Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-12-11
= TIE
Marathon '['l Mystery
n Story of Manhattan
By BURTON E. STEVENSON
Authsr -The Holiday Case"
copyrssAs. 1907. BY Company
n Story Of Manhattan


! examined the room Win keen inter-
est Evidently everything had been
left just as it was on the night Of the
crime; only the body had been re-
moved, and 1t, 1 knew, was at the
morgue waiting Identification.
Higgins led the WAY into the bed
room and opened the door of the bath
room beyond.
II shall bring my own furniture" I
said. But haven't any carpets. Per-
haps can buy these They seem pref
" good"
"They are, sir" agreed Higgins.
They're good carpets, and as good as
tn day they was put down. It'll make
1t lots easier for us II we don't have t.
take 'em up"
Cali right" agreed. "Find out what
they're worth. When can you have the
rooms ready?"
He looked at me and scratched his
head again. Then, remembering sud-
denly the nature Of janitors, took out
my purse and tipped him.
"Have them ready by tomorrow
afternoon" said. "Get man to help
L
home here tomorrow night"
That's all right, sir" he assured me
instantly, and just then the elevator
bell rang. There" he added, "it's them
confounded artists. too lazy t walk
downstairs. I'll be back in a minute,
sir"
I looked about the room. There was
the corner where Miss Croydon had
covered, .rtA from which she had shot
at Thomps0rrs assauant. There was
the spot where Thompson himself
had fallen. He had lain extended
1 on the carpet, while the-what was
that7 A tiny sparkle caught my eye,
q reflection Of the light overhead.
sprang from my chair and stopped
above the place, but could see nothing.
returned to my chair and again
caught the reflection. This time
marked it exactly in the pattern Of the
carpet, went to it carefully, put down
my hand-nothing-yes, a little hard
point pressed into the carpet, so minute
could not pick it up. moistened my
finger, and an instant later under the
light / saw that had found dia-
mond!
well, have y got it all fixed, sir?"
asked voice from the door, and
turned with start to see Higgins
standing there.
eyes," l answered, rousing myself
with an effort; and gave him such di-
rections as occurred to me. Has any
one else been in the roomsY I asked.
"say, that's funnyv' he cried. "rd
purity nigh forgot it. Early this
mornin' they was Somebody wo-
man." He came close to me and
dropped his voice to hoarse whisper.
cd y know who think it was? That
Croydon woman!
stared at him in amazement.
Weren't you sureT'
"No; she had veil wrapped round
her head an she was dressed different
. But it was her-I know It,"
"And what did she want?" asked,
more and more astonished.
"She wanted t. see tn rooms, but
told her they was closed. tell you,
was dead afeared t. come up here with
her. How'd know but she'd take a
shot at me? Then she wanted t. rent
'em sight unseen, an offered months
rent in advance, but l told her we
didn't rent scots t single women, which
'. was true. Mebbe l was kind O. rough
but I was a-skeered t have her around
fer l kind o. believe she's crazy, sc
purity soon, after some more talkin'
she give it up an went away"
AS we went down in the elevator
:. the car stopped. A man and woman
were waiting to be taken up. AT thu
q man 1 did not even glance, for hi
L companion held my eyes. Such fierce
dark, passionate beauty l had neve
seen before, and my nerves We're still
It tingling with the sight of it as lef
a the building and turned westward to
ward my rooms.
J; ITO be continued)