Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-07
found on him. or mebbe you'd rathe
I'd change tn lock7"

found on him. or mebbe you'd rather
I'd change tn lock7"
"Oh, no." assured him. another
key will do" and we entered together.
examined the room with keen inter-
est Evidently everything had been
left just as it was on the night Of the
crime; only the body had been re-
moved, and 1t, l knew, was at the
morgue waiting Identification.
Higgins led the way into the bed
room and opened the door of the bath.
room beyond.
II shall bring my own furniture" I
said. But haven't any carpets. Per.
haps can buy these. They seem pref
ty good
"They are, sir" agreed Higgins.
They're good carpets, and as good as
tn day they was put down. It'll make
it lots easier for us If we don't have t
take 'em up"
"All right" agreed "Find out what
they're worth. When can you have the
rooms ready?"
He looked at me and scratched his
head again. Then, remembering sud-
! denly the nature Of janitors, took out
my purse and tipped him.
"Have them ready by tomorrow
afternoon" said. Get man to help
you, If necessary. I'll expect to be at
home here tomorrow night"
"That's all right, sir" he assured me
instantly, and just then the elevator
bell rang. "There," he added, cts them
confounded artists. too lazy t walk
downstairs. I'll be back in minute,
sir"
1 looked about the room. There was
the corner where Miss Croydon had
covered, and from which she had shot
at Thompson's assailant. There was
the spot where Thompson himself
had fallen. He had lain extended
on the carpet, while the-what was
that? A tiny sparkle caught my eye,
reflection Of the light overhead. l
sprang from my chair and stopped
above, the place, but could see nothing.
I returned to my chair and again
caught the reflection. This time
marked it exactly in the pattern of the
carpet, went to 1t carefully, put down
my hand-nothing-yes, a little hard
point pressed into the carpet, so minute
could not pick 1t up. ! moistened my
finger, and an instant later under the
| light saw that had found dia-
mond!
"Well, have y got 1t all fixed, sir?"
asked voice from the door, and l
turned with a start to see Higgins
standing there.
EYES," answered, rousing myself
with an effort; and gave him such d.
rectons as occurred to me. HAS any
one else been in the rooms?" asked.
"Say. that's funnyr' he cried. I'D
purity nigh forgot 1t. Early this
mornin' they was somebody-a wo
man." He came close to me and
dropped his voice to hoarse whisper.
CD y know who think it was? That
Croydon woman"
I stared at him In amazement.
Weren't you sure?"
mo; she had veil wrapped round
her head an she was dressed different
But it was her-I know it."
''And what did she want?" asked,
more and more astonished.
"She wanted t. see tn rooms, but
told her they was closed. tell you, 1
was dead afeared t come up here with
her. How'd I know but she'd take q
shot at me? Then she wanted t rent
'em sight unseen, an offered a months
rent in advance, but told her we
didn't rent scots t single women, which
was true. Mebbe was kind o. rough,
but was a-skeered t have her around,
fer kind o. believe she's crazy, SO
purity soon, after some more talkin',
she give 1t up an went away"
As we went down in the elevator
the carstopped. A man and woman
were waiting to be taken up. At the
man l did not even glance, for his
companion held my eyes. Such fierce,
dark, passionate beauty had never
seen before, and my nerves were still
tingling with the sight Of it as left
the building and turned westward to-
ward my rooms.