Evening Star Newspaper, October 2, 1929, Page 29

The Door of Death By John Esteven (Copyright, 1929, North American l!c'l:xlr Alliance and Mvulropotiten Newepaper Service.) SYNOPSIS. After the murder of Celia eumstances point to her husbai a3 the siayer. He confession signed by him is Teceived by ofi- cials investigating the case. He als that he is committing suicide and, 1 his_body s fou s been convinced of Bal- suilt_from the siart. At M ham home. Grevhouse, to ci ant who is il re c influen vil. and In this belief he is joined by her old servant. The woman_begs to be taken from Grey- house, but Eleanor refuses to leave. Norse ahoy mes an anonymous letter in femi- or- | Carl_was prepared to remove even 50 sl to marry Ames. s all calmly. s gone on detective is frantic. t0 Greyhouse. When they attempt to enter they are attacked by Hasta, the butler, iways suspected of know- 3 mat | you warn me against Eleanor Graham?” 7| son.” he answered, “which was my fear . | of Carl's attitude toward a rival. But a and also admits that_he forced sign the confession. Then he by taking a dose’ of poison the sctting of a ring. (Continued From Yesterday's Star.) THIRTIETH INSTALLMENT. 14 'HAT,” I asked breathless- 1y, as Norse paused, “was | the thing you saw Carl ‘Ballion do— the thing that made you certain of his guilt?>” “You may recall” Norse replied, *“that I looked somewhat perturbed when you let me into the house on the night when I began my secret investi- gation. The point is, I had seen Carl Ballion emerge from the narrow door— the Door of Death—which had been closed behind him. It was immediately after I had shown you my light and ‘was coming around to the door. “Now I knew that Carl Ballion was, ostensibly. absent that night from Grey- house. What was he doing here, then, at this hour, creeping out like a thief when the house was dark, and by so strange an exit? It seemed a re-enact- ment of what might have occurred be- fore. ‘Then, as you know, there followed the discovery of Eleanor’s blood-stained handkerchief.” “There's a point,” I interrupted, “that I believe I can explain. Eleanor told me several days ago that she re- members giving Carl ber handkerchief 0 keep for her on one occasion, as she had no pocket. Doubtless he found it | in his coat and used it without think- ing.” “Yes,"” agreed Norse. “I understood | it in about that way later.” “But what,” I asked, “was he doing there if the crime had been committed | the day before?” “Obviously finishing his crime; but as to what actually went on we shall never know. It's impossible to determine just when Francis Ballion died. You re. member that Miss Graham was fright- ened during the previous night by sounds that recalled the moan of the wind, though no air was stirring. I think it possible that these were his cries, after he had been dragged to the underground room and that the sound was carried up alopg the corner sup- port of the house. “It was from this time on that I defl- nitely suspected Carl Ballion, and every ensuing event confirmed it—Hasta's behavior with you, the dried leather of the rack, the discovery of a body in Francis Ballion's clothes, yet indicating s form of suicide that struck me as peculiar and far-fetched. Then came the letter from Mrs, Starnforth, estab- lishing Francis Ballion's innocence. The gem collection remained lost, but an item of it was put into the market surreptitiously. I discovered that Carl had debts, and I knew of the difficulty in settling the two estates. This, in connection with the incident of your ear, formed my strongest evidence.” | “How 50?"” I asked. “Because it confirmed what I already feared when I first warned you that | night at Greyhouse. Carl Ballion, | struck by your encounter with Hasta, would consider you a possible spy, which was bad enough—but, above all, he could not afford any shadow of rivalry. You don't realize yet that he had to marry Eleanor Graham. Noth- ing remained of his brother’s estate, ex- cept what would have had to be repaid to her. If this marriage failed his crimes would have been useless; be- cause, after all, it was the need of money, the bait of its contingent pow- er, that tempted him—though, doubf less, he loved her also in his fashion. “And, yet, observe that I still had no proof—nothing that could be put before & jury as counterpoise to Francis’ signed admission of guilt and the find- ing of a body that I could not deny was his. I had nothing tangible, not even a motive for arresting Hasta, who, I felt certain, was guilty. “But, at last, I found what I wanted. Surely, unless everything I believed of him was false, then he must be in con- trol of other scoundrels than Hasta. The tampering with your car showed that, as well as the supposed body of Francis. And so it proved. tion was established between him and certain characters of the underworld. These were arrested, but it is significant of the loyalty he inspired that we could . t nothing out of them until after fiu death. | “This was not all. On the evening ' before your last invitation to Grey- | house I succeeded, not for the first | time, I confess, in entering his apart- | ment while he was absent and discov- ered, at length, the famous black felt hat of the shadow seen by Miss Graham. It was in the same wardrobe as a pair of rubber-soled shoes that ftted exactly the tracings taken by Roose after Celia’s murder, and to which there still adhered particles of the red gravel used on the driveway at ‘Greyhouse. : “I had decided on his arrest the very day of your call. And, knowing what 1 did, you can imagine my distress at the news that he had once more out- witted me. Because, as regards the in- ventory, one had already been taken. “Did you ever learn,” 1 queried, “as to where he obtained the body that was passed off as Francis Ballion’s?” “Yes. On the confession of the men we arrested, it appears to have been a clever grave robbery. I don't think it was anything worse. “And Anne Roderick “That,” declared Norse, “is a mystery, and we'll never know the exact truth. What I think likely is that, as she op- posed Eleanor's marriage with him, slight an obstacle. Knowing her con- dition, he relied in killing her on the appearance at her window of a face she would consider Francis Ballion's. Certainly it's & theory that explains the facts, and we know besides that he was in Greyhouse during the night of your attempted poisoning.” “One last point,” I sald; “why did “I've given you the principal rea- perhaps you can explain something to me. An attempt was made on you in connection with your car. I did my best to persuade you to leave town, or at least Greyhouse, and I believed you in extreme danger. Then two weeks passed without anything happening until the night when you were nearly killed by poison. I don't understand !why Carl Ballion let so much time| !mp:le or, having done so, why he acted at all.” Norse's account had cleared up a good many things, and I described the inter- changé that Balllon and I had had in front of the Door of Death, when, as it might have appeared, I had been ex- amining the Medusa's face. “Yes,"” agreed Nor: ‘‘you were get- ting too near the vulnerable point. That explains it. “How shall we consider Carl and Francis Ballion?” he went cn. “As singular examples of heredity? As ac- tual reincarnations of a family type? As phantoms of another time? We can only wonder. But I remember telling you once that I believed in the possi- bility of a person behind and unknown, who was the one actually guilty. And I believe so still. Let us call it, rather, a personality. Carl Ballion and Fran- cis were, after all, puppets of a greater will—namely, their age—which, in a curious projection of the past, lingered in Greyhouse. And we are likewise the puppets of ours. And in the light of our age we are judged.” | Years have passed since then. But, ! oddly enough, Eleanor has never | brought herself to dispose of Greyhouse. | It stands lofty and heautiful as ever | and untouched, though closed for the most part. Sometimes we return for a | day to wander through its splendid | rooms and feel once more its strange power, And the belief grows in me, because t is so well built and magnificently adorned, with much worth treasuring, that our children ‘and grandchildren will preserve it and return also to won- der at it from time to time, though, of course, to live there is out of the question, The end.) More Catacombs to Explore. ROME (N.AN.A).—Only a third of Rome’s catacombs have so far been ex-| cavated, and now it seems that the| Vatican' is going to get busy exploring | the rest. Large funds have first to be | collected, and conventions between Italy | and the Holy See will be necessary be- | fore the work begins, although the Vat- | ican, under a clause of the concordat, now has authority over all Christian catacombs in Italy. There are others, of course, at Syracuse, Naples and Pola. S Its tail practically severed from its body, a 30-foot whale was recently washed ashore at Ayr, Scotland. p WONDERFUL DISCOVERY BRINGS TO SUFFERERS THE MOST POWERFUL STARCH DIGESTING ENZYME ACIDINE never fails to relieve safely, surely _and__ swiftly—INDIGESTI! ACIDOSTS, GASSINESS, SOUR STOM- ACH, BICK HEADACHE, ACID STOM- CHRONIC _ CONSTIPATIO! 1t alkalizes, hole digestive system sweet and clesn. ACIDINE is the only perfect, modern snti-acid which is combined with Jap- tase, & powerful starch digestant—it digests 800 times its own weight of and Soothing to th membranes. A really perf for mother, father, chiliren and babies. Used and 'recommended by phyticians everywhere, Money back guaran At a1l druggists, or write Health Lab- orstories, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa. ACIDINE Corns Stop hurting in one minute! ANEw p, g m‘m" % Acorncan’t possibly hurtwhen mpply-Dr.Sehol! Zino-pad, use the cause is removed —frictionand pressure of shoes. ‘The soothing, healing medica-~ tion gives the instant relief for which Zino-pads are famous. Harsh liquids and plasters ' re the cause and expose are small, thin,dainty, cushion- ing, protective. Doctors recom- mend them. Won’t come off while bathing. Sizes also for Callouses and Bunions. Buy a box today. At all Drug, Shoe and De- partment stores—35c. e toes to acid burn, And cut- Dr. '“flnll?n Zino-pads are “ “guarantsedsafeandsure, They THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, WEDNESDAY, OCTGBER 2, 1929. ’ "WooDwWARD & LLOTHROP 10" 11™ F AND G STREETS Our Exclusive Granite Silk Stockings ' The Nos. 711 and 845 Washington Women Know to Be Excellent Values gt Regular Prices . . . Now service $ weight I 55 Three Pairs, $4:50 semi- service $ I .75 Three Pairs, 510 Only during our Anniversary Events have we offered these stockings at this low price—they are the same fine quality Granite Stockings which we regularly sell for far more. Granite Stockings No. 711 were introduced by Woodward & Lothrop in Washington many years ago, and are today our best sellers. Their famous garter blocks prevent runs—the lisle-lined hems are silk, insuring complete smartness, heels and toes are lisle-plated for'extra service . . . features found in every pair of Granite Stockings in this selling .that account for their popularity. Nudette Cachet Soueda Rosetint Suntan Sienna Vv Granada Whim e Melotan Sirocco 1 Phantom Reptile Light Gun Metal Granite Gray Gun Metal Eclipse Black Foxblu Harmony WoMen's Hosiery, Aisie 19, Pmst FLOOR. Women’s and Misses’ Frocks $ I 6.50 Eighty Styles in Fashionable $25 Fabrics . . . Specially Priced - Enthusiastic women and misses have proved that these frocks are exceptional values —they have recognized their smart fashions and materials by seeing them, and buy- ing them. Fabrics are satin, flat crepe, tweeds, covert cloth, canton crepe, travel tweeds, chiffon velvet, georgette and chiffon . . . styles are one-piece, two-piece, three-piece, Princess lines, flares, frilled collars, surplices, longer skirts, higher waists and lingerie touches . . . in black, brown, navy, wine, green, blackberry, aquamarine, wood rush, rust, dahlia, horseshow blue, hunters’ green and prints. Sizes 14 to 20 and 36 to 44 ‘WOMEN's AND Misses’ Dresses, THIRD FLOOR. Miss Decker of Dorothy Gray Is Here to Solve Your Toiletry Problems A special representative from the house of Dorothy Gray—Miss Decker—will be here the entire week to assist you in your selection of Dorothy Gray Preparations which are best suited to your particular needs. You will find Miss Decker of much aid in your problems. ToiLer Gooos, Aisie 16, Fmst FLOOR. Our New Honey Facials Are Rejuvenating and Refreshing A mask of honey and vegetables—a mas- sage by one of our skilled attendant's ten clever fingers—relaxation. You' will be delighted at the feel and appearance of your skin after a treatment. Ham Dnessing, Szcowp Froom. - Prints enter a new field. Printed Faille, *3” yard Faille goes to prints—and these first editions prove doubly interesting be- cause they are in tweed prints and bayadere effects. Plan to have a Fall daytime frock of this new fashion— you will find here a variety of printed faille 39 inches wide. . SiLks, Seconp FLoOR. Briefly Speaking, Most Business Men Need . . Markedly $9 50 Brlef CaSeS Underpriced Ever so many professions are marked by its members carrying their papers—their data—in brief cases. Students, too, find them a convenient way to carry heavy books. These brief cases are of genuine shark- grain leather in brown and black. They -have 3 pockets with an extra zipper pocket, and a drop bottom which makes space for overnight. things. One pocket is extra wide. And the price is special. Luceace, FourTr FLOOR. “Merry Christmas” —from you and your house Christmas cards which carry your own personal greetings— cards which show that you have spent more time over them than merely ordering them at the last minute. For, by ordering Chriglmu cards now in Woodward & Lothrop’s Engraving Sechon'. you have a wider group from which to select—and more time to remember every one who should be on your list. Saturday Is the Last Day of Our Special Price Offer on Personal Engraved Christmas Cards ENGRAVING, 10TH Starer Stoe, Fist FLOOR. A Special Offering of New Colorful Rings $395 Their low price is in no way indicative of their splendid value—so very much below their usual selling price are they. Twelve lovely settings being beautifully cut stones of car- nelian, chrysoprase, chalcedony, lapis and onyx, surrounded by tiny marcasites that the French know how to use to such advantage. Marcasite and Semi-precious Stone Pendants, $5.95 NovELTY JEWELRY, A1sLE 8, F'mst FLoOR. Five semi-precious stones oo eight designs Hand Embroidery lends distinction to this Net Panel A New Fall Curtain Fashion for Living and Dining Rooms NN N N With Fall-Winter. glass curtains assuming a new ornateness— this panel finds hand embroid- ery a smart asset. A delightful border effect is achieved, and hand-tied fringe A&rtistically takes the place of hems. The ecru finish of the net affects a charming harmony with the overdrapes we will use this S S5 $ 14 each