Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-01-17

| muStdcue lHdl lurASO up at III euuS.
Godfrey's heart gave a sudden leap
so Miss Croydon had told the truth
after all.
"And then what happenedY he
asked. 81 suppose this fellow went
away"
''Oh, yes; he stayed here talkin' quite
| awhile-he started I go onct or twice,
but tn rain was too bad. But about
8 o'clock he said he couldn't stay no
longer, rain r no rain, an was Jest
buttonin' up his coat when cab
drove up an q woman got out. She
had a thick veil on SOS l couldn't see
her face, but from her style 1 judged
she was a high flier. She come up t
me an she says, L want t go t
apartment fourteen Mr.. Thompson
Madam says 1. L wouldn't if 1 was
you Why she asked, quick like.
amt he there? He's there says |,
but he amt in no condition t see a
lady Never mind says she, III go
up All right says l. III be back
in a minute 1 added t my friend.
NO. he says, L can't wait; L must be
goin',' an he started toward tn door.
We'll, good night says, an stepped
into tn car an started it.
II showed her tn door o. fourteen,
an she knocked. l was waitin' at tn
elevator, fer l knowed Thompson was
too dead drunk L hear her an I'd have
t take her down agin; when blessed if
tn door didn't open an in she walked.
Well. sir, / was so dumfoundered /
couldn't believe my own eyesi But in
she went, an 1 come on down, tryin' t
figger it out. 1t was mebbe ten min
utes later that L heard pistol shot an
I knowed in n minute what'd hap
pened. That drunken brute had got
too familiar, an she'd put bullet in
him; though" he added refiectively,
why she'd go L his room at all is
more'n L kin see"
WAS there only one shot?" asked
Godfrey.
only one" answered the janitor,
"but 1t sounded like Il small cannon.
1t didn't come from no sech little pop
gun as that which Mr. Simmonds
picked up in tn corner. L rushed up
tn stairs an threw open tn door
Wasn't it locked?"
NO; an that's funny, too" he added,
'fer l remember hearin' the lock snap
after tn girl went in. Somebody must
IA throwed it back ag'in. Mebbe tn
girl did it, tryin L 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" he said. 81
see you're a close reasoner, Mr. Hig-
gins
Why" said Higgins, with a smile of
self satisfaction, II alters have been
able t. put two an two t'gether. They's
one thing, though, 1 can't explain. AS
was rushin' up tn steps. heard tn
openin' an shuttin' of door,
"Ah," said Godfrey thoughtfully.
"And there was no one in the hall?'
Not a soul; not a soul in sight"
Are you sure Of that?"
"SureI o. course 1 am. There's a
light in tn haIl-an', anyway, they amt
no place anybody could hide"
HE might have gone into one of the
other rooms, mightn't heT"
They was all locked-I'm certain o.
that"
Godfrey took thoughtful puff or
two.
We'll" continued Higgins, quieting
down little, but still keeping one eye
over his shoulder, "as 1 was sayin',
open tn door, an there was
tn girl leanin' agin tn wall an Thomp-
son on tn floor with a big blood spot
on his shirt front. 1 jest give one look
at 'em an then went down tn steps
three at time an over t tn station.
1 tell you. it purity nigh done me up"
He was interrupted by a tramp of
feet that came down the stairs. 1t was
Simmonds and the coroner.
"Well, we searched the house." said
Nobody there?" asked Godfrey.
Not a living soul. 1 didn't really
expect to find anybody; but we went, |
through every room-eyen to the suits |
which are occupied"
Higgins opened his mouth suddenly; |
then as suddenly closed 1t.
Did you find the doors all locked?"
Every one; the hall windows bolted |
On the inside and the trap in the roof |
hooked in place. There's only one way |
our man could get out-that was by the |
front door yonder," and -Simmonds |
looked sharply at the janitor.
Higgins grew red in the face.
Il amt got nothin' more Z sayw he |
burst out explosiyely. you'll be sayin' |
did 1t next!'
"Oh, no." retorted Simmonds coolly.
you didn't do it, But I'm not quite |
sure you've told us all you know
Higgins sprang from his chair, fairly
at the mouth with rage, but [
Simmonds calmly disregarded him.
I've left man on guard in four |
teen," he said. Goldberg wants to |
bring his jury around in the morning to. |
look at things. Here's your keys" and |
ne handed the jingling ring back to the
janitor and went out