Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-11-27
mo. never seed nim afjre.'
what sort of Il looking fellow was

What sort 0f Il looking fellow was
he?
"a good lookin' fcller. well dressed
no bum, ken tell y that. lie was
short an heavy set. with little black
mustaehe that turned Up ut TIL ends"
Godfrey's heart gave sudden Zap
30 Miss Croydon had told the ruth
after all!
"And then what happened" he
asked. IT suppose this fellow went
away?"
"Oh, yes; he stayed here talkin' quite
awhilc-he started t 80 onct or twice,
but til rain was too bad. But about
8 O'Clock lie said he couldn't stay no
longer, rain r no rain. an was Jest
buttonin' up his coat when a cab
drove up an woman got out. She
had q thick veil OH SOS couldn't see
her face, but from her style l judged
she was Il high tlier. She come up t
me an she says. 4 want t. go t
apartment fourteen - Mr.. Thompson
Madam says l, I wouldn't If was
you Why she asked, quick like.
'ain't he there? He's there says l,
but he amt in no condition t see q
lady, Never mind says she, I'll 90
up All right says l. III be back
in a minute l 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 tn car an started 1t.
81 showed her tn door O. fourteen,
an she knocked. was waitin' at tn
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, was so dumfoundered I
couldn't believe my own eyes! But In
she went, an I come on down, tryin' t
figger it out. 1t was mebbe ten min
utes later that heard pistol shot an
knOwed in minute whatd hap
pened. That drunken brute had got
too familiar, an she'd put bullet In
him; though" he added refectively,
"why she'd go t. his room at all Is
more'n | kin see.'
"Was there only one shot?" asked
Godfrey.
"Only one," answered the janitOr,
"but ii sounded like small cannon.
1t didn't come from no sech little pop
gun rs that which Mr.. SimmOnds
picked up in tn corner. l rushed up
tn stairs an threw open th' door,
Wasn't it locked!'
mo; an that's funny, too" he added,
'fer l remember hearin' the lock snap
after tn girl went in. Somebody must
a throwed it back ag'in. Mebbe tn
girl did it, tryin' t 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 doubt" lie said. II
see you're close reasoner, Mr.. Hig-
gins"
why" said Higgins. with smile of
self satisfaction, II alters have been
able t put two an two tgether. They's
one thing though, can't explain. AS
l was rushln' up tn steps. l heard tn
openln' an shuttin' Of a door"
"Ah," said Godfrey thoughtfully.
"And there was no one in the hall?"
"Not a soul; not soul in sight"
~ x.n,, crrn nP fhatTv
"Sure! O. course l am. There's
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 he!
"They was all lOcked-l'm certain o
that"
Godfrey took a thoughtful puff OF
two.
"Well," continued Higgins, quietlng
down little, but still keeping one eye
over his shoulder. "as I was sayin', l
throwcd open tn door, an there was
tn girl leanin' agin tn wall an Thomp-
son OH til floor with big blood spot
on his shirt front. l jest give one look
at 'em an then I went down tn steps
three at time an over t. tn station.
I tell you. 1t purity nigh done ME up"
He was interrupted by tramp OF
feet that came down the stairs. 1t was
Simmonds and the coroner.
"Well, we searched the house." said
Simmonds.
Nobody there?" asked Godfrey.
"NOt n living soul. I 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 us suddenly closed It,
"Did you find the doors all lockedT'
every one; the hall windows bolted
on the inside and the trap in the roof
hooked in place There's only one way