New-York tribune., 1910-02-06


Wynn"
CHAPTER VIII.
A Timely Warning
IT was rather late that evening when1 returned
to the Caylevs; for | had to go to the Office
and write my report of the murder. 1t would
be a SCOOP for - The Courier; for, though the
other papers might get hold OF the bare facts,
the details of the thrilling story l constructed
were naturally exclusive. | made 1t pretty
1urid, and put in all l had told Freeman, which
| intended to repeat at the inquest.
The news editor was exu1tant. He regarded
a Sunday murder as nothing short of a GodSend
to enliven the almost inevitable dullness OF the
Monday mornings issue at this time OF year.
Lucky YOU weren't out of town, Wynn, or
we should have missed this and had to run IN
with the rest" he remarked with chucIde.
Luckvl
Wish l had been out of town." said gloom
ily Its ghastly affair"
Get outf CHASTITY" he calculated with
scorn. "Nothing's CHASTITY to a journalist so
long as it's good copy You ought to have for
gotten YOU ever possessed any nerves, long ago.
Must sayyou look a bit off color. though. Have
a drink"
in office hours, was. as knew, some vile whisky
fetched from the nearest pub, diluted with
warm flat soda, and innocent OF 1ce- d wait
till got to Chelsea, where | was bound to hap
pen on something drinkab1e. AS good Aner1-
IL,
wife, who preserves fixed idea that ice IS a SIN
full luxury, even during spell OF SuItry sum-
mer weather in London.
found Mary and Jim, with two three
Others sitting in the garden. The house was
one of the few old fashioned ones left IN that
suburb. redolent of many memories and aSSO-
Citations of witty and famous folk, from Nell
Gwyn to Thomas Carlyle, and Mary was quite
proud of her garden, though it consisted merely
of a small lawn and some fine old trees that shut
off the neighboring houses.
"At lasti You very bad boyi We expected
YOU to tea" said Mary, as | came down the
steps of the little piazza outside the drawing
room windows You don't mean to tell me
you We been packing all this time? Why, good
ness, Mauricei you look worse than you did
this morningl You haven't been committing
murder, have you?"
No; but I've been discovering one" l said
lamely, as | dropped into a wicker chair
"A murder! How thrilling! Do tell us all
about it!' cried pretty, kittenish little woman
whose name did not know. Strange how some
women have an absolutely ghoullsh taste for
hOrrorSi
Give him a chance, Mrs. Vereker," inter
posed Jim hastily with his accustomed good
nature. He hasn't had a drink yet Moselle
cup, Maurice, or a long peg?"
He brought me tall tumbler of whisky and
soda, with ice clinking deliciously in it, and
drank it and felt better.
That's good l remarked Il haven't had
anything since breakfasted with you; forgot
all about it till now. You see, l happened TO
find the poor chap-Cassavetti- l ran up
to say gOodby to him."
"Cassavetti!" cried Jim and Mary simulta-
neously, and Mary added:
why, that the who sat next us
next Anne-at dinner last night, wasn't 1t, the
man the old Russian you told us about came to
seer"
| nodded. The police are after him now.
though the old chap seemed harmless enough.
and didn't look as if he'd the physical strength
to murder anyone" | said. and related my
story to a running accompaniment of exclama-
tionS from the feminine portion of my audience,
especially Mrs. Nereker, who evinced an un-
holy desire to hear all the most gruesome de
tails.
I'm sat smoking and listening almost in silence,
. his Jolly face unusually grave. This stops
your journey of course, Maurice2" he said at
length, and | thought he looked at me curiouslv
Certainly | met his eyes he avoided nv
.iS I h | f.It h..