The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-20

Well" ne said.
''WeII?"
who did il. Hungerford
who did it?" The president almost
roared. do YOU suppose. If I knew
who did it, that I'd be setting here
and"
Just a minute. I mean just this.
the whole affairs an inside job, as they
call it. Who was the fellow that could
do it,"
'I-don't know"
BOwne smiled
Then. who's going to tell Us?" he
asked.
See here. Bowner' Hungerford snap
ped angrily. Il didn't ask you to come
here 10 PROFOUND questions that SAVIOR
Of levity. +"
I'm doing nothing of the sort, Hung
erford- I'm thinking, and when I'm
thinking I don't act the whole detec-
tive role, IS "A general thing :
This man Tompkins-how long have
YOU had him?"
Five or six years"
Good mann
lone of the best we ever had"
And now he's been carted OF I'm
conscious. Ell? Where is he?"
Mr.. Hungerford gave the name or the
hospital Bovine pOndered a moment;
then. with neat discretion. he picked up
the presidents private wire and secured
a connection with the hospital.
A minute or two of conversation, a
question here and there. sniff Of ex-
asperatiOn-and the receiver was hung
up again
THE mans unconscious-possibly in
danger of dying without ever regaining
consciousness-has an even chance with
| IN three hours or three weeks And,
incidentally telling IS all about it,
Bovine announced. That doesn't help
greatly. does it,
well
IF that chap would kindly consent 90
come to his senses we'd have things
right down in one, two, three shape. As
Il is, we can't count on him, and
Bovine scratched his chin and glanced
toward the door. Have YOU any sus-
| piclons. Mr.. Hungerford?"
The presidents lips opened-and closed
again. He stepped to the door Of his
office and threw II open and, with a
squint, glanced at the big clock
It was just five minutes to nine. and.
! slowly back TO his chair and tilted in
It. his eyes fixed on the big dial
Rather a strange train Of thought was
running through Hungerford's head.
! Something within him told him to give
| that train OF thought no credence what
| ever; something else reused up from
months back and insisted upon a hear
/ ing-and Hungerford's eyes switched
! mechanically back and forth from the
/ face Of the clock to a certain vacant
stool visible Just around the corner OF
/ the partition. At three minutes Of 9
1 young Mr.. Cluett Peters was wont To
| enter the institution. At two minutes
/ OF 9, his outer raiment was hung up. At
I one minute before the hour. Cluett
mounted the stool-and at 9 sharp he
/ picked up his penI
/ That program had Varied not one min
/ ute in one single. solitary day during
/ his incumbency. i would not vary
/ now: of course it wouldn't vary now.
/ At just one minute before 2, CIuett
! would mount his stool and
/ The relentless minute had wor1ned on
! its way. Two minutes before the hour
half way to the first minute Hunger
/ ford moistened his lips and bit hard on
! his cigar
One minute before 9. And the stool
/ was still vacant.
/ Hungerford watched on and on and
| on. fascinated. The even hour Of was
/ reached The hour was passed-one
/ minute after, and two and three! And
/ Bovine was saying sharply;
I IT say, have you any suspicious, Mr.
! Hungerford? o.
/ Hungerford's chair came down with q
| slam
! "Yes,' he said. crisply L have,'