The state herald., 1910-10-21
CHAPTER !.
. Go to Plttsburn,

Mcknight is gradually taking over
the criminal end of the business. l
never liked It, and since the strange
case Of the man in lower ten. have
been . bit squeamish. Given q case
like that, where you can build up .
network Of clews that absolutely In
criminate three entirely different peo-
pie. only one Of whom can be guilty.
and your faith In clrcumstantial EVIL
dense dies of overcrowding. never
see a shivering. white-faced wretch in
the prisoners dock that do not bark
back with shuddering horror to the
strange events on the Pullman car
Ontario. between Washington and
Pittsburg. on the night of September
8. last.
Mcknight could tell the story q
great deal better than l, although he
cannot spell three consecutive words
correctly. But. while he has imagi-
nation and humor. he is lazy.
1T didn't happen to me. anyhow"
he protested. when put 1t up to him.
And nobody cares for secondhand
thrills. Besides. you want the un-
vanished and ungarnished truth. and
I'm no hand for that. I'm lawyer"
So am l. 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. am fond
of outdoors. prefer horses to the afore-
said grown-up little sisters. and with
out sentiment Gam" crossed out and
was" substituted.-Ed) and COM
pletely ruled and frequently routed by
my housekeeper, an elderly widow.
In fact, of all the men Of my ac-
Quaintance. I was probably the most
prosaic. the least adventurous, the
one man In hundred who would be
likely to go without deviation from
the normal through the orderly pro-
cession of the seasons. summer suits
to winter flannels. golf to bridge.
So 1t was a queer freak of the de-
mons OF chance to perch on my un-
susceptible 30.year-old chest. tie me
up with a crime. ticket. me with a
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. 1t had been the most
remarkable period of my life. would
neither give It up nor live 1t again
under any inducement. and yet all
that I lost was some 20 yards OF my
drivel
1t was really Meningitis turn to
make the next journey. had a
tournament at Chevy Chase for Satur-
day. and a short yacht cruise planned
for Sunday. and when n man has been
grinding at statute law for week. he
needs relaxation. But Mcknight
begged on. 1t was not the first time
he had shirked that summer In order
to run down to Richmond. and was
surly about It. But this time he had
! new excuse.
Il wouldn't be able to look after the
business II did co." he said He has
a sort OF wideeyed frankness that
makes one ashamed to doubt him.
III hiWayh Nhi hich cIonhiuS the
mountains. It's fact. foliie. See
saving over the peaks does II. Why.
crossing the Allegheny mountains has
the gulf stream to Bermuda beaten to
q frazzle."
So ! gave him up 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" he
warned me. They are more precious
nan honor. Sew them In your chest
protector. or wherever people keep
vaiuables. I 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 n
match on the mahogany bed post with
one movement
where's the Piratc7" he demanded
The Pirate IN my housckccpcr. Mrs.
Kiop,on. very worthy woman. so
iabelcd-and ilbcled-bocauso OF n fe.
rocious pair Of eyes and what Me.
Knight called bucaneerlng nose. |
quietly closed the door Into the hall.
Keep your voice down. Richey." 1
said. "she Is looking for the evening
paper to see II II In going to rain. She
has my rnlncoat and an umbrella wait.
ing In the hall"
The collars being damaged beyond
repair. he left them and went to the
window. lie stood there for some
time. staring at tho blacknoaa that
represented the wall II tho house
next door
"lta raining now" he said over his
shoulder. and closed the window and
the shutters. Something In his voice
made me glance mp. but he was watch.
Ing me. his hands idly In his pockets.
"who lives next doorH' he inquired
In n pcrfunotory tone. after n pause.
I war packing my razor.
HIlotap ia gmpty" 4 returned abasnt.