Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-10-18
p /.
A CHANGE OF LODGINGS.

sensation. Inc papers ONeIIlo"Su WIN
details, theories, suggestions to the
police, letters from interested readers.
Many of the latter were quite GER
tain tina they could quickly solve the
mystery, but unfortunately private
business demanded their whole atten-
ton; meanwhile, the stupidity or the
detective force was a disgrace TO the
city: let the guilty parties be arrested
without further delay, whatever thelr
position. 1t was remarkable how few
accepted the simple theory which Sim
monds had propounded; all OF them
chose To discern something deeper
more intricate, more mysterious, and
Miss Croydon incurred much obltqus
reference. This, for the most part, took
the form of %scathing, even hystericai
polemics against the degeneration OF
American society, the greatest peril
threatening the health and prosperity
Of the republic. Al il was with Rome,
so would IL be with America; luxury
~sensuality, a moral code growing ever
more lax, coul la only one re-
suit.
No doubt these vigorous correspon-
dents enjoyed themselves and imagined
that society Quivered in CONSERVATION
under the c~astigation. Certainly they
formed a source of exquisite amuse-
ment to the readers or the papers.
1t has long been a habit OF mine,
when any particularly abstruse Grim
inaI mystery is before the public, 10
pin my faith to the Record. Its other
features l do not admire. but | knew
that Jim Godfrey was it's expert in
crime, and ever since my encounter
with him in the Holiday case, ] nave
entertained the l~ivoliest admiration Of
his acumen and audaCity. If a mystery
was possible Of solution, / believed that
he would solve il, so It was to the
n-.-.l 4 .,,.,aQ s,.,s ,,I ,a,l ~, 40
fully every word he wrote about the
tragedy.
1t is difficult for me to explain. even
to myself. the interest with which ]
followed the case. | suppose most
have a fondness, more OF less unreal
lied, for the unique n mysterious,
and we all OF us revolt some times
against the ~CommonplaceS Of every
day existence. We had been having
a protraCted siege of unusually hard
work at the office. and | was a little
run down in consequence; | felt that
| needed a tonic, a distraction, and
| found II in The Tragedy in Suits
IL" as Godfrey had christened it.
l was sitting in my room on the
evening of the second day after the
affair. smoking a post-prandial pipe
and reading the Records stenographic
report OF the Coroner's inquest when
there came a knock at my door and
my laudlady entered. She held in her
hand a paner which had a formidable
legal appearance.
Have you found another apartment,
vet, Mr.. Lester" she asked.
No. l haven't, Mrs. Fitch" ] said.
I'm afraid I've not been as diligent
in looking for one as l should have
BEEN
Well, I've just another no.
tice," and she sighed YEARLY. They're
going to begin tearing down the house
day after tomorrow. l can't find an
other house, so Tn going TO put my
furniture in storage. I've told the men
to come for Il tomorrow"
An right" / said. IF / can't find
an apartment to suit l will put my
stuff in storage. co., and stay at a
hotel for a while. TIL kno by tomor-
row nnon. Mrs. Fitch"
Very well. 1t does seem hard
though" she added. p~ausing on the
threshold, that we should be the ones
10 suffer, when there's sc many other
blocks they might have taken"
The residents of any OF the other
blocks would probably have said tbs
same thing | pointed out. After all
l suppose this block was better thar
the others. or 1t wouldn't have beer
chosen"
She shifted skeptiSlly, and went on
her way TO notify "Ier other dodgers
OF the imminent eviction.
We were martyrs to the march o.
public Improvement. The block hat
been condemned by the usual lega
process, and IN armory was to be
erected on the site. So there was moth
ing left for us to do but move. l had
hoped that Mrs. Fitch would find an
other house somewhere in the neigh
borhood and that / could stay with
her; now, it seemed, | must search
for other quarters, and at exceeding.
ly short notice. To find comfortable
ones, conveniently situated. and at the
same time within reach of my modest
income would, | knew, be a problem
not easy Of solution.
/ settled back in my chat and took
up my paper again, when a sudden
thought brought me bolt upright. Here
was an apartment, two rooms and
bath, Just what | wanted, empty-and
moreover so situated that | should be
admirably placed for close-at-hand
study of the tragedy. l glanced at
my watch-it was only half past sev
en-and l hurried into my Goa in a
sudden fever Of Impotence lest some
one should get there before me.
Twenty minutes walk brought me
to the Marathon apartment house, and
as | stepped into the vestibule saw
sitting by the ~levator a red faced
man whom ] recognized instantly as
Higgins, the %janitor. He rose as !
approached him.
you have an apartment here 10
rent. haven't you?" l asked.
Not jest now. sir" he answered.
There will be next week-if tn walk
in delegates leaves us alone. You
see, tn house is bein' remodeIed."
oh" / said, more disappointed than
cared to show, Il thought perhaps
there was one l could move into at
once. Next week won't do me any
good"
He moistened his lips and scratched
his head. cycling me undecidedly.
May l ask your name, sir?' he said,
at last.
/ handed him a card, which had also
the address OF my firm, Graham e.
Royce. He read 1t slowly.
We've got one apartment, SIR he
said, looking up when he had master
ed 1t: two rooms an bath-but IL
needs n little cleaning up. When do
v have T. have it?"
II have TO move In tomorrow /
answered. and | told him briefly why.
May l look at this apartment"
He hesitated yet a moment. then
Strengthened up with sudden resolu-
ton.
You kin see II IL you want to. sir"
he said; but first. | must tell you that