Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-20
CHAPTER VI,-Continued.

nonchalance. Even If it is l remon-
strated. surely you don't suppose for a
moment that l know anything about it,
The amateur detective elbowed his way
in. He had scrap of transparent paper
in his hand and pencil
II would like permission to trace the
stains.' he began. eagerly. 'Also"-to
me-'if you will kindly jab your finger
with a pin-needle-anythng-
If you don't keep out of this. the
conductor said. savagely. Il will do some
jabbing myself. AS for You. sir" he
turned to me. I was absolutely innocent,
but 1 knew that l presented typical
picture of guilt: l was covered with cold
sweat. and the pounding in my ears kept
up dizzily. LAS for you, sir
The irrepressible amateur detective
made a quick pounce at the pillow and
pushed back the cover. Before our in
credulous eyes he drew out a narrow
steel dirk, which had been buried to the
small cross that served as head.
There was a chorus of voices around. a
quick surging forward of the crowd. So
that was what had scratched my hand.
l buried the wound in my coat pocket.
We'll" / said. trying to speak natu-
rally, doesn't that prove what L have
been telling you? The man who commit
and made an exchange in some way after
the crime. How do you know he didn't
change the tags so l would come back
to this BERTHE This was an inspiration:
l was pleased with 1t. That's what he
did he changed the tags" I reiterated.
There was a murmur of assent around.
The doctor. who was standing beside me,
put his hand on my arm. If this gentle
man committed this crime. and / for one
feel sure he did not, then who is the
fellow who got away? And why did ne
go?'
I'VE have only one mans word for
that the conductor snarled. I've trav-
eled some in these cars myself, and no
one ever changed berths with me-
Somebody on the edge of the group as
serted that hereafter he would travel by
daylight. I glanced up and caught the
eye of the girl in blue.
"They are all mad" she said. Her
tone was low. but / heard her distinctly
Don't take them seriously enough to de-
fend yourself
4 am glad you think / didn't do it,
observed, meekly, over the crowd. Moth
ing else is of any Importance.
The conductor had pulled out his note
book again. Your name, please" he
said. gruffly.
Lawrence Blakeley, Washington"
Your occupation?'
Attorney. A member OF the firm Oh
Blakeley & Mcknight.
Mr. Blakeley. you say YOU have &C.
cupied the wrong berth and have beer
robbed. Do you know anything OF the
man who did it,"
"Only from what he left behind | an
swered. These clothes
.'They fit you,' he said. with quick sus-
picion. isn't that rather coincidence!
You are large man."
Good heavens. / retorted. stung into
fury, do ] look like a man who would
wear this kind of necktie? DO You
suppose l carry purple and green barred
silk handkerchiefs? Would any man In
his senses wear pair Of shoes full size
too small?
The conductor was inclined to hedge.
"You will have to grant that I am In a
peculiar position he said. Il have only
your word as to the exchange OF berths,
and you understand l am merely doing
my duty: Are there any clues insthe
pockets?"
For the second time I emptied them of
their contents, which he noted. rs that
ALP he finished. There was nothing
else?'
That's not all. SIR broke in the por-
ter, stepping forward There was
small black satchel."
That's So" l exclaimed. Il forgot the
bag. l don't even know where IL Is.
The easily swayed crowd looked suspi-
cious again. I've grown SO accustomed to
reading the faces of "A jury. seeing them
swing from doubt to belief. ana BACK
again to doubt, that / instinctively watch
expressions l saw that my forgetfulness
had done me harin-that suspicion was
reused again.
The bag was found a couple Of seats
away. under somebody's raincOat-an-
other dubious circumstance. Was l hid
ing it? 1t was brought to the berth and
placed beside the conductor, who opened
it at once. .
It contained the usual travelling impede
menta-change of linen. collars. handker-
chiefs, a bronze-green scarf and safety
razor. But the attention of the crowd
riyeted itself on a fiat. Russia leather
wallet around which heavy gum band
was wrapped and which bore in gilt let
ters the name Simon Harrington"