Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-16
CHAPTER XXI.

AYY1T seemed that my sudden de-
Xxi parture had offended Ceclly
ISSaSs more deeply than imagined,
l&&J for when knocked at her
door next evening she told me CURLY
that she was not feeling well and In
tended going early to bed. So went
back to my room, rather glad OF the
chance Of an evening to myself.
Besides, Cecily was good deal like
the highly favored dish-to be fully
enjoyed only at intervals. And, too,
there was only one point as yet unset,
tled-where she and Tremaine had been
the night of the murder. That, felt,
could be cleared up without much diff
ficulty the first time she received me,
which would probably be not later than
tomorrow. I had premonition that
that line Of inquiry, too, would lead
nowhere, that Cecily would prove by
q word that neither she nor Tremaine
had been anywhere near the Marathon
at the hour Of the crime. In any event
I had plenty OF time, and I could spend
this evening very probably in weigh
ing and classifying my discoveries. In
getting q fresh start.
AS / opened my door noticed 1t
scraped on the carpet, and an examina-
ton showed me that the carpet had
come loose along the sill. stepped to
the speaking tube and blew down it.
"Hello! called up voice In a mo-
ment
"Is that you, Higgins"
Eyes, sir"
.aThis is Mr.. Lester. Come up after
awhile, will you? I've a little job up
here want you to do"
"All right, sir. VIII half an hour
do?"
"Oh, yes! Any time this evening"
got out pipe, tobacco ard matches
and sat down In my most comfortable
chair. was no longer so discouraged
as I had been the evening before. On
the whole, told myself, I had pro-
crossed. had succeeded in forging
the chain more tightly about Tremaine,
in strengthening it in many places. l
could show certainly:
First.-That he knew Thompson and
had lied about 1t.
Secondhand he apparently hated
him.
Third.-That he had come to New
York on the same boat with him and
probably on the same errand.
Fourth. Thompson had Joined
him as soon as released from Jail.
On paper, had to admit, the chain
appeared a good deal weaker than
had thought it. There were many
gaps; indeed, now that I looked at it.
it seemed to consist largely Of gaps.
Objections to the theory of Tremaine's
guilt doomed larger and larger. One
Of the weightest was Miss Croydon's
attitude toward him. That seemed un-
cxplainable. The man she described
rs the murderer was quite unlike Ire
maine in appearance. Was she, then,
shielding him? But why should she do
that7 Above ell, If he were guilty Of
such crime, would she have consent
ed to his admission to the Deiroy fam
ily1 And, again, If she feared him
why not denounce him to the police
or at least threaten to do 90? That
would remove him from her path once
and forever.
This last question seemed 80 unan.
swerable that paused to look at II
again, for it was evident that one
really insuperable, objection must in
validate the whole theory. By the
commission Of crime, especially OF
crime so serious as this one, would
he not place himself as much In Miss
Croydon's power as she could possibly
be in his2 Il she were still in his
power, then he had committed nc
crime, and IL he had committed nc
crime, why, Of course he had not killed
Thompson. But In that case who had
Where had that diamond come fromf
knocked out my pipe and filled II
again I felt good deal as though
was wandering around and around IN
Z maze. I was getting little dizzy.
II Tremaine had not killed Thomp
son, I asked myself again, who had
Not Miss Croydonl To suppose that q
delicately reared girl would smash q
man over the head with piece Of pipe
was to descend to the ridiculous. Yet
!f he had attacked her she might have
nerved herself to do it. But that was
absurd, too, since admittedly she had
pistol In her pocket and was not
afraid to use it Who else, them
Jimmy the Dude? But he had already
proved an alibt; besides, motive was
wanting.
Then I thought Of Cecily. Could she
have been the assassin? Certainly II
was not impossible. That last savage
act, that shooting Of an unconscious
man, fitted in somehow with my est
mate Of her character. She might have
done that. But why should Miss Croy
don seek to shield herr Was It CecilJ
who possessed the secret7 Was tfert
some connection between them? re
membered the other famous case II
which had been engaged--must I lool
for the same solution here? Was there
blood relationship between Cecily
and Miss Croydon? Clearly such 6
thing was possible. I even fancied thai
one, knowing them both, might be able
to detect subtle resemblance. closed
my eyes and endeavored to recall The
features of Miss Croydon's portrait