Evening star., 1909-08-20
The Altenburg Case. /
By GEORGE DYRE ELDRIDGE. /:
COPYRIGHT, GEORGE


prising. Still, he resolved to give him a
chance for his anti.
you haven't seen him then?"
Grimbleshaw smiled: smiled in a half
boyish. wholly candid way, that rather
won on the detective.
1--WE too good an opinion OF your abil-
ity. Mr.. Trafford," he said. mot to be-
lieve that you know Calden has been
here. He came for prescription for
his mother
averse to showing the other his own
thoroughness 1T was an order on the
state agency for brandy. l hope twas
only TO tide her over till she can get
better article from Boston:
Your prohibftory law doesn't concern
itself with nice Determinations Grim
bleshaw admitted. ''In its eye liquor is
liquor. and that's all there. is to it. Try
this whisky
",Twould take something more than
state agency" Trafford declared. appre-
ciatively, after he had accepted the invi-
ta.ion.
Then, after pause. Trafford suddenly
spoke again, when least of all Gtmble-
shaw was expecting a return to the SUBJ
ject of the murder.
Doctor. you heard two voices that
night. one over the phone and the other
from the man in the doorway-or," as II
with a sudden new thought, perhaps
they were the same?"
NO" responded Grimbleshaw. quickly:
absolutely different Not the slightest
resemblance between them"
"Good!' exclaimed Trafford. We've
two people to deal with then, which al
ways simpifies matters. Nine times out
of ten it's number two that makes 1t pos
sible to find number one. Was there any
thing peculiarly distinctive about either
voice so that you'd recognize it If you
heard it again?''
Grimbleshaw hesitated, but succeeded
in giving his hesitation the appearance
Of carefully weighing an important and
new question.
mo, 1 don't think there was he said
slowly. mo. I'm positive there wasn't
He had gained firmer tone In the last
half of his answer.
That's disappointing. OF course. Still.
there's the. girl at the central. There's
a chance there. She'd have heard who
ever called you. BY the way, you knew
Altenburg?''
by sight, yes
You were talking with him over the
phone two days before the murder; we'll
use the word tentatively.
Grimbleshaw flushed and gave start
which was easily eXplicable from the
sudden realization of the closeness with
which his acts had been scrutinized. A
week before he would have said, You
can put all the men on my track you
please. If it amuses any one to follow
me. let him. It's lots he'll Learnt! As
practically accomplished act 1t set less
easily by far.
Yes
Trafford looked his expectation of a
more detailed answer Grimbleshaw
found the silence disturbing, and lacked
the experience and self-poise to overcome
the feeling.
TT was a private matter He thought
to ease the tension with this concession,
and realized when he had made II that he
was deeper in the mire than before. Traf-
ford still waited, silent. This time Grim
bleshaw braved it through. knowing that
it was what he should have done before.
and covering his confusion, in part by
lighting a fresh cigar. At least he made
it plain that Trafford could expect nothing
further in the way of an answer.
At that the detective arose, took his
hat and threw the stump Of his cigar
into the fireplace. His hand was on the
door before he spoke again.
Doctor" he said. I've already had
better for him to be frank. It's my
business to find out everything bearing
on this matter. and it's my way first to
give a man chance TO tell me what he
knows. 1t helps me, of course, but as
rule 1t helps him. too. At any rate.
until I've done SO. I've a sort Of feeling
I'm not quite playing fair to take other
means of finding out. The matter of
Altenburg's talking with you, for in
stance. 1 wasn't looking for 1t. and 1
didn't go any farther with II when /
found it. Of course, ! shall now. l
don't believe 1t amounts to shucks. even
though you aren't willing to talk about
1t. but my beliefs have nothing to do
with the matter. I'm here to know
That's what I'm paid for
Grimbieshaw's face had taken a stolid.
unresponsive expression. 1t was as un-
readable of anything. save stubborness
as Trafford's s own. His only response to
the others unusually long speech was a
cold,
Good day"