanced at these two: and then his cyes, passing over the yacht's commander and the | man in the grimy uniform, held on the | doorway at the far end of the lounge— | there, a slim. straight figure almost | the coal- | and he gnawed at his lips to keep back a sudden cry. Marion was sianding . mc tionle: her eyes fixed on Ins, her face a de. white with no vestige of color in it. Peter felt his own face grow white— and he felt the blood surge madly the | next instant into his cheeks. For a| great while, an eternity it seemed to| Poter, she stood there looking at him, | and then the blue eyes seemedl o grow | darker. as though horror were in their | | depths—and then she came quietly into | the room No one spoke. The men rose from their chairs and silently reseated | themselves. clean breast | down there Brown Calf THF. strap is genuine alligator. This is a Tulsa last unusually distinc- tive and lovely for street wear. $10 s H z : * Z H i -~ Answering the Housewives’ «“How” Peter for an instant closed his eyes. Here was that court room scene that had haunted him in his dreams-—-tor- tured him. It had come tcue—and the | agony of it now w Walk-Over Shoes are World- Known. They help to keep the feet correct. Wolfs Watx-Cver Shop 929 F Street IVES (and husbands, 4 customed to expensive blends, and yet like Wil- | held the maje THE FEVENING STAR. WASHINGTON, . €. TFRIDAY, MARCIT 16. 1928 no judge, no jury—but she was here.— at his trial. This was his trial. There would be another, of course, because there was nothing legal about this one; but he stood as surely tefore her row in the prisoner’s dock answeri charge of murder as tho panelied courtroom.and gewned tnd be- wigged funtionaries impressivelv up- y of the law. But in those dreams he had never pictured this—that he should already have damned and convicted himself in Fer s because he had lird to her! So!* said Rand shortly. “You admit you are Peter Blak» T ne 1 you on your intelligence. o o held up the blood-stained sheet of paper with the serawled writing upon it —-“what have you -0 say to this2" Was she watching him? Peter was fighting for his composure cnce more-— she had robbed him of it. He dared not look at her. IDULIN & MARTIN COMPANYI ldidig “I know nothiug about it,” he said slowly. “I know nothing about Mr. Jaffray's murder.” “Or—being Peter Blake—-about the murder of Mr. Murchison, either, I suppose!" sajd Rand tartly. *“You Lad nothing to do with that, either!” “No,” sald Peter, steadily now. “I had nothing to do wiih that, efther.” “Which, of course, accounis for the fact that you ran away, and reappeared again—as Alec Dura” Rand sneered contemptuousl A slow flu mounted to Peter’s face. The man’s antagonism was viclous. He took a s forward - and found him- sv:i( held back by the two men at his side. “Go on!" he said. a rush of passion in his voice. “Withent hearing any- thing I might have to say sbout that night at Mr. Muichison's—go on, and | make it appear s ugly as you can!" “There is nothing uglicr than cold- A New Arrival Sanitary— Colorful— Convenient Foot-Lift GARBAGE Receptacles Exactly as Pictured 25 Complete With a Heavy Galvanized Pail Inside —Two Handles A special shipment of these highly desirable Kitchen Receptacles—at THE LOWEST PRICE ever quoted. Red—Green—DBlue and White HOURS: 8:45 TO 5:30 PHONE MAIN 1294 Dulin & Martin Co. 1214-18 G Street too) who have been ac- kins better, are puzzled. Washington by more than two to one, our time, 2. Its sale i fore economically deliver to the grocer more often than other roasters 3. glassine, cardboard and wrapper. to buy cost 7" “Here's how" sons: costs “How,” they ask, “can vou sell such good coffee for from ten to fifteen cents less than other fine qualities three distinetly understandable rea- Wilkin ingle brand of coffee sold in This volume sale cuts on green coffee, roasting, packing and delivery to outsclls any other grocers, hecanse every truck goes ont full and has no “standing” We share these savings with you in the price you pay. Wilkins is sold in 98% not himited to s of all grocery stores in Washington, ny one group of stores, We can there- Wilkins is packed in a triple-sealed three-part package-— Noexpensive tin cans for you yet this triple-sealed carton keeps cotfee fresher than tin cans ever conld BREAKFAST blooded and wanton murder,” snapped Rand. “At the present time, we are not interested in your account of that night. I have no doubt vou have a specious tale to tell, but the positive cvidence of your guilt is In the hands of the authoritics, and that matter is entirely outside our province. What we are concerned with, §s what has happened here amongst us on board this ship—another murder equally as brutal as the first, and of which you are accused, this time by the murdered n}n:\t ,hlmscl!. You deny zll knowledge o (4 “I have already answered that ques- tion,” said Peter hoarsely. “I will not answer it again." “It is your right to refuse to answer | any question.” said Rand, a sudden suavity in his tones, “thouzh I do not Charge Accounts Invited New Tailored Leather Bags $4.95 The new Bags are of Paris inspiration, intricate in cut, but simple in effect. Rather large En- velopes or Flat Pouches. Colors to harmonize with shoe or costume. MAIN FLOOR Real Washable Chamois Gloves $2.95 One-button or slip- on styles. PXM sewn. They have a fine ap- pearance and are for day wear. 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We will begin with the chief engineer—no, don't stand up, Mr. Mac- Pherson”—as the man in the greasy uniform rose from his chair—“just teil us how and when you came to find Mr. Jaffray.” “We'd a bit o' trouble in the engine room last night wi’ one o' the pumps,” sald the chief engineer grufliv. “And “'was up near all the night wi’ it. When I went back to my room it was after five. Mr, Jaffray's room is zlongside o mine, and as I came along the alley- way I saw a light cominz ot through the fretwork over the top of his door. ‘BROKS &CO "G-STREET BETWEEN 1lth & 12th _ Spring Apparel Features! Items That Definitely Demonstrate Brooks Leadership in Style and Value! Swagger New Spring Suits Exceptionally Attractive at— $16 Suits “the thing” for this Spring. These are exception- Well tailored in every detail and cut _with a line that lends %+« «They are in Navy Twills, Oxfords, Tweeds, Mixtures and Hair- line Stripes. 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That's yourselves, Mr. Jaffray was lying like | all I can tell ye.” that on the floor, and for a minute I Rand turned to Peter again. wes fair sick with the sight of it. Then “You also have {iwe right to ask anv I saw that paper about it being Peter | question you like,” he said, clipping off Blake, and about the reward, and I| his words unpleasantly, :}t‘fig ;S:;‘Emz :Iyt't:g‘:h‘:o:: s (Continued in Tomorrow's Star.) Mrii Jha‘flray :an kc;—ndon }Eafl i L and him and me had talke over e L e e Dbt Mot Fhan 2,800 hnmr: for working man’s back—meaning Mr. Garth here-- | People will be bullt in Glasgow, Seot- what 1 wouldn't say to his face, which ' land. this year .Service With Courtesy Frocks That Win Instant Appeal In a Lovely Group— Featured at 315 Spring models of compelling smartness and wondrous qual- ity. In all the newest and most wanted fab- rics and colors. Here you will find just the frock for any occa- sion . . . and at such a low price. 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