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

W It was after o'clock. The
- rain had almost ceased. but
eI the wind was still high. He
turned back 20 the building aud found
the janitor sitting just inside the door.
He had endured the ordeal OF inquisl-
ton 10y police aud reporters and was
rather limp
After ALL Godfrey told himself. he
had as yet only half the story: he
must get every detail from this man.
and ne saw that it would be necessary
10 proceed delicately. for his compan-
ions temper was evideatly badly ruff
fled
We'll" he began az last. you look
as though those fellows had about
worn YOU out. Mr.
Higgins is my name" said the jan
itor. Simon Higgins"
"Oh, yes. I remember now"
They sat together for moment in
silence. listening 20 the tramp OF feet
I'm the halls overhead. the opening aud
closing OF doors. the subdued murmur
OF voices. At the stair foot. beyond the
elevator. they caught a glimpse now
and then OF a policeman pacing back
! and forth.
They're searchin' tn house" OBJ
served Higgins az last. with q grImace
OF dlsdain Il turned tn keys over L
them. Much they'll Gndr'
Nobody there. ehr" IL was not real
| " question. IL seemed more sign
OF polite interest on Godfrey's part.
Il ought Z know. told EN- they
wasn't nobody there. Amt been here
all evenin 'cept fer that minute | run
acrost tn street, Nobody IN nor out.
'cept tn girl. not since O'Clock. That
was about ia time that there Thomp-
son come in too drunk { stand He'd
never a got home !n Ia world 10y his
self but they was a Teller with him.
a-hoidin' him up"
Godfrey was listening with strained
attention. There were many questions
ne wished 20 ask. but be dared not IN
terrupt
We'll we got him upstairs atween
] us. An then. when l went through his
| pockets. I couldn't find his key. an /
had Z come down an git mine afore /
could git his door open. We laid him
on his bed an left him there. a-snorin'
| like n hog. That Teller who was with
him was certainly good sort. He set
down here L talk L me awhile-it waG
.ainin' so hard he couldn't go-an' he
said he'd run acrost Thompson down at
Pete Magraw's place on Sixth avenoo.
Thompson was treatin' everybody an
actin like fool ginerally. Then be
got bad an started L clean out IN
saloon. an Pete was goin' Z call a cop
but this Teller said he'd bring him home
an 50 be did"
| Higgins stopped TO take breath. and
Godfrey venuured TO put question.
did you know himl"
NO. / never seed him afore."
What sort OF looking fellow was
hep
"A good lookIn' Teller. well dressed
no bum, ken tell v that He was
short an heavy set. with n little black
mustache that turned up at tn ends"
Godfrey's heart gave sudden leap
so Miss Croydon had told the truth
after all!
And then what happened?" he
asked. Il suppose this fellow went
away"
'Oh, yes; he stayed here talkln' quite
awhile-he started L so Onct or twice,
but III rain was too bad. But about
5 o'clock he said he couldn't STAY no
longer. rain r no rain. an was TEST
buttonin up his coat when cab
drove up an a woman got out. She
had thick veil on SOS / couldn't see
her face, but from her style l judged
she was high fier. She come up t
me an she says. i want L 20 T.
apartment fourteen - Mr.. Thompson.
Madam says !, I wouldn't il I was
you Why. she asked. quick like.
'ain't he thereT He's there says /.
but he amt in no condition L see a
lady Never mind says she, III go
up. All right says /. IN be back
In minute l added Z my friend.
No he says. I can't wait; must be
goin',' an he started toward tn door.
Well. good night says. an stepped
into tn car an started II.
Il showed her tn door o. fourteen,
an she knocked. was waitln' at tn
elevator, fer | knowed Thompson was
too dead drunk L hear her an I'd have
Z take her down ag'in; when blessed II
tn door didn't open an IN she walked.
Well. sir I was so dumfoundered |
couldn't believe my own eyes! But in
she went, an I come on down, tryin' L
rgger II ont. 1t was mebbe ten min
utes later that heard pistol shot an
knowed In a minute what'd hap
pened. That drunken brute had got
too familiar. an she'd put a bullet In
him; though" he added renectsyely,
"EEy she'd so Z HIS room at ali Is