The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-06
CHAPTER XII.


l had not seen since the preceding Thurs
day. Although we had met but once, he
recognized me Immediately and greeted me
most cordially. L was. however, shocked
TO see what havoc a short week had
wrought in his looks. His face was drawn
and pale and he appeared nervous and i'll
at ease. Notwithstanding he had been
walking in the opposite direction. he at
once turned back and we sauntered
towards Madison avenue together. our
chief topic of conversation was naturally
the murder. and we both remarked how
strange it was that the identity of the VIC
tim had not yet been established.
81 suppose said Atkins, that we snail
now never know who the man was, for
hear he was buried yesterday"
''Oh. that doesn't at all follow, L as
sured him. photographs have been taken
of the corpse. and If necessary 1t can De
exhumed at any time"
Was my imagination playing me trick,
or the young fellow really troubled by
this information. We had now reached my
destination, and as held out my hand to
bid him goodbye said: II am afraid Mrs
Atkins must have such unpleasant associa-
me recalled to her notice; otherwise 1
should ask you to remember me to her.
1 hope she is well, and has not suffered too
much from this prolonged heat?"
az fear she's not very WE'LL he replied.
1T seems to have upset her nerves good
deal to have a murder occur in the build
ing
Eyes, that is only natural. Wouldn't II
be advisable to take her away from here
for short timer 1 suggested.
81 only wish she'd go, but she's got some
maggot in her head and refuses to stir."
He paused a moment and glanced almost
timidly at me.
Doctor" he burst out, II wish you'd
come and dine with us this evening II
would be a real kindness. Wife and both
have the blues, and you'd cheer US up no
end
| l was rather taken aback by his eager
| ness. I'm very sorry; can't possibly do
so tonight, for I've just promised to dine
with an old friend, who is only in town
| for a short time
"Well, If you can't come tonight won't
you come Tomorrow" he urged.
/ hesitated moment. On the one hand
I was anxious to oblige Atkins, whom
| liked, and quite curious to see his wife
again and fathom, If possible, the cause
| of the change in her husband; while, on the
other hand, felt some delicacy about in
vad;ng a lady's home when 1 had reason
to believe that my being there would not
be agreeable to her, for / remembered
| that she had refused even to look at me on
| leaving the coroner's presence.
eff you are sure Mrs. Atkins would care
to see me L should be delighted to accept
your invitation"
why should she object to see you?" he
demanded.
| There is really no reason" 1 FASTENED
to explain, "only, as you tell me your wife
has been much upset by the murder and Is
| consequently rather nervous at present,
don't wish to infict myself on her if there
is the least danger that my company may
| recall that tragic occurrence too wildly tc
her."
Atkins gave me a long, penetrating look
but, having apparently satisfied himself
that had given my real reason, he said
Nonsense, doctor. Mrs. Atkins isn't as
unreasonable as that. I'm sure she'll bt
glad to see you. Now, remember. We shall
expect you at sharp tomorrow"
"All right" / called back to him.
have given such long account of thi.
trifling incident because for some time aft
erward 1 could not get the young fellow!
face out of my mind, and I kept imagining
all sorts of possible and impossible reasons
for his changed looks Could it be that h,
suspected the murdered man to have beer
a friend of his wife and feared that sh,
might have some guilty knowledge of hi
death?
AS I realized how such a thought wouls
torture him 1 wanted to go at once and tel
him how my first grave suspicious had beef
confirmed till now 1 was fully convinced
of Argot's guilt. But. fearing that SOM
injudicious word might show him that
had guessed the cause of his anxiety. 1 re
Trained. That evening, after dining quietl.
at the club with an old school fellow,
walked slowly home down Madison avenue
which. with it's long rows of houses, almos
all of which were closed up for the summer
presented an extremely different aspect
Although it was barely o'clock. the street
in that part of the town were we'll Mig
deserted, every one who could do so havin
fled from the city. The night was extreme
ly dark, damp and hot. AS 1 was nearing
my office 1 observed that the back door O
the Rosemere was being cautiously opened
and a woman's head, covered with q THO
veil, peeped out. Madame Argot. thought
and so it proved. Having satisfied hersel
that her lord and master was not i'm sight
she darted across the street and dsap
peared in my house. / hurried up. so
not to keep her waiting, and as l did so
fancied / heard some one running benin
me. Turning quickly, 1 detected nothin
suspicious. The only person l could Sc
was a very fat man, whom / had passe
he should have been? / couldn't tell A
any rate he was still far enough away 10
ii to be impossible to distinguish his fea
lures, but, as i was sure that he was nc
Argot, 1 did not wait for him to come u
with me. On entering the reception roor
I found madame, still heavily yelled, hud
died up in a corner, where she thought sh
could not be seen from the street. | tol
her TO go into the Office, and, approachin
the window, l looked out. There was sti
nobody in sight except the fat man, an
he had crossed over and was ambling quei
Nv along on the other side of the way. II
was almost opposite now, and. after lool
ing at him critically l decided that II wa
too improbable that the running footster
I had heard following me had been hi
But whose were they. then? / trusted ths
the murder had not affected my nerve
also. At any rate / decided TO take I'll
precaution of shutting and boiling the VIII
dow and of pulling down the blind, none
which things, during this hot weather ha
1 been in the habit OF doing. But did NJ
| intend TO give that white-faced apparitiol
TO whom l attributed the mysterious foo
steps, the chance of falling upon me una
ware. especially not while Madame Args
D well, how goes it?' / inquired, when
at last reioined her.