Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-01

y
caught her she swayed forward and
led her gently to chair.
perhaps you don't remember me, Miss
Croydon, he said. 'Godfrey's my name
1t was only the other night at Mrs. Del
roy's / met you. 1t was Jack Drysdale
who introduced me-you know I'm an old
friend of his
Yes" she murmured, indistinctly. Il
An exclamation from Smmonds inter-
rupted her He had picked up small
pearl-handled revolver from the floor in
the corner.
is this yours, miss?" he asked.
She nodded family.
lie snapped it open and looked at the
chambers One had been discharged. He
shifted at the barrel then held il out to
Godfrey. The odor of burnt gunpowder
was plainly discernible.
Godfrey's face hardened as he turned to
the Janiter, who had regained his breath
and stood staring on the threshold.
My friend, he said shut the door,
lie stopped as he heard the tramp of
heaVy feet approaching along the cor
ridor.
Wait" said Simmonds. There come
my men. I'll be back in "a minute"
Iodifey nodded CURLY and waited until
Slmmonds closed the door after him.
now, MISS Croydon, he sald, tell me
quickly how it happened l can't help YOU
unless l know the whole story. and |
want to help you"
The gentleness of his voice. the quiet
assurance of his manner, the -encouragin
glance, combined to calm and strengthen
her. She sat up, with an effort of self
control, and clasped her hands together
in her lap.
There isn't much to tell" she began.
striving to speak steadily. Il came here
toto keep an appointment-' She stop
ped her voice dying away, unable to go
with this MANI, asked Codfrev "yv,o
is he?"
I don't know" and she cast Mortified
glance at the huddled form. Il never saw
him before
Then it wasn't he YOU came here to
meet?"
'No-that is-it may have been And
again she stopped.
Miss Croydon" said Godfrey gently,
yet clearly, Il can't help you unless
you're quite frank with me. and 1 fear
you are going to stand in need of help.
Did you kill this MANI
Mo- she cried. oh. no."
Her face was in her hands again and she
was trembling; it was impossible to doubt
that she spoke the truth.
Then who did ~
There was no answer; only a dry, con-
vulsive sobbing.
AS Godfrey paused to look at her the door
opened and Simmonds came In He closed
it and snapped the lock.
There's policeman outside and one at
each landing" he announced. ''Well look
things over here, and then search the build
ing. First. let's look at the body
1t was lying partly on it's back, partly
on its right side, with its legs doubled un
der it. The face was bearded one. rough,
coarse and little boated-nOt a prepos-
sessing face under any circumstances, and
actively repulsive now, with its gaping
mouth and widely staring eyes. 1t was
canned and scanned by exposure to wind
and rain, and there was a deep scar across
the left temple.
Between fifty and sixty years of age"
remarked Godfrey. "Pouf! smell the whis-
ky
Then. looking into the staring eyes, he
uttered a sudden exclamation.
See there, Simmonds. how the right pu-
pills dilated. Do you know what that
means?'
Simmonds shook his head.
mo, l can't say l do
1T means" said Godfrey, that some
body hit this fellow hard blow on the
left side of the head and produced hemor-
rtage of the BRAIN
.Simmonds gave a little low whistle.
That could hardly have been her. and
he nodded toward the girl, who had re-
gained her self-control and was leaning
anxiously forward. eyes and ears intent.
No. of course not. Let's see if he was
really shot"
They stripped back the shirt from the
breast. a nttle blood was sun welllng from
wound just over the heart.
That 5 what did the business" observed
Simmonds, and at close range, TOO; see
there, and ne pointed 10 the red marks
l
the corner, that's sure. Let see what he
got in his pockets
The examination was soon made. There
were only pipe, knife, package of
cheap tobacco, a handful OF loose coins and
an OId pOcketDOOk containing little roll
OF newspaper clippings and d receipt Tor a
month rent for SUITE fourteen maze out TO
n. Thompson
Thompson, repeated Smmonds, and
lot of clippings. Can you read French,
Godfrey?
a little" answered Godfrey, modestly
Let me see. lie took the Clippings and
looked at the first one. " 'Suresnes, Septem-
Der ID, 1891, he read haltIngly. Il nave
to report event the most interesting
which has just happened here and whicn
proves again the fuuiity of vows the most
rigorous 10 quiet the ardent desires of the
human heart or to change the
oh, WE'LL Interrupted SimmOuds, we
can't waste time reaGing any more OF that
rot, it sounds like d French novel. The
coroner can wrestle with it, if lie thinks
it's worth while.
lie replaced the clippings in the purse,
which he slipped back INTO the pocket from
" hich he had taken IT.
Now he added, rising 10 his feet, we
better get the girls story
DO you know who she is?' asked God
frey, in q low voice. AS lie glanced al her,
he was startled TO note her attitude of
strained attention. which as he turned
.apsed instantly to one of seeming apathy.
Il heard you call her Miss Croydon"
''Yes-she's the sister of Mrs. Richard
DeIroy'
again Simmonds whistled.
The deuce you say! Dckie Delroy! Well.
that doesn't make any difference" and he
turned toward her resolutely.
Miss Croydon" he began abruptly.
though perhaps in a gcntler voice than he
would have used toward the average sus-
pcct. We're you in the room when this man
was killed.
Yes. sir
You know him?'
only slightly" she answered cooly. dis
regarding Godfreys stare of amaZement.
His name, | think, was Thompson
~ on had an euSl cement with him here?'
Yes, sir; on private matter which can
not concern the police
Simmonds passed that over for the mo-
ment.
"WiIl you kindly tell us just what hap
pened2' he asked.
Il drove here in cab she said. speak
ing rapidly. which | told to wait for me.
In The vestibUle l met the janitor and asked
to be conducted to suite II. He brought me
mp here where Mr-Mr. Thompson was
waiting | entered and closed the door We
were talking together. when the door of the
inner room opened and a man came out.
Before ! realized what he doing he had
raised bar Of irCn he held in his hand and