The Montgomery tribune., 1910-09-23


the dirk. tried to bring away the
entire pillow, but they thought was
stealing 1t, and made me give 1t up"
Richey touched the pieces gingerly.
"By George" he said, "and you carry
that around in your pocket! What II
you should mistake 1t for your hand
kerchief?'
But Mr.. Hotchkiss was not listen
ing. He stood bent somewhat for
ward. leaning over the table, and fixed
me with his ferretlike eyes.
Have you seen the evening papers,
Mr.. Blakeley?" he inquired
glanced to where they lay un-
opened, and shook my head.
Then have disagreeable task"
he said with evident relish. "of
course, you had considered the matter
of the man Harrington's death closed,
after the wreck. did myself. AS far
as I was concerned, meant to let 1t
remain so. There were no other sur
vivors, at least none that I knew of,
and in spite of circumstances, there
were a number of points in your ia
vor.
Il verified your identity. for in
stance, as soon as / recovered from
the shock. Also-I found on inquiring
of your tailor that you invariably wore
dark clothing"
Mcknight came forward threatening
ly Who are you, anyhow" he de-
manded. And how is this any busi-
ness of yours?" Mr. Hotchkiss was
entirely unruffied.
Il have a minor position here" he
said, reaching for visiting card. Il
am very small patch on the seat of
government. sir"
Mcknight muttered something about
certain offensive designs against the
said patch and retired grumbling to
the window. Our visitor was opening
the paper with tremendous expendi-
ture of energy
Here it is. Listen" He read rap
idly aloud:
THE Pittsburg police have sent to
Baltimore two detectives who are
looking up the survivors of the i'll
fated Washington Filler. 1t has trans
pired that Simon Harrington, the
Wood street merchant of that city,
was not killed in the wreck, but was
murdered in his berth the night pre-
ceding the accident Shortly before
the collision, John Flanders. the con-
ductor of the Filler, sent this telegram
to the chief Of police:
"'Body of Simon Harrington found
stabbed in his berth, lower ten. On
tario. at $3.50 this morning.
JOHN FLANDERS. Conductor
1T Is hoped that the survivors Of
the wrecked car Ontario will be found,
to tell what they know of the discov-
cry of the crime.
"Mr. John Gilmore, head OF the
steel company for which Mr.. Harring-
ton was purchasing agent, has signified
his intention of sitting the matter to
the bottom"
$50 you see." Ho.chkiss concluded,
there's trouble brewing. You and I
are the only survivors of that unfor-
tunate car
l did not contradict him, but knew
of two others, at least: Alison West.
and the woman we had left beside the
road that morning, babbling incoher.
emily, Ier black hair tumbling over
her white face.
Unless we can find the man who
occupied lower seven." suggested.
II have already tried and failed. To
find HIN would not clear you. OF
course, ,inless we could establish some
connection between him and the mur.
dered man. 1t Is the only thing
see, however. I have learned this
much" Hotchkiss concluded: Lower
seven was reserved from Cresson."
Cresson! Where Alison West and
Mrs. Curtis had taken the train!
Mcknight came forward and sud
denly held out his hand. "Mr. Hotch
kiss" he said. Tim sorry If / have
been offensive. l thought when, you
came in. that, like the Irishman and
the government, you were 'forninst
us. If you will put those cheerful
relics out of sight somewhere, should
be glad to have you dine with me a,
the Incubator" (His name for his
bachelor apartment) Compared with
johnson. you are the great original
protoplasm."
The strength of this was lost or
Hotchkiss, but the invitation was
clear. They went out together. and
from my window l watched them gel
into Meningitis car. 1t was raining
and at the corner the Cannonbal
skidded. Across the street my detect
i've. Johnson. looked after them witt
his crooked smile. AS he turned uI
his collar he saw me. and lifted his
hat.
] left the window and sat down II
the growing dusk. So the occupant oi
lower seven had got on the car al
Cresson. probably with Alison Wes
and her companion. There was some