The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-11-08
THE ALTENBURG CASE
By GEORGE DYRE ELDRIDGE
COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY GEORGE DYRE ELpRrpeE
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(Continued.)

The whirling sensation in Grimbie- shaw's head was gradually ceasing and the rush of the wind against his face as Tranord drove with speed was like a cold douche. that restored the evenness of circulation. He felt that he hadn't been quite responsible for the attitude he had assumed under the detectives advances. and he wished the other had waited until he had got his bearings a little There was not one chance in a thousand that the man whom Billings had taken through the night of the murder was not Clay ton. Of course. Billings had not even known of the murder at the time and when he learned of it the shock had startled him to the resolve to aban- don his old tricks. From this resolu- ton has feeling of gratitude to Grim bleshaw. supplemented by the fear awakened by the latter's threats. had caused him to recede. But--and here Crimbleshaw ran up against a chance that made him forget the relations m which he stood to his companion until the question that came to his lips had been asked
 Did Fry really track Calden?' he demanded. ''or did Billings give him up under an attack of conscience?"
 Trafford smiled.
 Doctor" he said. with an amused look in his face that took no account of his last rebuff. sometimes I think you've got a pretty good head on your shoulders. excepting that you lack ex- perience. I'll wager you've come much nearer reasoning this affair out than. for example. Fry has. What you real ly lack is the faculty of not giving yourself away when you don't want to. Of course. sometimes a man wants to. and then 1t takes a stin higher degree of training to do it and at the same time appear not to intend to-" When they reached Lanceboro Traf- ford stopped in front of Grimbleshaw's boarding place.
 "I suppose here's where you want to get out" he said.
 Unless you wish me to 20 to Beck with at once to tell him and get his advice"
 Entirely unnecessary" Traford an- swered him. There's really nothing important I haven't learned already. so don't need to trouble you. By the way. though. you've really uncovered  since the last more important one, I'm going to close this affair in the next forty-efght hours. I haven't any ob- jections to have some one with me and. at least. you've got the very com mendable virtue of knowing howl won't say .'when'-to hold your tongue. How would you like to go with me?" The question came SO unexpectedly
 
 hended 1t. He stood and gazed in an almost imbecile way that made Traf- ford laugh.
 "Oh. we'll" he said. you needn't de- eide right off. I shan't leave for three hours If in that time you decide to accept my offer. be at the station Say nothing to me. but take your ticket for Brentwood Junction. If you've got a turn that way you might enjoy it. We won't be gone over four days"
 At that he started his horse and drove down the street. leaving Grim bleshaw with hts answer unspoken on his lips.
 Three hours! The time was brief enough. ,n all conscience. for all he had to do-arrange for the care of his patients. consult Beckwith and see Judith. Yes. he was bound to see her whatever happened. She was entitled to the first ray of light that had brok- en through the clouds. and it was growing on him that this was almost stream of sunshine. He packed a dress-suit case. telephoned Dr. Boyce. decided to cut out Beckwith and at last found himself. with a full hour on his hands. at the Altenburg house.
 "Im dying to know what all that meant in the woods today" Judith greeted him.
 It came to him that all that was. as yet unexplained. and that instead of a single hour he needed at least two: and then he broke into as succinct a statement of facts as had ever fallen from the lips of a man who hadn't time to be brief.
 But" she said. when he had finish ed. T don't understand word of it. What was Billings looking for in the Ewoods?"
 'I don't know" he confessed That is exactly what I was trying to find out when he Knocked me down."
 "oh. don't believe that you ought to go away until you're certain you aren't hurti Where are you going. anyway"
 T don't know"
 She looked at him in surprise.
 This I GO know. however" he said. somebody was taken through to Can ada that night from here by Billings. He believes it was the murderer of John Altenburg. and so do I. That being so. there's nothing for me to do but to hang to the trail until we've run him down.
 "But Trafford," she exclaimed "I don't like your going away with him. He's In that room now"
 Tn Altenburg's room; the room where Altenourg was killed?" Grim bleshaw asked in surprise. She nodded affirmation.
 'Td give a hundred to know what he's doingr' he declared.
 "rd give 1t to know that he isn't planning something against father or