Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1907-09-28
THE MARATHON MYSTERY
STORY OF MANHATTAN.
BY BURTON E. STEVENSON
Author of "The Holiday Case" Cadets Etc
A STORY OF MANHATTAN.


up and down the hall
The police Will find him If there is,
said Godfrey reassuringly. What hap
pened after you reached the room?"
We'll" continued Higgins, quieting
down little, but still keeping one eye
over his shoulder "as ! was sayin,
l throwed open tn door, an there was
tn girl leanin' agin tn wgll an Thomp-
son on tn floor with a big bood-spot on
his shirt front. / jest give one look
at 'em am then | went down tn steps
three at time an over { tn station
! tell you, IL purity nigh done me up
He was interrupted by tramp Of
feet that came down the stairs it
wa sSimmonds and the coroner, closely
aL-xnded by the crowd OF reporters,
wTTo Immediately surrounded Godfrey
| in threatening admiration,
How did you happen TO be here -
demanded Rankin OF the Planet.
/ Just luck" explained Godfrey, look
! ing around the group with a pleasant
smile
Does it mean another SCOOP"
'Oh, no; not at ALI | dare say you
/ fellows know more about it now than
/ do"
"Oh, Of course we do" assented
Rankin dryly amid derisive laughter,
AT least Godfrey added, Mr Gold
berg has all the facts and is probably
willing 70 help you out"
Yes" agreed the coroner; but 1t s
getting late, and I'm I'm a hurry-I'n
give you ten minutes at my office" and
he started toward the door
"All right said Rankin; come on
boys" and they trooped out of the
building together.
Simmonds waited until the last Of
them had disappeared
Well we searched the house" he be
gan.
Nobody there" asked Godfrey.
mot a living soul. l didn't really eX-
pect 10 find anybody but we went
| through every roOm-even TO the suites
which are occupied
Higgins opened his mouth suddenly.
then as suddenly closed It,
Did you find the doors all locked p"
Every one the hall windows bolted
on the inside and the trap in the roof
loOked in place There's only one way
our man could get out-that was by
the front door yonder," ana Simmouds
looked sharply al the janitor.
Higgins grew red in the face.
Il amt got nothin more { say" he
burst out eXplosyeIy You'll be sayin
! did It, next"
"Oh, no" Ietorted Simmonds coolly,
| you didn't do II. But I'm not quite
sure you've told us all you know"
Higgins sprang from his chair fairly
foamiug at the mouth with rage. but
Simmonds calmly disregarded him.
I've left man on guard IN a." he
saiu. Goldberg wants 20 bring his
Jury around in the morning to look at
things. Here's your keys and he
Eanded the JinGlng ring back to the
jantor
There's a man coming up from the
office to take a fash-light of it," said
. q 1. Ts,u.
Euess?'
NO that's all right Come around IN
the morning TO talk il over. / think I'll
have some news COr YOU" and he went
on out into the street.
Higgins sat down again, still nursing
his wrath.
did " hear him?" he demanded.
why he as good as called me a liar,"
"Oh, you mustn't mind him. said
[ Godfrey soothingly. It's his business
20 be suspicious. re doesn't really sus-
pect YOU
We'll they amt no cause T. suspect
mel ain't done nothin'." returned the
iantor; then he looked meditatively at
his keys, which he stiu held I'm his
hand Funny he murmured funny.
l don't know when they went out
Godfrey said nothing, but contem-
plated him through half-closed eyes
Al that instant the street door opened
and a man and woman entered.
There they come noWi" cried Hig-
gins, springiug To his feet. Good even
in Mr.. Tremaine"
Good evening" returned the
stranger. fl a voice singularly rich
and pleasant
II was jest a-sayiu t. my friend
here, added the janitor that ! hadn't
see y go out"
Godfrey, TOR ar instant. found him
self gazing into pair Of the keenest
eyes he ever encountered.
You wished TO see me?' asked Tre-
maine
"Oh, no, no" interrupted Higgins:
but tn plice was goin' through tn
buildn'-"
The polce?"
"Oh, | fergot-you don't know-that
man Thompsons been murdered he
had tn SCOT right acrost tn hail from
.ou."
Murdered" echoed Tremaine Muir
dered Why. that's terrible. Who did
it2 How did it happen?"
Higgins rCtold the story with some
uuCtion, evidently enjoying his listen
ors horror But Godfrey did not even
glance AT him. He was gazing-per-
haps a shade too intently for polite
ness-at Mrs. Tremaine And. indeed.
she was woman to hold any mans
eyes.
Tremaine drew a deep breath when
the story was finished.
The house has been searched?" he
asked The scoundrel couldn't be hid
den"
"Oh, no. Higgins assured him: "th'
p'lice went all through it-even through
your rooms.
I'm glad of that-then we can sleep
in peace"
Godfrey rather wondered that Mrs.
Tremaine took no part i'm the discus
sion. She stood listening Alphabetically,
not even noticing his stare.
when they told me they'd gone
through your rooms" added Higgins
Il was kind O surprised. | thought you
was at home { night"
And that we stayed I'm our rooms
during all that row." quered Ire
maine, smiling II suppose there was
a rove"
His eyes sought Godfrey's again:
then he turned back to Higgins. evil
IDENTIFY disturbed.
you mean we may have to prove an
alibi?" he went on quickly. "Oh. we
can do that. We left the house lust
after I o'clock-that was the first that
/ knew ii was occupied could see a
light through the transom. | didn't see
you anywhere about"
"Oh, now | understand" cried Hig-
Thompson { bed. You didn't know
him. / guess sir?"
'No-as l said. / thought IA was
empty"
Hes only been here three days" ex-
planned the jantor. AN he was out
most O tn time, tankin' up"
"Oh, he was that sort, was heP" and
Tremaine tossed away the end OF his
cigarette. He got his deserts, then,
no doubt. Come. Cecily," he added
turning to his WIFE
Elevator. sir?" asked Higgins.
No; we've been sitting all evening
al the vaudeville" and they went ON
up the stair, leaving Gofrey staring
after them.
CHAPTER V.
SIMMONDS SHARES A BIRD
Well" said Godfrey. sinking back
In his chair. who are they, anyway"
Mr.. an Mrs, Tremaine-thats all 1