Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-11
CHAPTER xxx.
In the Dining Room.

That was Saturday night two week
after the wreck. The previous five day
had been full of swift-following events
the woman in the house next door. til
nicture in the theater of a man abou
to leap from the doomed train. the din
ner at the Dallases and Richeys discov
cry that Alison was the girl in the case
In quick succession had come our visi
to the Carter place. the finding of tn
rest Of the telegram, my seeing Alisol
there and the strange interview with Mrs
Conway. The Cresson trip stood out i,
my memory for its serio-comic horror
and its one real thrill. Then-te discov
cry by tie police OF the seaiskin la:
and the bit az Chain: Hotcikiss piodu''
ing triump.antiy Stuart for Sullivan an,
s.!s subsequent discontinue. MckHiel
ut the station with Alison. ami later tn
; confession that he Vas out "i u" rui.
mag.
And yet. when ! thought il all over
! the entire Week aud its events Were tw'
sides Of Il triangle that was narrowing
rapidly 10 All apex, point. And the SAT-
..peX was at that moment in the drive
below my window, resting his long leg
by sitting on a carriage block, and smok
ing IL pipe that made the night hldeous
The sense of the ridiculous is very clos
TO the sense of tragedy. ! opened m
I
up and grinned. We said nothing.
held up handful of cigars. he extended
his hat and when l finally went to sieel
ii was to soothing breeze that Wafte'
in salt air and faint aroma of good to
bacco l was thoroughly tired. but
slept restlessly. dreaming of two detec
tives with Pittsburg warrants being hell
up by HotchkiSs at the point of splint
while Alison fastened their hands witt
a chain that was broken and much TOT
I
light rap at the door. and, opening 1t
found Forbes, in a pair OF trousers ant
pajama coat. He was as pleasant al
most fleshy people are when they have t.
get up at night and he said the telephone
had been ringing for an hour. and h
didn't know why somebody else in Thu
blankety-blank house couldn't have heart
it, He wouldn't get to sleep until noon.
AS he was palpably asleep on his feet
| left him grumbling and went to tn
telephone 1t proved to be Richey. wh'
had found me by the simple expedient Q
| tracing Alison, and he was jubilant.
You'll have to come back. he said
| Got a railroad schedule there?'
II don't sleep with one in my pocket.
| I retorted, but If you'll hold the lin
I'll call out the window to Johnson. He
probably got one.
johnson" I could hear the laugh witt
which Mcknight comprehended the situa
ton. He was still chuckling when
! came back.
| .Train to Richmond at $50 am"
| said What time is it now?
| -Four. Listen. Lollie. We've got him
Do YOU hear? Through the woman a
| Baltimore Then--the other woman. tn
| lady of the restaurlnt'-he was obvious
!, Iy avoiding names-"she is playing on
| cards for us No-I don't know VIII,
esd / cont care. But you be at TIL
| Incubator tonight at 5 o'clock. If Soi
| can't shake Johnson, bring him, bles
| him..
| To this day l believe the Sam Forbese
| have not recovered from the surprise o
| my unexpected arrival, my one appear
| ance at dinner in Granger's clothes, an,
| the note on my dresser which lnforme,
them the next morning that had foldet
nv tents like the Arabs and silentl,
stolen away. For at half after. :, John
! son and |, the former as uninuustive a
| ever were on our way through the duS
| to the station, three miles away. and b,
4 that afternoon we We're in Washington
The Journey had been uneventful. John
son relaxed under the influence of mi
the latest improvements in gallows. dilat
ing on the absurditY OF cutting out th'
former free passes to see the affair II
operation. ! remember too, that he men
toned the curious anomaly that permit:
a man about to he hanged to cat
hearty meal. did not enjoy my dinner
that night.
Before we got into Washington | liza,
made an arrangement with Johnson I,
surrender myself at the following after