Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-10-13

IL didn't come from no sech little pop
gun as that which Mr. Simmonds
picked up in tn corner. / rushed up
tn stairs an threw open tn door
Wasn't IL locked?"
"No; an that's funny, too" he added.
''fer remember hearin' the lock snap
after tn girl went In. Somebody must
"a throwed ii back agin. Mebbe tn
girl did IL, tryin Z git out. an Thomp-
son got a-hold OF her an then she let
him have It."
Godfrey nodded. with an appreciation
seemingly very deep.
That's it, no deu5t" be said. II
see you're close reasoner. Mr.. Big
gins"
why" said Higgins, with a smile OF
self satisfaction. 81 alters have been
able { put two an two t'gether They's
one thing. though, l can't explain. AS
1 was rushin' up TIA steps. l heard tn
openin' an shuttin' OF a door,
"Ah." said Godfrey thoughtfully.
"And there was no one ia the hallT'
Not a soul; not a soul In sight"
Are you sure Of thatT'
"Sure, o. course am. There's a
light in tn hall-an'. anyway. they amt
no place anybody could hide"
"He might have gone into one Of the
other rooms. mightn't her"
They was all locked-I'm certain O.
that"
Godfrey took thoughtful pun or
two.
Well" continued Higgins. quieting
down a little but still keeping one eye
over his shoulder. las I was sayin'. 1
thrOwed open tn door. an there was
tn girl leanln' agin tn wall an Thomp-
son on tn floor with a big blood spot
on his shirt front I jest give one look
at 'em an then / went down tn steps
three at n time an over { tn station.
I tell you. it purity nigh done me up"
He was interrupted 10y a tramp OF
feet that came down the stairs. IL was
Simmonds and the coroner.
"Wei. we searched the house." said
Simmonds.
Nobody thereT' asked Godfrey.
Not living soul l didn't really
expect TO find anybody; but we went
through every roOm-even to the suits
which are occupied"
Higgins opened his mouth suddenly:
then as suddenly closed IT,
Did you find the doors all lockedY'
Every one: the hall windows boltcd
on the inside aud the trap la the roof
hooked in place There's only one way
our man could get out-that was by the
front door yonder." and Simmonds
looked sharply at the janitor.
Higgins grow red In the face
Il ain't got nothin' more L sayr' he
burst out explosively. You'll be sayin'
did IL next"
Lob. no." retorted Slmmonds coolly.
you didn't do II. But I'm not quite
sure you've told us all YOU know"
Higgins sprang from his chair. fairly
foaming NJ the mouth with rage. but
Slmmonds calmly disregarded him.
I've left man on guard i'm four
teen" he said. Goldberg wants 90
bring his jury around In the morning 20
look at things. Here's your keys" and
he handed the juggling ring back TO the
| janitor and went out
They amt no cause Z suspect me.
l amt done nothin'," grumbled the jan
itor. Then he looked medltatively az
| his keys. which he still held In hls hand.
| Funny" he murmured Funny.
don't know when they went out"
Godfrey said nothing. but contem.
| plated him through half closed eyes.
At that Instant the street door opened
| and man aud woman entered.
There they come nowi" cried Hig.
gins. springing TO his feet. Good even
in. Mr.. Tremaine."
Good evening" returned the stran-
ger in a voice singularly rich and pleas
ant.
Il was jest a-sayln' { my friend
here" added the janitor chat / hadn't
seen v go out"
Godfrey for an instant found himself
gazing into pair OF the keenest eyes
be had ever encountered.
You wished TO see me?" asked Ire
maine
"Oh. no. no." interrupted Higgins.
But tn p'lice was goin' through tn
buildin' -
The police?"
"Oh. I forgot-you don't know-that
man Thompson's been murdered. lie
had tn SCOT right acrost tn hall from
you"
| Murdered" echoed Tremaine. Muir
! dered. Why. that's terriblel Who did
IL? How did il happenr"
Higgins retoid the story with some
JUNCTION. evidently enjoying his listen
er's horror. But Godfrey did not even
| glance at him. He was gazing. per-
haps shade too intently for poiiteness.
at Mrs. Tremaine. And, indeed, she
was woman TO hold any mans eyes.
Godfrey rather wondered that Mrs.
| Tremaine took no part in the discus
sion. She stood listening Alphabetically,
not even noticing his stare
| When they told me they'd gone
/ through your rooms" added Higgins,
Il was kind o. surprised. thought
you was at home might"
I'VE left the house just after Z
1 o'ciock-that was the first that / knew