Evening star., 1909-08-20
Trafford and Grimbleshaw.

The sheet found by Grimbleshaw in the
lower entryway or at least still remain
ing there when Malbon arrived, fitted well
with the story Of a man wrapped In
shroud. and the two facts, under circum-
stances that forbade the theory of agree
ment in details between Grimbleshaw
and Phil. had their possibility of value
Trafford was weighing this as he
passed the doctors boarding place. The
door opened and young Calden came out.
To Trafford, quick to value trifies, there
was something In the mans air that
suggested more than mere coincidence In
the visit. 1t was, perhaps, In the start
that Calden gave when he recognized the
detective, and his half instructive motion
to turn in the other direction. The very
fact that he did not turn was, in itself,
SO palpably an effort TO avoid mistake
as to constitute one. Trafford, on his
part, had no purpose TO facilitate any
diminution of the uneasiness that the
closing scene in Beckwith's Office might
have caused the young fellow, and
accordingly he studied to throw into
his saiutation as great sense Of re-
pellant distance as he could without alb
solute rudeness. This was the needed
touch to convert Calden's latent hesitancy
INTO open OnedSlneSS, ana TedQ
this in his face as he passed.
AS far as a man who. as a necessary
fea .ure of his work, held himself free
from personal likes and dislikes. would
give mere feelings way. Trafford's dis.
taste for the young fellow. who was
really of prepossessing personality, was
manifest. and manifest to the man HIM
self. III the relation in which they
stood such an attitude. uncovered from
any predispostion toward concealment
90 he at laou Aiufn f0
say alarming. To Trafford himself, who
already knew facts that would not be-
come public until far later in the chase,
the extent of this uneasiness seemed pos
sibly important.
I'm not suspecting any one" he said
"and I'm not going to, but Pm bound to
weigh a mans suspicion of himself
In this light Caldens visit to Grimble
shaw was important enough to be ques-
toned. even to the extent of using II as
the basis OF that call upon the DOCTOR
concerning which Trafford's one question
was the best time for making 1t. In his
turn Grimbleshaw. who knew that the
visit was sure to come. counted 1t of
good fortune that 1t had not come forty
eight hours earlier.
In the interval he had seen and talked
with Calden. and owned to feeling of
surprise that Trafford had given him
the opportunity. At the same time ii
made him a trifie more uneasy when at
last the inevitable visit came. this query
just why time and opportunity had been
given him. 1t did not occur to him that
the raising Of this. very question might
be Traffords SUFFICIENT reason.
you've knack of getting more COM
fort out Of boarding house than most
of us can," said the detective, on enter
ing Grimbleshaw's sitting room. He
made the remark the cover for keen
hing. even to the quality of the cigars
and whisky, SO far as they could be
judged by mere sight.
I'm afraid comfort is more important
to me than to most men," answered
Grimbleshaw. i've never acquired the
faculty of being comfortable when I'm
uncomfortable"
And yet as a doctor there must be
"Yes, and / don't like 1t. l simply en-
dure it"
Aren't in love with trip over the
Plains road at 8 O'Clock of stormy
night, to find murdered man at the end
of it. said Trafford taking the chair and
cigar that Grimblesilaw offered him.
"Would any one be?'
81 wish 1t had been me- He shot the
answer at the physician as If it were
challenge and he were turning the tables
on an assaiant
Wouldn't 1T have simplified the mys-
terry SO much as to rob 1t of its at
tractiveness?" The doctor asked the
question as if it really interested him, as
II ne actually would like to get at just
what a detective thought of his own
business The manner of asking rather
pleased Trafford than otherwise, but
nothing of this was In the answer he
shot back.
"Pm employed to solve. Everybody.
even Calden, wishes that"
HAS he told you he did," Trafford
read before the short sentence was COM
pleted Grimbleshaws wrath at his own
stupidity. He was rather pleased. how
ever. to find him too shrewd to fall into
the error of leaving 1t half said.
mo. Has he told you he didn't?"
II haven't exchanged word with him
on that matter" Even to Trafford the
bald effrontery of this answer was sur