Page 9 (1/1)

"Not an ORDINARY murderer," interrupted Kedsty "As you have described it, the crime was deliberate--horrible and inexcusable to its last detail You were not moved by a sudden passion You tortured your victim It is inconceivable!"

"And yet true," said Kent

He was looking at the stenographer's sliers as they put down his words and Kedsty's A bit of sunshine touched her bowed head, and he observed the red lights in her hair His eyes swept to O'Connor, and in that moment the commander of N Division bent over him, so close that his face almost touched Kent's, and he whispered, in a voice so low that no one of the other four could hear, "KENT--YOU LIE!"

"No, it is true," replied Kent

Kedsty drew back, again wiping the moisture from his forehead

"I killed Barkley, and I killed him as I planned that he should die," Kent went on "It waswhich I shall not tell you is WHY I killed hi treirl as putting down the conde notes

"And you refuse to confess your motive?"

"Absolutely--except that he had wronged me in a way that deserved death"

"And youthat you are about to die?"

The flicker of a smile passed over Kent's lips He looked at O'Connor and for an instant saw in O'Connor's eyes a flash of their old coan has told uard-house hang It's simply that this accursed bullet has spoiled irl For half an hour she read her notes, and after that Kent wrote his nae Then Kedsty rose froentleh the door first in her desire to free herself of an ordeal that had strained every nerve in her body The coan hesitated, as if to remain, but Kedsty motioned him on It was Kedsty who closed the door, and as he closed it he looked back, and for a flash Kent met his eyes squarely In that ht while the Inspector was in the room It was like an electrical shock in its unexpectedness, and Kedsty must have seen the effect of it in his face, for he moved back quickly and closed the door In that instant Kent had seen in Kedsty's eyes and face a look that was not only of horror, but what in the face and eyes of another man he would have sas fear