HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1930-05-08, Page 2tep on the Stairs
By ISABEL OSTRANDER
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CHAPTER XL— (Cont'd.)
"She asked if the Griswold woman
had displayed any particular talent
in any direction such as amateur
theatricals or that sort of thing, but
all I recalled the creature had done
had been to sketch clever but rather
cruel caricatures now and then for
our amusement."
"Just one more question, Mrs. Tyr-
rell," legged Barry. "You said the
girl's hair looked as if it had been
bleached out in the sun; do you re-
member whethee it was curly • or
straight?"
"Straight as a string," Mrs. Tyr-
rell responded. "Irenc's hair had been
soft and curling about her face, while
her sister's was fiat and dank and
unpleasant -looking as though she had
been drowned! Now I really must
hurry or you'll miss Jour train."
He took leave of Mrs. Tyrrell at
the station just as the New York train
was pulling in, but made no attempt
to get aboard; instead he waited for
the Western express and as he entered
the Pullman he chuckled to himself.
"Gad what luck!" he murmured.
"What a coincidence! Fate played
right into her hands!"
enabled to ovide for her younger
sister, remove , her by law from
the
hand of their guardian and have her
completely cured of the physical dis-
ability which had crippled her. In re-
turn the younger sister adored her
passionately with a single -hearted de-
votion rwhith bore fruit in latet years.
"When the woman known tt all of
you but one as 'Mrs. Vane' eloped with
the husband of the older sister it
broke her heart and destroyed her
mind. She died within the year and
when her husband heard of it he shot
himself in remorse; the cartridge shell
from that shot was found among the
so-called Mrs. Vane's effects a few
days ago.
"In the meantime, however, she had
found her husband again, succeeded
by a ruse in making circumstances ap-
pear in the eye4 of the law as though
he had condoned her unfaithfulness,
and has been blackmailing him ever
since, playing with fire but never again
permitting herself to be burned, since
it would mean the loss of her income.
"She may have almost forgotten that
first mad escapade, but she reckoned
without that little sister of the girl -
wife whose life she had brought down
to the grave.
"She was plentifully supplied with
money and the little sister was poor,
with her own living to make, while she
pursued her search, but she continued
it for seven years, and then the long
arm of coincidence stepped in and
placed her enemy within her reach.
Only two things puzzle me; when she
first knew that Mrs. Vane was Miriam
Griswold, and what became of the
small pistol with which she fired from
the fire -escape through the bull's-eye
which she had previously marked upon
the canvas of the portrait, straight
into Mrs. Vane's heart. Can you tell
us, Miss Barrows?"
He turned abetiptb to the small
figure of Miss Shaw, but this time she
did not shrink, nor was there the
slightest surprise or hesitation as she
replied:
"Yes, the pistol is here. I knew
that Pialessor Semyonovs apartment
was the only one in the building which
would be exempt from search, so while
' e was downstairs with you, Sergeant
Barry, before Sergeant Craig carne up
I slipped in here—the door had been
left open—and dropped the pistol be-
hind that_pile of violin music. I could
see it hadnrt been touched for months."
"It is nearly a month since," the
young woman went on, "going out late
one evening I passed Mrs. Vane's door
and heard her in a heated discussion
with Mr. Griswold. Of course I knew
who he was from the day he came here
tc live, so I stopped and listened. She
was making a demand for more money
and I soon heard enough to tell me
that my search was finally ended. I
had a speaking acquaintance with her
already and a well- after that night
I managed to have heAnvite me into
her studio.
"I watched her as she sat upon her
stool, painting, saw that her breast
was on a level with the third step of
the stairs in the portrait, and, getting
behind it, marke the spot on the can-
vas with a bit of red point. You see,
I'd planned during that week just
what I should do; I knew that she
often worked ae night and I only
awaited my opportunity."
She nodded and even smiled slightly
at Craig, who stood awkwaidly dangl-
ing in his huge hands the tiny pistol
he had retrieved- from beneath the
dusty heap of music.
"That's what I did it with; I've
carried it for seven years, but I'm
finished with it nor."
"What made you go clown again
afterwards, Miss?" Craig evidently
felt that something was expected of
him. "I mean when the medical ex-
aminer was there and ordered you
away from the eTse?"
"I wanted to smear the brown paint
which I new .7a, still wet on the can-
vas, over the bullet hole so that it
would not be so readily discovered,
and I did." She turned to Barry. "I
don't in the least. care what happens
to me now, but I am curious to know
what made you suspect me at first."
"The calibre of the pistol used," be
replied. "It was distinctly a woman's
weapon; Mrs. Vane was the ruthless,
predatory type who if she turned sex
outlaw would be the natural enemy of
all women; you were the only other
feminine tenant in the house and you
made contradistory statements. When
I found the bullet hole in the canvas
I knew the shot must have been fired
from just outside the window, the fire
escape was the only means of access
and the chOice lay between you and
Mr, Griswold. He would not have paid
blackmail to her all these years if he
had meant to run his own neck into
a noose by eliminating her, so when I
started Went we were pretty. sure of
our ground, Sergeant Craig and I."
"But the steps we heard on the
stairs!" Professor Semyonov ex-
claimed. '
"They were those of Mr. Griswold
ascending and a moment later IVIr.
Ladd desceeding," Barry remarked.
"Chief, I think our :use, is finished."
"May 1 speak?" Professor Semy-
onov rose before the official could re-
ply. • "If it can be proven that this
young lady was for years an inmate
of an institute for the crippled and
feeble-minded 1 think that I can assist
in furthering the ends of real justice,
providing you are willing, Sirt to en -
trust her to my care. A nine4aYsi
's, .sation in the newspapers, a year or
;so for Miss I3arrows in a quiet retreat
of which I know and which the pis-
triet Attorney himself will endorse find
the world will have forgotten alike
the evil woman whose execution took
place beneath this roof and the man-
ner of it,"
"I'll take a chance on yon any time,
Professor!" The Chief spoige in a
relieved tone. "Sergeant Craig, see
that Miss Barrows is placed in the
prison ward at Bellevue temporarily,
under the leharge of manslaughter."
k.ftea the young W0111011 had been
led away sobbing hysterically, Pro-
fessor Semyonov turned once more to
Barry with a whinasical smile.
"You were right, my friend, it had
everything to do with the crime after
all; that step on the stairs."
(The End.)
CHAPTER XII.
The group which gathered in Pro-
fessor Semyonov's shabby, comfortable
living room a fey days later was a
strangely assorted one, but the faces
of all held the same ir,tent expression
and their eyes were focussed on the
boyish figure which lounged easily in
the window seat. All the tenants of
the huuse were present except the
keeper of the antique shop; Gordon
Ladd, moody and silent; Henry Gris-
wold with his little skull -cap; the pro-
fessor himself, as imperterbable as
ever, and even the pale, shrinking lit-
tle Miss Shaw from her attic ettdio.
In addition the Chief had conde-
scended to come over from headquar-
ters and lend his augustcountenanze
to the proceedings, and Sergeant
Craig stood near, looking as though
he were not quite sire what was going
to drop on him, while, unseen, outside
the door two stalwart men remained
on guard.
"I've got a little story :o tell you
all; it won't take long." The figure
la the window straightened.
Deep silence rewarded him, save for
an audilbe'gulp frail draig and a
slight rustle of Miss Shaw's gown as
she settled bank resignedly in her
chair. Barry went on:
"Long ago out in a village i Michi-
gan, two girls were left orphans under
the rascally guardianship of ahypo-
critical bank president. The older girl
was delicate, the younger crippled to
the point of physical deformity but
with a strong, determined, alert niind.
They were possessed of a :ittle pro-
perty and their guardian made up his
mind to marry the oldest girl off as
early atid as well as possible, but he
saw his chance with the younger one
because of her infirmity. He put her
in an institution which was practically
an. idiot asylum, and her older sister
was powerless to help her.
"It is a wonder that the little crip-
ple's mind didn't give way with the
horrors about her, but it didn't even
when a greater horror and grief came
into her life. Their guardian sent the
older sister to a fash'onable school in
another state where a daughter of a
rich family grew fond of her and took
her to her own home in a distant city
for a summer vacation.
"There the orphan net and married
a man of wealth whom she loved de-
votedly, but who fell into the toils of a
designing woman of undeniable fas-
cination; the woman who was shot to
death downstairs a few nights ago, the
erring blackmailing wife of Mr. Gris-
wold,' here."
A gasp that was like the stirring
of dry leaves ran around the little
circle, but no one spoke and after a
moment Barry continued: .„
"There were two years of happy
riarried life, however, before the other
woman appeared upon the scene, and
daring those two years the bride was
What New York
Is Wearing
BY ANNEBELLE
!WRIGLEY'S is good company
on any trip.
It's delicious flavor adds zest
and enjoyment. The sugar sup-
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day seems long.
In short it's good
and good for you.,
" After Every Meal
CS 11
4ss
'ISSUE. No., .18—'30
WORTHINGTON
Illustrated Dressmaking Lesson
Furnished With Every Pattern
3386
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Modern Girls Air
Knotty Problems
Happy and Jolly But Not
Frivolous, Declares
Speaker
Oxfor(L (Eng,)—The modern girl
became •vigorous in her own defence
in the course of a conference which
was held recently at St. Hugh's Col-
lege.
It was the conference of the Na-
tional Council of Girls' Clubs, attend-
ed by girls employed in factories, in
trade, and in domestic service.
The problem of the modern 'girl
arose during a discussion on the func-
tions (3f the clubs.
"I am tired," declared Josephine
Duckworth, secretary of the Liverpool
Union of Girls' Clubs, .`of hearing
these endless criticisms of the modern
girl. The girl of to -day as seen in our
clubs has a sense of responsibility of
which any section of the community
could be proud.
"When you get to know her as we
know her at the clubs, you see that
she has a very much greater sense of
responsibility and a desire for service
than her Victorian predecessor. What
Is merely a happy and jolly outlook on
life is too often interpreted by those
eager to chiticize the modern girl as
frivolity. She takes a sane and
healthy interest in politics, but she
has not much time for partisanship."
Miss A. Quint, of Manchester, sug-
gested that the girl a to -day had to
do all her living in her leisure time be-
cause her work was so exacting.
"Therefore," said Miss Quint, "she
seeks one 'crowded hour of glorious
life' to make up for the age -long day
at the factory or thop. Clubs are be-
ginning to realize that this is the rea-
son why so many girls seek excite-
ment in the form of pictures, dances,
and the streets."
In a debate on the ways in which
women may be helped in their work
by legislation, a number of the girls
read short papers which were followed
by a general exchange of views.
Miss E. Godfrey (Shoreditch) de-
clared that a girl should not be turned
away from a labor exchange as "not
genuinely seeking work' because she
refused to take a floor -mopping job.
"It is unfair to the mistress and to
the girl," she urged, "to force unsuit-
able material into domestic service.
When the servant is given every even-
ing, one half-day a week, and every
Sunday free, like other girls, then I
will take a floor -mopping job myself,
but not before then."
Miss Dorothy Elliott, National Union
of General ann Municipal Workers,
also protested against taking unskilled
people into domestic service. There
was no reason, she said, why domestic
-service should_ not be regulated by
law, as other industries were,
A silk and wool crepe mixture in
Riviera blue that answers many day-
time needs. It expresses simplicity
and good taste to wear now beneath
the fur wrap, and may be worn all
through the Spring.
The unpressed plaits of the Skirt are
secured by stitching to keep hips flafit.
They create charming youthfulness in
their soft rippling fulness .across
front.
The rolled collar is of plain blue
crepe.
Style No. 3386 conies in sizes 16,
18 years, 36, 38, 40 and' 42 inches bust.
Lettuce green jersey, navy blue
crepe silk with white crepe collar and
a yellowish and brown tweed are
effective combinations.
' HOW TO ORDER t'ATTERNS
Write yonr name and address plain-
ly, giving number and size of such
patterns as yoa want. Enclose 20c in
stamps or coin (coin preferred; wrap
it carefully) for each number, and
address your order 1. Wilson Pattern
Service, 73 Wes: Adelaide St., Toronto.
Sing, Boys, Sing!
Everyone's against you?
Well, they won't be long;
Nothing veers so quickly
As a thoughtless throngl
Don't take any notice,
But keep on along, '
Pull your belt up tighter
And just sing this song:
Where there is's, valley -
There's a hill as well;
What will come to -morrow
You can never tell,
Life is rather dreary?
Well, it might be worse!
Some folks may he looking
In an empty purse.
To your dull condition
Quite a spark you'll bring,
If YOU find some laughter
And you start to sing:
Where there is a valley
There's a hill as well;
What will come to Morrow
You can never tell.
Clouds are round about you?
Well, they'll blow away!
Darkness goes 'with morning,
Night must leave for day.
Rain can't last for ever,
Snow goes .With the Spring;
Take your old umbrella,
And just gaily sing:
Where there is a valley
There's a hill as well;
What will come to -Morrow
You can never tell,
The world knows nothing or
greatest men.—Sir Henry Taylor.
Heal the sthlin with Mieerara.
Salada Orange Pekoe Blend
gives greatest satisfaction
IP
11,
ORANGE
PEKOE
BLEND A.
;
151
'Fresh front the gardens'
Have You Noticed?
Blue Skies,
Clouds that pass,
Violet eyes
Peep from grass.
Gurgling brook,
Blooming trees,
Mossy nook,
Balmy breeze.
Fervid blood
In a riot;
Sulphur and
Molasses diet.
Lambs that skip,
Birds that sing.
This, Dear Reader,
This is Spring!
PERSISTENCE
Some men are born with what is
called "hair trigger" minds. They
seem to be able to see the right thing
to do the very moment the need for
it arises. Such a faculty is, of course,
a most valuable possession. How-
ever, there are far more of us who are
not so blessed and what we accom-
plish has to be done by "trial and er-
or," making mistakes and then correct-
ing them. But in this we have no
cause for lament. There are many
of us and it may be comforting to
know that most of the world's pro-
gress has been fashioned by this kind
of men. The qualities of patience
and persistence are M.' far more value
to the world than sheer brilliance.
Patience and persistence may build
slower but they build. more surely and
they are among the finest tools the
salesman can acquire.
IVIinard's Checks Falling Hair.
Lingerie Collars
A new conceit in the lingerie note
on the print frock is the collar and
sleeve tab of white organdie, elaborat-
ed with an. incrusted motif of tb.e
print. It is quite different from the
usual pleating or bit of embroidered
batiste.
TO -DAY
To -day is your day and mine, the
only day we have, the day in which
we play our part. What our part may
signify in the great whole, we may
not understand, but we are here to
play it, and now is our time. his we
know, it is a part of action, not of
Whining. It is a part of love, not
cynicism. It is for us to express love
in terms of human helpfulness. This
we know, for We have learned from
sad experience that any other course
of life leads toward weakness and
misery.—David Starr Jordan.
•
-However free we may be, we are
not free to do the things which. inter-
fere with the equal freedom of other
people.Havelock Ellis.
ANY SEASON
Is Vacation Time
In Atlantic City
ANY VACATION
Is An Assured Success
• If You Stay at the
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IN
NATURE
Away! ye burdens laid on thought
That draw the spirit down; .
It is the woodlands and the springs
And dells in mountains river,
All nature speaking loftier things
That draw us into Heaven.
—Charles Watts Russell:,
Prices
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Re,
,Watch for the SMP labei
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-
SeSiSo.••• - •
'Weekly sailings trurn M. .veal
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Book through The Cunard Line,
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No matter how severe,
you can always have
immediate relief:
Aspirin always stops pain quickly. It
does it without any ill effects. Harmless
to the heart; harmless to anybody. I3ut
it always brings relief. Why suffer?
ASI'IflIN
rftDLMA1lKRQ.
•
Scraggly, unshaven beards are like dull, unpolished
sbtoes ... both are entirely out of keeping with your
pride of personal appearance ... so keep your shoes
at 5511 times smart with "Nugget" which
waterproofs the shoes as it polishes. g
SIFIOE POLISII
gitte NU66ET TIN OM with a toi4t,