Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-12-04
CHAPTER III.

lAou ny pollce anu reporters ana 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 he saw that 1t would be necessary
to proceed delicately, for his compan-
ions temper was evidently badly ruff
fled
WELL" he began at 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 to the tramp of feet
in the halls overhead, the opening and
closing Of doors, the subdued murmur
Of voices. At the stair foot, beyond the
elevator, they caught glimpse now
and then of policeman pacing back
and forth.
They're searchin' tn house." OBJ.
served Higgins at last, with grimace
Of disdain. II turned tn keys over t
them. Much they'll f1ndw
Nobody there, eh7" 1t was not real
ly question. 1t seemed more sign
of polite interest on Godfrey's part.
Il ought t. know. I told 'em 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. Tha,
was about tn time that there Thomp
son come in too drunk t. stand. He'd
never "a got home In tn world by his
self, but they was Teller with him
a-holdin' him up
Godfrey was listening with strained
attention. There were many questions
he wished to ask, but he dared not In
terrupt.
"Well. we got him upstairs atwser
us. An then, when went through his
pockets, couldn't find his key, an ]
had t. come down an git mine afore
could git his door open. We laid him
on his bed an left him there, a-snorin
like hog. That Teller who was with
him was certainly good sort. He sci
down here t. talk t. me awhile-it was
rainin' so hard he couldn't go-an' he
said he'd run acrost Thompson down at
Pete Magraw's place on Sixth ayenoo.
Thompson was treatin' everybody an
actin like fool ginerally. Then he
got bad an started t. clean out tn
saloon, an Pete was goin' t. call cop,
but this Teller said he'd bring him home,
an so he did"
Higgins stopped to take breath, and
Godfrey ventured to put question.
did you know him?'
"No. I never seed him afore."
"What sort of looking fellow was
he?"
"a good lookln' Teller, well dressed
no bum, ken tell y that. He was
short an heavy set, with little black
mustache that turned up at TIL ends"
Godfrey's heart gave a sudden leap
30 Miss Croydon had told the truth
after all!
"And then what happened?' he
asked. 81 suppose this fellow went
awayY
ooh, yes; he stayed here talkin' quite
awhile-he started t. go onct or twice,
but tn rain was too bad. But about
8 o'clock he said he couldn't stay no
longer, rain r no rain, an was Jest
buttonin' up his coat when cab
drove up an woman got out She
had thick veil on SOS I couldn't see
her face, but from her style l Judged
she was a high hier. She come up T.
me an she says. I want t. go t
apartment fourteen = Mr.. Thompson
Madam, says I, I wouldn't If was
you Why she asked. quick like,
'ain't he thereT He's there says +,
but he amt in no condition t. see a
lady, Never mind says she, 'Ill 60
up All right says I. III be back
In minute I added t my friend.
No. he says. I can't wait; must be
goin',' an he started toward tn door.
We'll, good night l says, an stepped
into TIL car an started it.
II showed her tn door O. fourteen,
an she knocked. was waitin' at TIL
elevator, fer knowed Thompson was
too dead drunk t. hear her an I'd have
t take her down ag'in; when blessed If
tn door didn't open an in she walked.
Well, sir, I was so dumfoupdered I
couldn't believe my own eyes! But In
she Went, an come on down, tryin' t.
fgger it out. 1t was mebbe ten min
utes later that heard pistol shot an
knowed in minute what'd hap
pened. That drunken brute had got
too familiar, an she'd put bullet in
him; though" he added refectlyely,
"why she'd go t his room at all is
| more'n l kin see"
"Was there only one shot?" asked
Godfrey.
"only one" answered the janitor,
"but it sounded like small cannon.
It didn't come from no sech little pop
gun as that which Mr. Simmonds
picked up in TIL corner. rushed up
tn stairs an threw open th' door
WASN'T it locked2"
mo; an that's funny. too he added,
"fer remember hearin' the lock snap
after tn girl went in. Somebody must
"a throwed it back ag'in. NIebbe til,
girl did it, tryin' t git out, an Thomp-
son got a-hold of her an then she let
him have #"
Godfrey nodded, with an apprecia ton
seemingly very Deep
"Thats it, no doubt" he said. III
see you're a close reasoner, Mr.. Hig-
gins"
why" said Higgins, with smile Of
self satisfaction, II alters have been
able t. put two an two t'gether. They's
one thing, though. can't explain, AS
was rushin' up tn steps, | heard tn
openin' an shuttin' of door,"