Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-10-20


tails. theories, suggestions 20 the police.
letters from interested readers.
IL has long been a habit OF mine.
when any particularly abstruse Grim
inal mystery is before the public, to pin
my faith 20 the Record. It's other fea-
lures do not ADMIRE, but I knew that
Jim Godfrey was its expert In crime.
and ever since my encounter with him
Ina the Holiday case / have entertain
| ed the liveliest admiration OF his acu-
men and audacity. n a mystery was
possible Of solution, ! believed that he
would solve IT, so IL was 20 the Record
! turned now and read carefully every
word he wrote about the tragedy.
was sitting I'm my room on the
evening OF the second day after the
affair, smoking a postprandial pipe
and reading the Records stenographic
report Of the coroner's inquest when
there came a knock at my door and my
landlady entered. She held ia her hand
a paper which had a formidable legal
appearance
Have you found another apartment
vet, Mr.. Lesterfr she asked.
'No. I haven't. Mrs. Fitch" l said
I'm afraid I've not been as dIlgent in
looking Tor one as I should have been 9"
We'll. I've just got another notice"
and she sighed YEARLY. They're going
10 begin tearing down the house day
after tomorrow. I can't find another
house, so I'm going 10 put my furniture
In storage. I've told the men 20 come
for IL tomorrow"
'Al right" / said "If I can't find
an apartment 20 suit. I'll put my stun
In storage. too, and stay az hotel for
awhile I'll know by tomorrow noon.
Mrs. Fitch"
settled back Ia my chair and took
up my paper again. when a sudden
thought brought me bolt upright Here
was an apartment. two rooms AMI bath
just what wanted, empty-and. more
over. so situated that / should be al.
mirably placed for close at hand study
! OF the tragedy. I glanced at my watch
10 was only half past Z. and I hurried
into my coat I'm sudden fever OF i'm
patience lest some one else should get
there before ne.
Twenty minutes walk brought me 20
the Marathon apartment house. and as
l stepped into the vestibule l saw sit
ting 10y the elevator n red faced man
whom ] recognized Instantly as Hlg-
gins. the janitor. He rose as / ap-
preached him.
"NOu have an apartment here 70
rent haven't your / asked.
''Not jest now. sir" he answered
There viii be next week-if tn walk.
In delegates leaves us alone You
see. Ia house Is being remodeled."
"Oh." SAID. more disappointed than
cared 10 slow. Il thou-ht perhaps
there was one I could move into at
once. Next week wont do me any
good
He L.oiStcned his HIPS and scratched
his head. eylng me undecidedly.
May ask your name. STRIP he said
at last
l handed him a card which had also
the address OF my firm. Graham &
Royce. lie read IL slowly.
We've got one apartment. sir" he
said, looking up when ne had mastered
it; two rooms an bath-but IL needs
little cleanin' up. When do y have
{ have it?"
II have 10 move In tomorrow" al
swered, and told him briefly why.
May look at this apartment"
He hesitated yet a moment. then
Strengthened up with sudden resolu-
ton.
you kin see II II you want to. sir
he said. but first / must tell you that
it's SCOT fourteen. where they was IA
murder two days ago"
"A murder2" ! repeated "Oh. yes;
1 did see something about II In the
papers. Well. that doesn't make any
difference; I'm not afraid OF ghosts"
Then that's all right sir" he said,
with a sigh OF relief. and motioned
toward the elevator.
The car stopped and he led the way
down the hall.
Here we are" he said, pausing be
fore a door and producing a bunch OF
keys. (which reminds me that I'll
have . git key FER you--the other
tenant lost his-leastways. 1t wasn't
| found on him. Or mebbe you'd rather
I'd change tn lockI"
"Oh, no." assured him. Another
key will do" and we entered together.
/ examined the room with keen inter
est Evidently everything had been
left just as it was on the night OF the
| crime; only the body bad been re-
moved and IL. I knew, was at the
morgue waiting Identification.
Higgins led tho way into the bed
room and opened the door OF the bath
room beyond.
Il shall bring my own furniture"
said But haven't any carpets. Per