The evening world. Newspaper, November 16, 1914, Page 13

4 A 7 ee peters: ee eam ee ee y 4 v ‘Phe Eveatng World Daily Magazine: Monday; Nsvembar 16) 19147 The The Sower e & By Robert Minor Paternoster Ruby The Romance of a Gem That_Represented $500,000 Worth of Bad Luck. By Charles Edmonds Walk (Copyright, 1010, by A. C. MeChurg & Gn) } . | ied § 3 VLE De tay Bee Mext Weel’s Complete Novel in THE EVENING WORLD, The Smuggler By Ella Middleton Tybout ‘Tile Bock-on the Stands Wil Cost You $1.25, You Got it for 6 Conte, Decome @ mirror of censterna- CHAPTER I. F ‘dood Lord, 1" be geaped, re- The Sheridan Park Mystery. ; Pee csty orem grave, Ant ten, 0 the great wheat corner was broken at iast! The coterie of opera- ., ‘ from the head of the stairs, came the | “It's o tere headed by Alfred Fiuette had diecovered to thelr dlamay that 5 2 roe id leaned eh shorts were an; ort,” for all day yesterday the ‘ precious grain had been pouring into the market in a golden Pig ns hs ate oe from i hiss sTrecervey the Naw fe Gad Sox, Felts Page, himaatl 6 sancepuieter ot saeseoneal agi ge ra bd ‘ = x, Fel & manipulator of eu x ' ‘slewed round teleased §=Witha perhaps more than any other figure on the Board of Pa eerie enatohed it pot Been for Panera, Prove cas mem eines livered the goods. one wd Fluette was soon overwhelmed, and to-day he! be a Wake over the corpee. Bo ran newspaper I crammed inte my pocket as I left the ele- that J@nuary morning in 18 Headquarters was my destination, and I had no econer stepped threshold than I was told that the captain was wanting to eee me eat a pe. J ‘ x s --) “You—you spy! You dirty sneski” with him. Fact. Watched me steady 2 ie yx x sibs ~ rs py! 4 he snarled vi iy: g esptain, ing me @ card as I en- Gill the time I—you know—looked at ——_—_— -| tered his office. “It looks like murder the body.’ yew , CHAPTER IV. old Page.” Stodger stopped abruptly, with the : A —s ce ty ° Bs ag Ps Oe shouted. “You by eine ca whom - occurred se ‘ tf > , % “ee - a The Ruby. meai bad rillian ( ” if “What "the matter ‘with you? Know one fat knee with ud Boy he ANN * : : I wanted affairs to it?” whispered with aupp: eagerness: ra 4 4 , % get away from me entirely, | ly stupefaction was pronounced ‘By jinks, Swift! I have it! I'll get = ¥oh ¥ : ” s ‘ ‘ it was high time to assume @mough to excite his wonder. I as- Burke—Alexander Stilwell. Lét him ' % complete control of them, * MY e eure often astonished talk—in there”—w: viole: BE: i 7 “ ip ‘ $ EO ot ad Sekt? 4 ‘ ! at the Central Office. ture Proslt of the 3 Bye chtins SN Y and immediately to aban- Some day to 3 ehe'e pS The names of Felix P: and Al- 3 cn es He bee don all temporising measures. rumor of the , and is PRS AS T turned Maillot about without cere- #D0Ut me. The note was rage ef fred Fluette had been be in = hide } er eye fea Re ae : . ee ne way or another for days; I had behind ‘em and Maten; if he don’t tell hi im her coachman, and. ehe’s r+4 followed the ‘kable wheat deal ry just like he did to me, wh: ‘ OE 24 * fe : ; iS z mony. the corner a blook frou. Bere With about the same degree of in- i the turn on him. Beet" Aah Y ; se “Go with this mad to the itprary, to come to her. z for me @erest that animated everybody else For various reasons I thought the z = r Ok A Je I peremptorily directed. “She's a sensitive, Righ-strung me was Lele ip eal dose pal Pe! wg a bad on said 80. ; me ya [ Fe ; 7 fs . : “Burke, you come with me.” tae ane breath of sonata A ‘unt js mom odger was off uj a, vats f . . ly L impressed me that I knew something shot. He went nimbly round the pros- % fn ‘S In the next ten seconds I bad the te ing Page which had not ap- trate figure on the landing without PES... , biden? . big itbrary table between the two, in the papers in So much as @ look toward it and ‘die- is A J p pod eee < ® Burke tmpas#ive, while Maillot glared the corner. What was it? But appeared. f D < wee at him savagely. ‘word to you.” @ could not remember. He and anotder man appeared, after é x 9) g Gereer ; r. ‘Aad ‘Look here, Mallet, “Here'a all 1 know about it.” the a while, at the back of the Net, teee at : ee ‘3 oe, kangor = Oe Relea Mb rina “ A lady & companton?” 7 @aptain was sayin; t must have ing evidently avatied themee! 7 mest f . ay n ¥: ; TP pe aA Here was the very thing I bad tried "¥ee-amall 4 ay Happened some time during the night; a fear staiteay, agli F 3 sl a < fuged i ; , 0 futilely to resall when the captain who lives with heres ey commis report came in from Sheridan J] gurveyed the private secretary ’ c ¥ dS Ng > Vv pow f ned Felix Pi death ‘ery well. If th Park station about daylight. Three with much interest, and must even i 5 ee eR ‘ x! "i . gery firat pechne 45506 to ‘ie together now, we oan cettle AoA b> men from there, Patrolman Callahan now confess, after no inconal o oo * ] a j nS ia we re faite easter huenen 7 end O'Brien and a plainclothes man study of the human face, that I have , ‘oo 13 at 4 PE A world and acquired ite name through tho two of them to come rane wen ee Stodger, are at we Lief a never since beheld one that was so : 3 if Sere 2 ; 3 , . if yt 5 one Luca Paternostro, an Italian half hour. Within that time—well, saws a “trom. the Central, Office RAT as ; Sn ree ¥ 2 Se Aa aie ‘6 dealer in precious atones having hie YOU can collect yourssif. If Stogger'e ina stow: can't seem to height’ and of an ago that might have nt es a SOS <4 ny ear: place of business in London, who you ary rine rg nin laden to what make head or tail of what's hap- heen anything between twenty and ee ane ee ae i fect CME, i sat i ; Pon T saluted and hastily left him. fal on nee see tnaent claimed to have purchased it in the place for a young lady—for the mext lashes were afl of @ unit rough from some adventurer whose ar, minutes, anyhow.” orm sl ght Something like a half hour after oaig yellow—excepting that the eyes is unknown to history. Jeaving the Central Office I arrived at aq q greenish tint—while his face Subsequently it was carefully cut sald impulsively, and honey we Pi ry Stodger, a short, fat, * jurried back to fred tured ch me some Miepa tawholesome pallor. ae see in my room. They had been in a file- I would have been hard put to it to worthy that made me think he was LO tne! it in the dark, you know— poligreiachap (eves in oa ovis war Maiot dropped into hie chair, ; as stamping to and ."Mr. Burke, Mr. Swift,” said case so long that they wore very interpret the impression which Alex- strangling. “Swift te my name.” why, that heavy candieatick would 6» trade, and then added to Pater- St0dger could no longer contain his: Bredeer, Sih grand aire dusty; so when I was through I went ander Burke had made upon my mind, patatllos suddenly thrust out bis right ha put a quistus on any man Se on esate seit. Drawing me into fhe hall, thous andei wel on fi it 8 jer jnion ing 01 ja hea Li Aad a wes to the bathroom—one door from mins todger had demanded my opii “Gilad to know you, Swift,” he sald fut I could not encourage this idea. ‘On the sourth aight after be re fs a Snlinee fre ee Ronn oe nal hoarse aside to me: —to h hands, and while I waa at that moment. As his round, che- o Oe eae he gave mea hasty ac- , “Little matter I want to look after: a0 engaged 1 was atartied by a crash rubic face emerged between the cur- heartily, “You look like © sensible “I thought of that an sobn as I 88W celved t count of the crime, concerning which Just ‘tend to it while you two aré as of some one fulling heavily out- tains, I turned to bim with consider- chap. I'm willing to do all I can to the overturned whatnot,” sald I; “but |, y and whimsleally confessed talking. aide. able curiosity. help you 06 caaree 3 em gy Aad several circumstances disprove it. a ey rom tee ate Penne ee aternostro was. mur- “You'd mever guess congh- dered and the gem stolen from bis man it wan” a7 84 j ; “ “Told it word for word as he did to much, I'm ! “In the first place, if the candle- te in Hatton Garde I made no CHAPTER II. tnto the hail” At nret t aaw noting, 70" sas my companion’s comment. Headed, cop, saye T can’t do this or stick alld off the top’ the dust would “PWrron it appeared in Pare a fow friend tnpresetvely akasaeady wet f f * “Couldn’ t , 9 a" The Private Secretary. Bee ee ney oe parently, aula been 6 piece learnt by heart” trouble, | They can t Biull mie, and T You oan plainly see where it scraped monthe LG a geo kogte Macines cnet surprise forked the en- Rave beon an ideal place of residence TODGER at once left us to- *tagere which ‘had always, stood at Aentieeiey madlbe the wan te tke tate rvbat 1 shall 60 ee i bop deg ring. your gupposts ineas were promptly on hand to claim clamation from me; but I kept my 4€ rahabilitated from its sorry con- 6 head of the stairs was tipped for- * of was qui @. Maillot tion, the candiestick wou! ave property; terpri: dition of neglect. The house faced the S Lapel lige beret I etreeing Ward against the banisters, and at landing. glanced at the body again and lowered birack about balbway ep the flight. they gnoveeded 1 atten ie det erminas acmnet.” Btbaner | nodded his north eridan Park, a 6 6 time ear ir. Maillot role, ' had been at that in som u 4 Tilincse or whose iagoons could & Into the curtained alcove of moving about in ‘is room. I was CHAPTER Ill. "ho anid, “oun, we. go to 0 eR ae Shar ibys gtr ely top tal the Pateracatfon ‘arted, with the “Here indeed ‘was the promise ‘ae a 1 spoken. In perplexe: count for suc more appro} a - | ruby on London. pretty affairs! | ESNet ere do fale waa len econ eeerraiewargy Milley adres murat Some Discoveries. tors over?” have encountered it. And then, Malle “Incidentally, the assaasin and ¢hiet G4} trom the wide boulevard, and, sur- MH i) ht, and for a time I stood motion- UT I was not yet permitted “Yee—the library,” suggested I. jot, look here,” I pointed to the ob- —an Oriental of undetermined na- “=f founded as it was by fine old elms ‘© reach it I held Burke with ques- jogs, waiting to see what would oc- te beat examination of He drew back, and his face dark- ject of interest Iteclf- tlonality—was also apprehended and, jand beeches and maples, It reminded tion or two in th Vee ho penides eur cext, admit that 1 was even ee Baap axe ‘o Geamaalate ened. “if'you were carrying tt while the the red tape of extradition baying e@ of some antiquated English “Mr. Burke,” said I, “who besides somewha’ ened, but as nothing “Library!” he echoed. candle was lighted,” eaild, “your been gravely untang! conveyed to country home such as I have seen In yourself and Mr. Page was in the Clse happened I crossed over to Mr. surroundings. I had no “There's a fire there now,” I in- thumb would be uppermost, and your England and duly hanged. ‘ Stotures. housé last night?” Malllot's door—directly opposite mY sooner arrived at the landing than I formed him, wondering at his quick- little finger nearest the base— — fll-luck, however, followed the ruby. ‘There were any number of chimney Sine! An naraed Maillon”: be o' rea Help at once, He Neard @ man's volce, somewhere changing moods. Next it he wouldn't they?’ On the boat over from Calaia to was talk! cluster: BCE ela a ie said; ‘Royal Maillot.” was holding a hand to his right eye, ®bove in the second story, speaking 1, Switt—you have ‘Very well. Suppose, now, I re- gem merchants, who had accompanied ing. Notwithstanding it was mid- “And who 1s this Royal Maillot?” [ and glared at me with the uncov- with a note of determination that de- not examined the body yet, have verse my grasp-any thumb toward them to Paris, was lost overboard ‘winter and that an inch or more of fred eye. He evidently had slippol manded some sort of recognition from you? I'm curious to see whether you the base, the little fingor toward the while the vessel was entering the . on the ground, there was hastily into his clothes; his candle 14 person addvesset. The clear, ‘iscover anything. Queer old ehap top—I now have it in @ pretty ef- home port. Although this man wae y © any of the was lighted, and I noticed that his 4 * he was; I don't think anybody ever fective position for use as a bludgeon, known to be an expert swimmer—not- yy! welcome young lawyer, and that some aeieere Resdeand eee were wet, as if he too TARDE: soeoluls oe made me volun- understood him” pi he wk eh?” withstanding the attempt af rescue, resence of a fire bejow. affair brought him here to confer w! ny y arily pause and listen, still form lay in nS He was following me intently, and the proximity of land an; numer- “a high fron Noes eriending along Mr. Page. He arrived only last night. It strikes mo that there was an «where's your headquarters man?” Which extended acrose the rear of now nodded his bead in token of ous craft of all sorts in the vioinity— eagerly. “Naturally.” Dover a confidential employee of the bt -washing,” have car- es corriage entrance and & smaller ” of night. Had the household retired?" want to seo, d'ye hear? You biither- story, but im a directi c rr ‘ the man vanished beneath the waves, t deatri The former, wnusual, Wh nen, story, lon exactly the on. ‘The hand that last grasped tho feiting tne'way tom weed and grass “What do you mean by thatt” | “Why—yea, slr—we wore supposed ing idiot, I'm going down those reverse of the first dight amd on the caadieatick did not try to avold them, fo eign of him was even again. nt tanding midvvay upon this landi: fi s 3 n't re- four attempts were made to the Fust, while the other was Just 8 pied, wet. As he threw open the door, try to stop me.’ I had a view not only of the entire Riles Galnen ore to determine tat mone from the Paternostros, but as ently fixed open by the ac. why,” presently, “Mr Page was not which he did in an angry manner, he Another voice was raised in ex- spacious hall, but could also see the nearest the base.” — they had learned caution from their met9h of Sar G88 arerel: Aoevs in the habit ‘of seeing people here, or asked me what the devil was the postulation. Stodger, at my elbow, top of the e' . t Howin, no less than on was hermetically sealed gome moments elapsed before he (ey ciained why hia hands were Stns; tf you want to rough it, just Onposite side of the hall therefrom. although they were yet soft and _ In She following year the thumb w ere tipped forward at “I dec! he wonderingly inter- unfortunate predecessor's di ite lower part. Two parallel rows erned—of con- matter. I replied that I didn't know. suddenly chuckled. the head of the stal 4 lare " vient, the extent, at least, of keeping euch 5 Prove Beceoeret), Ubtrimmed Prive: deste: yuusiness matters what- Ho then stated that he thought the — “That's him!" ho Whispered, with doatly been a receptacie for old maya Seif’ Tha sandie war burcing wees treasure in’ Denk these -atvompls pet ae ee rm fa. mated the tortuous ways of the drive he returned home in the roof had caved in; that the tumult an unaccountable excitement. “That's gines and newspapers, all of which, agmebody grabbed it up for use ae a Were abortive, of aeuteness to which your hearing te the unused porte cochere. was his invariable rie, had awakened him, and that ip Maillot! hi that had not been checked by the chub. Whoever it was he caught hola And now we have Alfred Fluette MAY ane Bod geT ve sre pece, excepting’ — springing out of bed he bad nearly “He muat be « tartar,"" I observed. balusters, now lay in confused heap of it with « pretty firm grip. and Fellx Page arrayed against each hes been developed; but"—turning te outa ve cach Jitfieuny, “excepting what Knockod an eye cut by colliding with At that instant a stalwart young upon the floor just as they alld froin “an additional argument,” 1 added, other once more, Everybedy, me—"T want to say, Swit, thet der. b. a y Baye puuen Gitar: “Well, occasionally—very rarely— some place of farniture. be Bein wae many ise ADaTY Bad With. one alee the shelves. “tat It was put to some violent use. ont et eee aoranere, mY conten ing the whole time Mr. Page as@ I a two men. ‘Here all last nignt. Nobody he would ave mee eet tions; ‘he ex: that he had forgotten all about the monly truculont appearance, looked , Ven acrom the distance which then It isn't necessary to hold tt anything Tivairy between these two American Jo |) Sut Ut ot ee RO MWahan and O'Brien holdin’ , Noise; so he had lighted a candle and down on us from the upper hall; then S*P&rated me from this article of fur- near so tight meroly to carry It. that year, for the gem'a possession. were not once raised ee aatiige's private secretary; pected to be absent from the city; bathed the Injured oye. It was al- he deliberately ignored the arguing niture—twelve feet, I should ay “However,” I puraued, ‘the clroum- “at ye Page secured the TUDy—et © Corer toe eneea an tate fellow named Burke—Alexander Htii- and there were speci) neato’ ready beginning to swell and show policeman, strode to the head of the C°Uld see that the top was coated with stance i@ in a way unfortunate. gnulous price; but in the operation °°” door could have well Burke. Peach of a monickor, that he wanted to give me Conserh: signa of discoloration. On my re- stairs and descended to the landing, @USt, save for two spots whore the While I can gather the idea that t o made at least one bitter, mpiac- beard us intelligibly, I think, Burts, ain't it? Has all three sections on ing certain matters, tha marking that it was + rango the noise “It's “all right, Callahan,” gaia fich red lustre of the polished ma- hand wasn't inured to hard labor, abie enemy. Alfred Fluette pledged I see the imprint of a keyhole on your his cards looked after to-day. pee hadn't roused Mr. Page, Mr. Maillot Stodger to the discomfited bluecoat, osany shone conspicuously; one and that it was a rather long and himeeif in revenge to a commercial Oar. “The other's a young lawyer chap; | Tose briskly to mY ce whore it's St once seized his candle and preceded ‘The young man halted before us, Sout five inches in diameter and glender one, it closed #0 powerfully warfare on the successful millionaire ‘Temper your Mamet,” calls himself Royal Maillot. I cai ant Det AT Be Mteseeted L me Into the Ball. ue was the first to “Ass!” he growled, staring hard at foreng S| portest, onteuag) the ied Spee ine eripeinhs that ¢! re apeculator. It waged merrily thence- paid e other, vie of either of ‘em what he * a iT, Page's body. me. » ani in outline. of little ines—the vermiculation® gorward, ity. Instantly Maillot was upon AG throwing open the brary door; “IN si) tar as we could determine, he Stodger made the epithet exclu. Here at my feet was the explane. which differentiate one mans hand ‘Why did Welix Page want the Pa- feet. “And nobody else, you say?” I here will dor st Guring the Was quite dead, Mr. Maillot at once sively ming with a bow and a broad tion. ‘The base of the tron candi. from everybody elao'e—ia morely @ ternoater ruby? It was impossible asked when ho paused. NOW, Burkes ie destined later Warned me not to molest anything— grin. Instantly the young follow atlck accounted for the octagonal & wax impression of thé even to surmise @ tenable theory. His “Nope—so they say. Either one of next second or so was destined TAIN! how a lawyer, I believe—and we flushed and stammered an apology. sign; while the fragments of a. al ‘s hand it is not @ euccess.” Darsimony was notorious; he was @ ‘em might have done it. They're on, to rive In witch indirectly alded @&teed that I should notify the police “I didn't mean either of you chaps,” Jow, saucer-like sea shell, which had My audience seemed to be im- bachelor without known kith or kin, down on each other for something; that (gtr ane TE a puzsling feature While he remained to guard the he explained, in embarrassment. “I been utilized aa a matchholder, ac- mensely interested: But 1 was Dot and had never before been known to at each other Ike—like—you mo in clea! rd SPS ch! house." that chuckle-headed hodcarrier in @ counted for the smaller spot. These yet through with the wax impres- evince the slightest interest in pre- t and dog.” © S08 Oe, ct the chair where I Such minor details were added: the blue uniform. If he gives me any two articles manifestly had been ation, cious stones. on on.” ea laeannee wanted him to sit-one near enough only Bervant was & woman who pame more of his cheek Til take his club posed upon top of the etagere. The “One peculiarity ie suggested, On the other hand‘ Mr. Fluctte was ‘You might aperesriately relate “Well, this fellow Burke—Alexa to the house of mc.nings, and de- from him and hand him a wallop over matches, to the number of half a though: this is unmistakably the im- not onty @ collector of gems, but his What your business last night with hove for Stodger not only to o' } d ov a Btitwell—he comes to our shack some to the alcove | ko might say, but also PAarted before te master went down- the head with it—dashed if I don't.” dogon of a0, were strewn upon the Presa of a right hand and the owner collection was and etill in one of the Mr. Page wae.’ : siime after 2 this A.M. Told the desk a eee eae ataca ct fown there was no telephone in, the | He looked eminently capable of do- statrs and landing. of the hand wore @ broad ring onthe most famous in the world. Perhaps Ha wilt hiner —r0 i wergeant old Pag i jouse, an ne milliona’ ng it, too, He paused, his look rest- 7 picked up the candlestick from second finger—an unusual place for Page was willing to sacrifice a for- LA Y "4 nore, Di) ? watching him without much likell- © 3" ~ ad ‘ot ther A ‘ . x a Grime: round o° knockout drops. | & jure sould DANS SMOrn CORE UES Basle any other means o! artificial illumin- bluntly demanded. examined it with muoh interest. It The third finger of Maillot's loft bition; perhaps he was only satisty- " al be 4 d ay disinclinatio: « 1 i + - ing some old grudge about which the suppose #0. Are you Mr, WAS ® Solid affair of ornamental iron, hand was adored with a modest alx- Ink some ol berate opens whiok consume any more fuel than was ab- Maillot?" about fifteen inches high, and net ring, while the private secre- cenae inspector, too. This is positive that he ceased for a moment Sonaume Ay more ieee. 9 welghed some six or eight pounde— tary’s abnormally long, bloodless dig- ulation, and speculation of # most ua- Fe aeee et butted into, Dev'l- his blank, unblinking scrutiny of me, *utely necessary. Page's intention to. much longer ll have te aoe iy BOW, clearly a nasty weapon if wielded by {ts bore no sign that they had ever #atiatying sort too, He got the stone cold, ain't 1 At any rate, he was no sooner seated go t4 Duluth last night, hadn't it?” beastly cold-storage warehouse, Tm ® Fong arm. been encircled by any ring at all. af any Fate; and ore We bave an» ‘He hed opened the front door and than ho bounded up again. T resumed the queries, “What for?" plenty tired of it right now, if you . The bit of candle which it had oon- | “Mr. Maillot,” I said by and by, oF her instance of man's peoullar washered me into a deep, wide hall, A “We can have a little more ight “ «1 gon't know. About his wheat want to ape it tained lay nearby, one end flattened ‘I'll tell you frankly: this business ape jon, ry road stairway, with carved oak bal, here,” sald he, starting toward the &l- shipments, I auzpoae; something too I amiled at the resolute young fel- Out from having been crughed under looks pretty bad for you and Burke— hatever he did with the ruby no- rose on'one wide to a landin® cove, behind whose curtains Stodger important’ to intrust to the mail or low: there was something doctiediy aomebody’s foot unless between you you can help me body knew. There were many con- Shear tormea a sort of balcony over was at that moment, I daresay, hast- telegraph,” likable in his frank and” hands ‘At the time of his tragic death Mr. to place it im an entirely different nelssoure and jewellers on this side the Fear end of the hall, and thence ily planning a means of precipitate “«1hiq the coming of Mr. Maillot up- countenance, and his ‘blunt, Interge Page Waa in hia aixty-frst year, bus lmnt." Of the water who were naturally ouri- continued up to the second story. retreat. I was already seated myself, get his plans?” manner, @ large and very vigorous man. He He paled, but met my level took Ova to see & gem of such renown; but Mer Nis roncluding words Stodger and I stayed his progress only in the °°, can't imagine what els caused "It nil depends, Mr. Maillot, You had teen parted in hie erent tlothis steadily enough. with characteriatio selfishness the new te <p to the landing, through niek of time. him to change his mind at the last and Mr. Burke are the only ones who (8ave for @ frayed and faded lo After a bit Maillot sald very Shige ut min costly 7 ‘Due would whose Palusters I could see a hand = “Burke!” I called sharply. minute; the journey must have been can help me to some sort of solution Smoking jacket), thus contradicting @eoberly: Eimipes of Ale costly pring, bet wou! and a part of @ motioniess human Ho wheeled about, a trifle discon- unusually important to take him of thin crime—if erime It is; 1 take Burke's belief that the household hea "The poastbitity of wuch « thing ieee ee er bea ada form stretched out at full length upon certed, I imagined. away from the city at this time.” it for granted that you are willing to retired. On the right temple the mark Hever for an instant occurred to me, “Just at thts juncture my co; the for, 4 Please wit down,” T went on aus ‘Then Maillot's mission could not do what you can.” clearly showed where the eandic- but-—Swift—I suppose I must meet it brakan ih teen be oe tations elix Page—b'r-r-—dead as a door. thoritatively, “You are not preciaely have been without exceptional weight, — He favored mo with another stare, Stick’s base had crushed the skull be- Somehow.” faye Prciee SS soon St she Seer Reo Rae aod te ao eg eaecn i iberty to ko Just where you please; I reflected. And unless I was much ¢hon stood thoughtfully pulling at me neath, Death certainly had been ine "You're beginning excelientiy,” 1 {84 um Toch excited, darted in, close ever the head with heavy iron for the present I'm responsible foF mistaken, the deferred Journey had jipx and gazing at the body, stantaneous, returned sincerely, ‘That's the Way ing Sr aiter bien” ie tendea gendlestick; find Wiving there 4 pin, your movemenia Se eee ea oe seriously gissrranged some, material “Poor chap!" he muttered at length | While I held the candlestick in my to look at a ibing: ft thie kind. If mean envelope, acoompanying it wit by @ay, i f a ry ‘ol wT, jurke, had nothin, a ty mM w, d a \ Yi 4 wae—but Ly you rather make an turned to his chair, remarking in an Ban apes ® ina hushed voice, “A ghastly way to hand Maillot euddenly exclaimed: you'll not forget that I'm inclined to ith howevor, for the present. die; I'd give a lot to know how tt ha “By George, Bwitt! the old gentle- be kindly disposed toward you, why, Susan ca oetain tetas satiast in erBpination firet? Or shall I go on?" unemotional way: I sent Burke back to the custody of pened." Then he looked brightly man’s death may have been owing to I dare say we can, between us, clear the missive which were being re- 1 me what you have learned,’ “iT forwot that I was under arrest.” Callahan and O'Brien, to await the me and asked, with an almost 6 acold ft up whatever mystery there is in one, returned I “Now, Mr. Burko,” I went on, “tell completion of my investigation; for, impulsiveness: at Govian 06 looked keoniy ‘at him. thot dunes apie te , yea GGloulty—tor my pri- “Tals fellow Burke—Alexander Stil- me just what you know about this until I became reasonably sure thatI “Are you a detective—like Stodger juppose he was here on the land- ‘For example, why you came here velsrene for well jueer chap. Close-mouthed? matter. Don't slur details; take your held In my hand all th ilable here?" a —} . fe Toe taptred ryan Sn ind elec. tut night 1 nea fatty betes Tank cariomnmes "“i'madetective” tld nim: “tough ‘Eauattalig ttyptas” tontteshy Pase"Whn Sot tale Gat pu MMgeTan,osed euretaly worm. ths ress’ Dart ¢o send the whilom seore. n't know how closely I resemble knocked that bookcase affair = Samed clam's'real nolay compared just completed sorting some papers tary about his buslaeen *” Giodgen” & eound came trom thas ly’ torward—qight ‘ve evumbied 1 stopped, Matove nee bat aude ete Te NEARY ommsnanten tone a chest, _— hah A ot