The Columbus journal., 1910-08-03
CHAPTER 1.
I Go to PlttsburQ.

never liked II, and since the strange
case OF the man In lower ten. l have
been q bit sQueamish. Given q case
like that. where you can build up
network OF ciews that absolutely in
eliminate three entirely different peo-
pie. only one Of whom can be guilty.
and your faith In circumstantial evil
dense dies OF overcrowding. I never
see q shivering. white-faced wretch in
the prisoners dock that I do not bark
back with shuddering horror to the
Ontario. between Washington and
Pittsburg. on the night Of September
3. last.
Mcknight could tell the story a
great deal better than I, although he
cannot spell three consecutive words
nation and humor. he is lazy.
1T didn't happen to me. anyhow.
he protested. when I put 1t up to him.
And nobody cares for secondhand
thrills Besides, you want the un-
vanished and ungarnished truth. and
~ III uohu thol- AL q 40
So am I. although there have been
times when my assumption In that
particular has been disputed. I am
unmarried. and Just old enough to
dance with the grown-up little sisters
OF the girls | used to know. I am fond
OF outdoors. prefer horses to the afore-
said grown-up little sisters. and with
out sentiment Gam" crossed out and
was" substituted.-EdD and COM
plctely ruled and frequently routed by
my housekeeper an elderly widow
In fact. of all the men Of my &C.
Qusintance. ! was probably the most
prosaic. the least adventurous. the
one man In q hundred who would be
likely to go without a deviation from
the normal through the orderly pro-
cessiOn OF the seasons. summer suits
to winter flannels. golf to bridge.
So II was q queer freak Of the de-
mons OF chance to perch on my un-
susceptible 30-year-old chest. tie me
up with q crime. ticket me with q
love affair. and start me on that SEN
satiOnal and not always respectable
journey that ended SO surprisingly less
than three weeks later In the firms
private Office. IL had been the most
remarkable period Of my life. l would
neither give II up nor live 1t again
under any inducement. and yet all
that I lost was some 20 yards on my
drive,
1t was really Meningitis turn to
make the next journey. l had a
tournament at Chevy Chase for Satur-
day. and a short yacht cruise planned
for Sunday. and when a man has been
grinding at statute law for a week. he
needs relaxation. But Mcknight
begged off Ii was not the first time
he had shirked that summer in order
to run down to Richmond. and | was
surly about II. But this time he had
4 new excuse
Il wouldn't be able to look after the
business if l did go" he said. He has
a sort of wide-eyed frankness that
makes one ashamed to doubt him.
I'm always car sick crossing the
mountains It's a fact. Lollie. See
saving over the peaks does il. Why.
crossing the Allegheny mountains has
the gulf stream to Bermuda beaten to
Q fraZZle."
So gave him mp finally and went
home to pack He came later in the
evening with his machine. the Can
nonball. to take me to the station. and
he brought the forged notes In the
Bronson case.
Guard them with your life" ne
warned me. They are more precious
man honor. Sew them In your chest
protector. or wherever people keep
valuables. never keep any. I'll not
be happy until see Gentleman Andy
doing the lockstep."
He sat down on my clean collars.
found my cigarettes and struck a
match on the mahogany bed post with
one movement
Where's the Pirate" he demanded
The Pirate Is my housekeeper. Mrs
Klopton. a very worthy woman. SO
Iabeled-and libeled-because of a fe-
rocious pair Of eyes and what Nc
Knight called a bucaneering nose /
quietly closed the door into the hall
Keep your voice down. Richey." |
said She Is looking for the evening
paper to see If II is going to rain. She
has my raincoat and an umbrella wait
Ing in the hall"
The collars being damaged beyond
repair. he left them and went to the
window. He stood there for some
time. staring at the blackness that
represented the wall IF the house
reNt door.
Its raining now" he said over his
shoulder ard closed the window and
the shutters. Something in his voice
made me glance up. but he was watch
ing me. his hands idly in his pockets
Who lives rext door," he inquired
In a perfunctory tone. after a pause.
J was packing my razor
House is empty" | returned absent
iy If the landlord would put it In |
some sort of shape"
Did you put those notes in your
pocket" he broke in.
Yes" ! was impatient Along |
with my certificates of registration. /
baptism and vaccination. Whoever |!
wants them will have to steal my coat |
TO get them"
Well. l would move them. If l were |
you. Somebody in the next house !
was confoundedly anxious to see /!
where you put them. Somebody right |
at that window opposite"