The evening world. Newspaper, October 4, 1922, Page 28

ALi RASS LAE ENTE _THE EVENING WORLD, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4,-1022. { THE HOUSE OF PERIL» of BY’ LOWS TEA CY The Master Mystery Story of New York Life | COPYRI SUE EOWARD J. CLOD E peered at the visitor, Her right hand there. Nor could he attempt to allay would have pictured a young and heart, for instance, which {# so ttle He held in hie hand a bottle of emell- clasped the back of @ chair, and the Miss Dixon's disquiet by an amiable beautiful woman receiving the news understood by laymen that people are Ing salts, and was evidently on the C t St t I ll Mi M is I 4 left toyed somewhat nervously with grin, though, in his positive distress, a be lover's death, practically on ae to a10p Cee ite sud point of applying it. Oneiot the detec- @ eve of marriage. len fAilure without having given the tives was sponging some black marks the dle of th - h < of ap ° uar e S 1SS a y 1XONn faolelsian e tressing-gown. But he did think of that very thing: sare you quité sure he 1s dead?” least premonitory sign of disease dur- off the ends of the fingers and (hGmb her voice was quite self- possessed. Still, he had to say something, and, gach word came in a slow staccato {ng life, But he was too glad to es- of the mght hand of a man whe ley , “Has the maid been mistaken? Making a soldierly decision, he broke which gave sudden warning that the Cape from an ordeal without prolong- near the centre of the table. Of V an ortland S eat she sald, ‘'Do you really want to see Out, with what seemed to his own 8irl’s composure was unnatural. He ing It by questions, man, whom Stuart recognized , me, Capt. Stuart?” censorious judgment to be a horrible Walked forward and caught her arm. “Won't you let me call your maid Billy Bolton, showed unmistakable “Yes, If you are Mis Mary Dixon?" brusqueness “Won't you sit down, Miss Dixon?" before I go?" he said. signs of returning consciousness. Hie » If you ar iss Mary Dixon? Re % . he said gently. “Catherine!” said the girl, raising was moving slightly, and was. almost Stuart's utterance sounded Inbored Tam the bearer of bad news. Will “I'm not going to scream or faint, her voice ever so slightly. aware of the sponge render? ag hie ond out of time in his own ears, YO. A8k your mother to join you?" — if that is what you fear, she mur- ‘Yes, miss," came the quick re- fingers cold. Sires timea th 1esn an th “My mother! My dear mother has mured. But she obeyed him, and sponse. Stuart had been right In his Dr. Bright eyed Stuart refer at~ . bs enty min- been dead eight ye: ‘e n years, sank into a chair, burying her face assumption as to the domestic plan tentively. The young officers clear utes he had almost stammered—he, Stuart's face and neck were in her hands and leaning forward un- of attack if he proved a barefaced skin and alert ¢igure.certainly offered who could make himselg heard by a Promptly bathed im a violent pers- til her elbows rested on her knees. interloper, @ curious contrast with the hectic ° . Detecti e Furneaux Em ties Pockets squadron at the gallop. Piration. But his wretched tidings ''W-was he murdered?” came the ‘Please ring for the elevator. . . and, indeed, debauchedyappearance of lily, Howeves, the Hel wan bo tue fod momehor. Most unexpected question from trem- Goodby, Captain Stuart. I am more the men, some of whon¥ the detective: obsemied by her own notion as to the Please forgive me," he said, “I Ulous lips. It was the last thing in obliged to you than I can tell you had given the doctor to upJerstand, M am only trying to prepare you for a the world that Stuart expected to now.’ were his friends, (@) nconscious ce u em- cause of his presence'that she did not great shock. Mr. van Cortiand, who hear and ttystartled him greatly. As he went out he saw that her “Do you know where any of these ‘ I do not know how he died,” he head was again bent, but she was no fellows live?” he inquired. b Ss T es T eir ‘a (ite sald. “No doctor had examined him longer crying. Her wan cheeks were “One only,” was the realy answer, ers and Tak h i F e . t , 5 when I left the house. I was sent puckered by the pressure of her “oddly en 4 ne ough, I don't know him here by the police. clenched fists. She was thinking personally. Miss Dixon told me her 8 yy 6 HK DATE. @olemn little marble lobby on the sixt)) THE STOR © floor, in which two steol doors, paini- “By the police?” she repeated deeply. Of what? he wondered, Ho r e."" under her breath. believed, ‘though he could give no Ree tae ane ite broke in; “Stew “Yes. In fact, tt was I who had feason for the belief, that she wes qiq she take your news?” to summon them. The circumstances @" from being crushed by the trag- «Remarkably well, connidering. are strange, almost beyond belief. Do °dY Which had come into her young «Considering what?" ROWN, the butler of the Fifth Avenue mansion of Anthony oq to represent walnut, faved vacl Van Cortland, finds his employer dead and twelve guests other starkly, Somehow, the gaunt unconscious around a table where the thirteen had gathered aspect of this enclosure increased h's for a convivial celebration of the Ace Club the night before, “!Mdence tn un embarrassing tission " : . ‘ * He almost stuttered a request to thie A goldfish in a bowl in the room is floating, dead. A strange odor you think you can bear to hear what life. She suffered, but her distress . Reet ena was for others rather than for her hand was ueaqn ny err noed hase “Oh, yes. Please tell me. .¥ must OW" !0#8- “Did she say that, in so manp know the facts before—please tell my, He found the chauffeur munching words?" And—and—sit over there, will you” ®" apple, and the sight brought a “No, not exactly She was weeping now, but not with Sharp reminder that he was hungry. “what did she say the frenzied grief of a distraught If, 28 was highly probable, he might Now, Stuart had an alert brain, as creature reft of her promised mate, have other work to do that morning, the occupants of muny a Gertaam Rather did she convey to Stuart's '¢ must certainly eat. “pillbox’? In the Argonne could tes- maid who answered his sing that he 4 fairly keen perception a certain Wie ek he fala. “like me, I tity if they were alive, and he was pervades the room. might have a word with Miss Dixon if] hopelexsness, an nitter, misery, a Gn “That's right, air Ge hee dealing with a man, not a distraught hee ra numbing of the faculties. Was this |, » sir, an. woman. He divined Capt. Stuart, an army officer, calls for van Cortland to go for a © The girl looked surprised : how love would act? the man could | "Well. drive to some quiet restau- Had heed) in Furmeauxe ted i ride in Central Park and discovers the state of affairs, After talking “Miss Dixon is not up yet,’ sh % tok @ few calautaaeaun eb a Say despatching him on an extraordinary with Morrison, the chauffeur; Roberts, the valet; Marie, the maid, sata. ® Pare to. the ‘comuissariat.’* ENB TERE errant: Had Ae ‘Peston: or say ~ ‘ i ; on ’ on and Brown, Capt. Stuart calls Police Headquarters and in a few +7 hardly expected it, put my bua i cy The nearest hotel, atr eres Sone: te reas se eae minutes a queer-looking little man appears at the mansion and intro- ness is urgont 4 “No. There's half-a-dozen places kept a closer rd on her toi $a q [4 Mt " h P gua. tongue duces himself as Mr. Furneaux of the detective force. After looking { eure ee i ee hehe an than in the presence of a persona) 3 ight of East 83d Street 3 MOET es an in a hotel’ friend of van Cortland’s. The soldier over He, ground he orders that Dr. George Bright ; “Within very few ininutes the two seenosted the law arn tnee ten be called. ig Were supplied with coffee and egxs. like all other gocd citizens, ought to A deep problem presents itself to Capt. Stuart—the notification of Miss Mary Dixon, van Cortland’s fiancee. CHAPTER Ii. was slightly nonplussed by this sud Mary Dixon Emulates the Sphinx. den change of topic. HE soldier, far from being fa- =no," he sald, hesitatingly. ‘They faced each other across a small help its representatives, but, to use table covered with white Italian cloth. his own phrase, “he'd be hanged be- Morrison was busy with a grape fruit fore he gave away a lady.” for a little whiig Then, while stir- So he temporized. . ring his coffee, he lookéd at Stuart “She was certainly very much up- anxiously. set," he said, “but she really seemed “Is there anything wrong at the most concerned about her brother. yorably impressed by by ap- aby you quite eats ius Nouae, sir?"” he said. Indecd, she asked me to bring him pearance of Mr. Winter's aide, “Yes, of course I am. jut, to “Why do you ask?" was the non- home." though unconsciously aware candid, Mr. Furneaux, your line of committal answer. “Took van Cortland’s death for “I dunno, sir. Marie, the parlor- granted, tn fact?’ snapped Furneaux maid, said there'd bin some queer “T hope I have not conveved that doin’s upstairs."’ * absurd tmpression,"’ countered Stuart, “Nothing unusual, is there, in a keenly sensitive of the gimlet-like ac- set of boys indulging in a wild tion of the detective's beady eyes, of some dynamic quality in the little talk rather takes my breath away.” man's personality, thought it would do The detective's face wrinkled tn: u no harm if he took up the detective's grin. For a second he had the sem- concluding words. ‘blance of one of those grotesque ivory “ ” “ night?"" which seemed to plerce into his very Clues!" he said. ‘Are there masks which Japanese artists find “No, sir. But they've never bin as soul. Ukely te be any?" delight !n carving, for his skin was bad as this, except one week-end in ‘She must have sald something “Sure,” cried Furneaux, who sallow and his features were remark- Paris."" bearington the crime,"’ went on Fur- What? Were you there, too?’ | neaux. “How long were you with “Yes, sir. I drove Mr. van Cort- her?’ land's car all the time. I piped you “Very few minutes, T was kept once or twice, at Ciro’s, an’ one hot Waiting till she was called from her iMeht atitie GSN room. Tim afraid 1 bungled the affair “Did you, by gud? Well, don't teil Tather badly—blu ae ae anybody ubout the Acacia, I hud an Know. At firat she thought I was talk. awful head next morning, and said, ‘ns about her brother. We were ‘Oui, ma cherie,’ when my brigadier CT8S Purposes for quite a time. Then wanted to know if there was,a truin 82? wept, and—and T came awa: Pop Wal crectane dive taieci® “Hum!"' muttered Furneaux, as i much as to say he didn't believe # The chauffeur smiled, for he too, syllable of the story. In very truth nad been one of the American Army he was greatly annoyed that a trust- sf Occupation, as the Parisians ded- worthy agent should have failed him. cribed the A. E. F. during a certain stuart was in no doubt as to the phase of the war—in fact, had fought detective's meaning, and the doctor did valiantly in the Second Battle of the not help matters by gazing darkly at Cafe de la Paix. But, for all that, he him. avoided the red herring drawn across. ‘I thought at the time you were the trail of current events. making a grave mistake In sending mi ® “It's a pity Miss Dixon didn’t to interview Miss Dixon," he began Mr. van Cortland when he kem stiffly, but Furneaux merely snapped back," he said. ‘She's a fine young his fingers In an Irritated way. lady, an’ she'd ha’ kep’ him straight. ‘Don't see why you should kick at But, there! Wimmen are queer. I being introduced to a charming young don’t believe she ever really fancied lady, especially at eight o'clock in the him." morning," he cried, "If you are ready to constitute yourself her faithful fo Tate ae ee Netto tate ee a not Kenight-errant at first sight, before she ordinates; he shut off the flood of Cord So much aa use f stich ot. Morrison's) mpsely perem peorilys devil will happen when you meet her am Li ir Maca Pal 8DY in all the glory of the mid-day sun not avoid asking himself, [EA etesd tt ar pagan es ‘epeat’ tha OF.the midnight aro lamp?" He would hurly have known that pone in order to stop himself from testi sturbed already by the de- ears were welling from her eyes if he ® 3 We r tective's eccentricity no less than his iad not seen them dropping between WINS the past tense—s my friend, uncanny gift of guessing correctly at s ed to cackle rather than speak. ably expressive, though, again in the * ia either a simple affair dr a manner of Nippon, it was most diff- complex one. ‘There is no middle cult to tell whut mood any definite way. It can either be solved by tho expression revealed. first flat-footed cop who blows in “Well,” he sald, “If you wish to ae from the street or it will worry the that charming young lady a good tura, vest brains in the bureau. Now, let's You'll go now and break the news of tea, You've in the army?! her flance's death -to her."* Yes." “Cavalry?! Who else? You know “Yes. enough about it, but not so much that “American Expeditionary Worce?? You can't be vague, Poor van Cort- “"Yes.”" land has no relatives in America, and we cannot send one of the precocious asses lying here. We might depute Brown, or get hold of yan Cortland’s lawyer, but I would vastly prefer in trusting w delicate task to you.” “Really, Mr, Furneaux’ “Know any of these fellows?’ “Mr. van Cortland is my friend. { remember meeting Harry Holgate n Paris, and—yes—this youngster, I think, {s called Bolton—Billy Bolton. All three were in the Flying Corps." “And the others?"’ “I am not acquainted with them, ‘mat I have heard that they all have experience in flying. Hence the vent under—the Ace name they went under °° pixon lives in Park Avenue, Don't le! Club,” er come here, on your life. Ston “But an Ace is a man who haguutonguide the first cop you see, and crashed five enemy machines. tell him that Mr, Furneaux needs the F ip of two ‘tecs from this preeinct— “Do you think all these empty- at once. Make him jump to th: alike “Don't refuse, there's a gocd fellow It's a nasty job, of course, but that {* just why I want you to tackle tt And, by the way, take van Cortland's car, It's standing outside. Miss 4 I am concerned in his matrimo- 5 hav ” ane - , er fingers. Indeed, he realized that * things he could not possibly know, pan itale bezel BeBe: the little gesture with which she indi- Mlal affairs only to the extent of way convinced now that the man was Cee SUED, TONES AO ANE VOD ge, stuns ne satiny deal cated « chalr whence he would view Wishing that they might have turned hair crazy, A re he actually realized tii ; ° 9 Costiand was certainly not empty Denes ner in profile betrayed a desire that Out happily. “We seem to be wandering away nature of the mission thrust upor him, Capt. Alec Stuart of the 5t! United States Cavalry was hurryir hia ithe frame down the statra and ie would not see she had yielded to Morrison took the hint, and gave from Miss Dixon's request as to hor feminine weakness even thus far. his undivided attention to the meal. brother," he said. In slow, cautious words he described They were soon ut the Fifth Avenue “Anyhow, you won't wander away the incidents which led up to his pres- mansion again, where the butler ad- with him to Park Avenue,” came whe “Wilt you tell her f come from Me ‘W-WAS HE MURDERED?’ CAME THE MOST UNEXPECTED QUES- @nce at that moment, Underlying the mitted Stuart. The chauffeur was sardonic retort. “These boys are ~ headed." ‘There must. have been a jot fa his skull somewhere. Do you Velieve the butler has told the truth, i explaining to the walting chautfe: ; . recital was a feeling of surprise that told to wait. ,Another car was at going to the police station.as the whole truth? that he would commandeer the car ‘*" Cortland—from Mr, van Cort TION FROM TREMULOUS Line, teen ee Tors Hardie tin ae end aceaberieeered: ar se Bagh can bine eager “That 1s my opinion, up to the sor 9 briee while, But, ike a good land's house?’ sp his obvious unwillingness to was my very good ftriend—per! credible, he thought, that so many ‘The doctor is here, sir, He says and they can be bundled into a patrol rewent."” soldier, he thought first of his horse, . Te meld was doubtful, and axked admit that he was Anthony van Cort- ‘you have heard him speak of me (ragic details should have crammed Mr. van Cortland has been dead four wagon. Please get busy, ‘doc.’ “It pays to be cautious. But there ang alighted near the park Pie x, MS name. He gave it, land's actualdeputy. Mary Dixon's lips quivered. She sheninel yes ghee) Laie entices or aye TE AP tier eanarti weet you sean te say you will arrest “ ratly ts ru ate at * 4 : Pra . barely half an u elapsed couple of " em?! de he - as are corroborative details of BIS tne rendezvous where wnhy ensiy Pardon me," she said, and closed “Is t anything the matter with Barely mises ee feed cand be ate se dh Opi the atapelcé the) Van pirat eae demanded the astounded story. . morning riders mount for a gallop *? 40er Willie?" she demanded rather breath- oe trust her ‘epecch. Cortland mansion with no more serl- “Irisking them?"* “Sure I will—every mother’s son of “Indeed? around the reservoir, Sending his He waited some minutes, probably “Well, he went on, deliberately OU Purpose in life than a joyous gal- ‘ves, sir, Goin’ through thetr em, One, if not more. of these twelve s a8 y lop in Central Park. ‘The girl did not poc-ets, you know. I think he's fln- young sinners killed. van. Cortland, “Yes. He came K to thought these guys we: where he kept it, and assuring van like half an hour. Indeed, he was on so he raised the first blind and opene! Cortland’s groom he window. Then he saw the fish he Nvery stuble "Ot five all told, but it seemed more Wille? sinking his eyes, though forcing him- rf “Yes. My brother, of course. Ue self to keep very much on the alert, S - if she gave way completely and fell in that his master's the point of ringing for the elevator Has not been home, but we know he | foi) Bilt Day Coun tragedy in was, with Anthony last night,” his house. Van Cortland must have own horse ba interrupt. She merely listened. When ger-printing ‘em too."’ How, I don't know yet. They'll bave he made an end she brushed her eyes ~ «you know Mr. Willie Dixon?" to tell me. And it would be better for with her hands, and raised her head, yes, gir." all concerned if you were a trifl- more Lut did not look at her visitor. “Well, his sister wishes my to 8c@ com.aunicative, Captain,” hack would not be wanted that morn- again when the maid reappeared and vnd was @ Dit peeved. Quite me- ing, he took the opportunity to speak invited him to enter. Te was ushered "OM 1 see. Yea. I mean ‘No.’ been taken gravely Ill during the ,, Yow do not know ay brothert’ nim at home, Do you think Mr. Fur piBut don’t you realize that T was tn ; : ty to er . agin f oe ° me A, she said, and a y e any objection? this house only a few minutes b shanloally he produced a Packet of to a policeman on post duty near to @ library smoking-room, and found YOUr brother is all right. | In fact, | Nght. This morning Ye was—foUNd imazed that there should be no refer- “you ean ask him, alt. My ordera yuy "que Only a few mu nten beter ant-eggs, burst the bag with bis wet Gen, Sherman's gilded statue. a slim young woman awaiting him. sani beard hati oe spas anton sAnthony--yan Gortiand Geegi” Stet, Anthony: Yan Cortlandt are to bring you upstairs as soon | iny request?" fingers, spilled the eggs on the floor, ; 1 8 : {Dolyou mesa he waa not there?’ sian : pe "No,"* he replied, you arrive.” Pretty smart, for the army,” The man gave him a sharp look She was standing with her back to “No, no. I'm very sorry to appear Yes. An {dlp chance brought me wyet he is there. He ts one of {Pretty 5 r the army, stuck some te ils clothes, left at least one in van Cortland’s hair, and Stuart could hardly avoid speculat- snapped Furneaux. “I'm not charging Into the sad position of having to con- Hy ing as to the detective’s motives in you with committing a crime. I want when he mentioned Furncaux's name, the dim light which came through a to you this awful happening, 1 but did not question the accuracy of large window opening into the well those foolish boys. Will you do me so stupid, Miss Dixon, but the fact is one more favor?—you have been very e: a 2] e ep! him in close contact, you to give me a full and true ac smea: th S 5 1 hardly know how to explain my cannot tell ou how I regret the 7 sad wear thus keeping ac sere reer three on the Goor-kay. the message of the building. She wore a blue gu.ng: cause of my presence here, no lesa Kind already in coming ere, PeMt® go to speak, with the tragedy, but he count of the words and behavior of * e put in the pocket where he = “Right,"" he said. fixthat right klmono, and her bare fect were — mput, please, what is {t?! than the tactloss way in which Ihave “Seuart took this as a dismissal, He followed Brown without another word, that Interesting young lady, Mary kept the eggs. That's a clear trai! of thrust into slippers. It was evident, Naturally, in the conditi ana S#fried out a dreadful mission,"” A In the drawing room he found Fur- Dizon, ine . his actions it ever there was one. » Naturally, @ conditions, and “vy. though he Qe tan > he said. “Of neaux and a couple of quite obvious “Who's—talking—about—my — ats- Then, resolutely facing @ most n- too, that she was still attired in pa- gt that hour of the morning, Stuart j GlouRA Ne pew bad comment Ti Gpmy best” hes policemen in consulta. ter?'’ sald muffled voice trom the He's either an honest man or « of himself and was greatly relieved course, you realize that the police are Dlainclothes Seer ee tis wae ans peal grateful undertaking, Stuart told jamas, and her hair had been coiled was not invited to be seated, he by Mary Dixon's failure to yield to in charge of this sad business?” tion with a stranger, Dr. Bright, to floor. “Who—are—you, anyway? " 5a Cadkied y youa Morrison to drive to the tig apart- into a loose wisp on the nape of her door of the room was wide open, and hysteria, he was aware also of @ pro- “Oh, yes, yes. . . . But poor whom he was promptly introduced, Mindat don't—flatten your face for ap hace fnent house in Park Avenve where neck. It was brown hair, and there he had an uneasy belief that tho found astonishment at her attitude, Willle did not kill his friend." Other windows were open by this you! Stuart, listening with growing re- Miss Mary Dixon !!ved with her fath * . F GA . . ; heart whole and fancy free, It was on the tip of his tongue to time, and the atmosphere of the Willie Dixon was awake and gath- ne re er father was plenty of it, forming a charming housemaid was listening from the voted eight years of his life ask why she insisted that Van Cort- apartment was decidedly more whole- ¢ring his faculties with much rapidity, spect to Furneaux's anal lip tate se Ayelet end brother, oval face, A pair of big blue eyes, passage—probably hdd been warned to hiy profession and to nothing else, land's death was not due to natural some. The doctor was stooping over Another Myetifying Inetallment Tes fermen shat morning, The slavator brought him to « which had a violet tint in shadow, by her young mistress to remain but it waa m7 i teh wise that he causes—to that mysterious organ, the Holgate's body, when Stuart entered Marine. Te