Evening Star Newspaper, December 18, 1923, Page 38

ABOVE § By Robert Orr Chipperfield. Author of “The Second Bullet® “Unseen Hends” “The Trigger of Coprright, 1923, by Bebert M. McBride & Co. (Continued from Yesterday's Star.) “I was thinkin® maybe a little zinger ale would go good with your lunch, Geoff,” she remarked, jerkily [ don't know what I would ha “one with old Henry this mornin’ if It hadn't been for yvou when—when we found Mr. Benkard!" “It’s & pity no one thought o' old Henry afterwards,” he replied. “Thank vou kindly for this, though. He drank deeply but eved her askance over the rim of the glass, for the acidulous housemaid had ~hown him no favors before, and he was wary. “I' @1@ think of him when T could =et o minute from Mrs. Cayle ‘he others, but he told ma brought him up some coffee_and he dldn’t want anything elsc.” Without invitation, she plumped herself down on the steps beside him, . with her sharp elbows on her knees and her sharper chin in her hands. “I went up again just now, but he's sleepin’ fke a child and I'm glad of it: he seemed nearly crazy from the shock of comin’ on Mr. Benkard like that! When you saw him, could you get anything out of him, Geoff? What did he say So that w pump him e had come to should she care what the butl or any ad said__about Joseph 's death? Was it just a weman's love of gossip? Geoff fin- ished the other sandwich before he “I didn’t try to git anythin’ out o' hlm. 'Tain’t none o' my affairs, but 1 wouldn't say Henry was no ways crazy; seems real bright and level- headed to me for an old feller.” “Well, he isn't; he's in hi childhood, if you ask me, but shock was enough to drive anybody ut of their head.” Letty peered into the newspaper spread between his lmees. “What are you eatin'? Dough- nuts and apples and stale che Goodness gracious, what messes you bachelors do fix up for vourselves! “It's what I like?" Geoff protested in some alarm. “I eatin’ it steady for fifteer r since my ma_died? “Just ¥ * Letty “'Zeppa's good-for-nothing. thing, but she malkes lovely ch; cake and T think there's some left: She was gone before he could y monstrate further, and philosophically Geoff poured himself another glas ginger ale. After all, he had com- mitted himself by accepting that, and he might as well take whatever else was offered. but this new attitude on her part was disquicting. Letty returned pr ¥ with a huge wedge of the delectable cake on a plate, and seated herself again be- side him, “I guess you'll like that b remarked in answer to his worded thanks. “My, w it's been! F that—that 1 business, and then havin’ to break the mews to Mrs. Cayl nd the young second the | USPICION Conaclence,” Esc. ladies, and tryin’ to keep 'Zeppa from havin’ a fit, and then the police comin’! ~ The doctor is a friend of yours, isn't he, Geoff? I saw you talkin’ to him two or three times. ‘hat does he think about—about the murder? Her lowered were confidentially » bent nearer to him. 1 away. Doc Hood's a friend to nigh every- body in the county, goin' miles day or night to take care o' the whether they kin pay or nof observed, non - committally. knowed ‘me since I was kne a grasshopper but he would talk to me about his criminile cases, as medical examiner. He asked me questions just the same as he done to_everybody else.” “What kind of questions, Geoff?" Her voice was a mere whisper now, and she hitched along closer to him |on the step. He saw with dismay |that she would €oon have him | hemmed 1n against the balustrade and | es cape W be impossibl “'Doctor | Hood asked me a lot of questions, too, |and he awful kind about it, but | I couldn’t make head nor tail of what e was gettin' at! What did he ask yo eoff remembered all at once that | it was the doc himself who had called him “slow-thinking,” and he smiled inwardly. “Well, after he'd got through about this mornin’, he asked me if I'd seen any s'picious characters hangin® round while [ been workin' here the 1ast few da. tramps, or tough-look- in’ city fellers that mignt have been burglars spyin' out the place. Then he wanted to know if I'd noticed any strange motor boats anchored down there off-shore, or ottermobiles pre- tendin' to be stuck in the ad right clost to the gates with license plates from 'way off somewheres” Geoft warmed to his subject. “After that he started about the ketches on all the winders and locks on the doors, and was there any alarm system and | did Mr. Benkard have a gun that 1'd heard tell of. Did he ask you any o' them things? ‘He did not! Letty eved her com- panion in open skepticism. T must say It's funny, too! Did you talk to that detective from the county seat” “He talked to me!” Geoff chuckled "Kinder likes to hear himself, don't | Reckon he had an idee I migh have done it! He asked me qestion he could think o' 'bout m: and I expect I'm liable to find him snoopin’ ‘round my place down by the erick ‘most any time. What do you think o was eloquent it was goin' to depend ce'd mever find out who killed Mr. Benkard!" She caught her- THE EVENI on the local and county authorities? “Mr. Benkard's secretary, Mr. Dunn, came awhile ago, tco” ' Letty re- marked after a pause, “Seen him when he drlv up, but I ain't spoke to him,” responded Geoff, truthfully enougly “He lobked 'most a5 bad a3 old Hehry. *“They're a good pair!” she claimed. “Henry's in his dotage and ! Mr. Dunn's half-cracked about losin’ own money in Wall Street. They'd both outlived their usefulness when Wwe camo on to make our home with Mr. Benkard six vears ago, and why he kept them I mnever could see, though Mrs. Cayley got kind of fond of old Henry and I like him because he's willing and faithful enough. 1 guess Mr. Dunn is, too, but if an to listen to either of thei word the s of ] has been murdered, and make mountains out of molehills, thinkin' they can help trace the one who did 1t! I shouldn’t be surprised right now if one or the other of them wasn't cookin’ up some notion or makin' a ery out of nothin’ “Except that old Henry's asleep, you say, and I expect Mr. Dunn is busy with Mis' ¥ Geoff remarked “You come with her and her daugh- ter to New York, didn't you? Where did you live before that? I ain't never had time to git nowheres, only just ‘round here.” Letty bit her thin lips. came from Milh Ivania, e said, shortly. debated for a_ moment, made valiant effort. You_couldn’t 1 been with M Cayley long; you ain't old ‘nough to been out o’ school more'n a few yeu He gulped when the words we out and awaited the ult of his rush move with trepldation, but nothing happened and after a brief space he stole a sidelong glance at her. To his surprise. Letty's face had turned a dull brick-red, und a little sugg, tion of a smile softened her sharp fontures, “Age fs sometimes decclvin', She laughed, not unpleasantly. been with Mrs. Cayley since two years before her husband died, and that'll be ten years next September, poor horough, in and T've “You workin' twelve year! body else was to've told me, I'd ne have believed it!” he exclaimed, lantly, adding: “What did Mis' C Iy's husband do? Was he in big d like Mr. Benkard?" The query was enough, but Letty's peared and she gave susplcious glance, “He didn't do an invalid of finality, gabbin’ all day She rose, and he did lik sigh which might ha ession of regret or rellef. “Nor me, neither, though the first time wo got kinder acquainted I puttered ‘round all mornin’ doin nothin’, and now I reckon I'll move my concrete mixer over to the garag: and git to work there. Mis' Cayley didn't say I shouldn’t and I'll out vy, Gooff!” Lieut. Zeke Foster came around the corner of the house If any- er ik ay- Al put smil him disap- a sharp, inythin He w plied. with an air cy, I can't sit here se, with a ex 1f up suddenly. “Mr. Lane is her rd tell So.” * Geoff's tone ‘wi »r he was wondering what k nd why she had stopped | {and changed th bject as though | | sorry she had spoken..On whom was | | the ‘investigation to’ depend, if not| bling run. cen Doc Hood What's up ing his abruptly. “That attorn, * Geoff demanded twhile companion detective from the district s office has found where NG STAR, window o' that big empty room at the front was forced and the lock o' the door broke! That's how the murd'rer got in last night!” CHAPTER VI. Geoft Helps The creek which wound between broad, gently sloping meadows to the sound reflected the last pink glow of sunset that evening, as Dr. -cod left his car at the side of the |main road. Along the narrow, well- worn path he made his way toward rioted with bloom. As he neared it, a deep-throated baying sounded from within, and Geoff's tall, lanky figure appeared in the doorway “Why, heilo, Doc!” prise and pleasure quickened his drawling tones “Don’t reckon you've been here since ma died!— Come in 1, “You've kept up her garden, I see The doctor paused to sniff at a fragrant rosebush. “Yes, replied half apolo- if revealing a hidden cms kinder more like hin' pretty ‘round on outside, Itufe.” fe added the last to a nondescript hound which had ceased Its baying and come to the doorway inquiringly. The dog obeved, wWag- ging its tail in friendly fashion at the visitor, and then trotted off the shed from whence came the oce casionul stamp of a horse’s hoofs “What sort of u collection have you in your menagerie now, Geoff?" asked the doctor, us he followed his host into the immaculate kitchen “Only Rufe and Sim Perkins' old mare that he turned out to die last winter and—and Lady, here.” As he spoke, u huge, silky, buff and white bundle moved on an old quilt in the corner and a great dog raised herself on her fore legs with the hind ones stretched out helplessly be- hind_her. “Why, that fairly it's a Russian wolfhound! - Dr. Hood exclalmed appened to her that her hind paralzyed? Run over?’ a. Geoft but there was that »w had ever heard given ten dollars to her out and shoot her, but I ht her home instead, and the i had down from the city she's goin' to git well. Set Doc. 1 reckoned I'd k what wasn't my husiness, wo sponded tn his t there I was down out rnoon ase were served rucfully ted himse “I'm going to perform the autopsy tonight, but there will be nc it. and then I'm out of ) ittt ever is one Zeke for a he discovered until the Sergt. sort of Eliot wateh us since 1 n WASHINGTON, D. ¢, SDAY, a tiny frame cottage set in a garden | Unfedgned sur- | beside him | tol o the window and inner door of the empty music room had been forced, and he's busler than a bird dog around the place; but somehow I don’t take much stock in that forced window. No burglary was attempted, and if the murderer wasn't a stranger and had reconnoitercd, he would have found the man he was looking for sitting unarmed within a few feet of those open doors. Mrs. Cayley tried to bluff when I asked her about those anonymous death threats, but finally she had to admit that her brother had received u feow such letters, evidently the work of some harmleds crank, and no one had paid any attention to them ex o that | A e R ) ‘;v:;,}c ST © Pt Lot = Buy Them From any Westinghouse | }| Dealer Displaying DECEMBER 18, 1923, perhaps his overzealous secretary or voor, childish old Henry."” @oft chuckled. Yes. She sent Letty out wh was eatin’ my dinner to bribo with a bottle o' ginger nop on to you that Henry and that ther Dunn were & couple o' half-crack fools and not to listen to ‘em. Sh. was real anxious, though, ‘o find out what you thought and what the ser geant had asked me, and ! reckon she told Letty to pumy me gen erurlIY-" Th n 1 me doctor's eyes twin! s the pumping good “Well,” Geoff rubbed his chin, “(h: there Letty's real faithful, but ed. Y Sales & Se-vice 7 T she's tweiv Wiy ago. and Miss Millie ew Iva ard. been with Mi e years, Mis' Cayley's husband an invalid and died ten | and four years afterws Caylev for|with him already.” The visitor laushed until ki Ve | by ook and Letty come 10 | have - taried York from Milborough, Penn-|Then his f: nia, to keep house for Mr. Ben- Henry and Willlam Dunn was that was out! he obered. now exc (Continued in Tomorrow's Star.) The Spirit of Giving is the spirit of Christmas. You are unable to enjoy the Christmas spirit if you are financially worried and cannot give. Our Christmas Savings Clubs will answer this problem and make your next Christmas one of joy and happiness. Joix today—al any of our live banking offices. CAN 'SECURITY Fifteenth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue CAPITAL AND SURPLUS $5,400,000 Branches: CENTRAL—TTH AND MassacHUSETTS Ave NortrEAsT—8TH axp H Sts. N.E SoUTHWEST—436 Ttin St. S.W NorTRWEST—1140 1511 St. { T e 2@ . 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