Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-12-09

entire pillow, but they thought l 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 it 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 ferret-like eyes.
Have you seen the evening papers.
Mr.. Blakeley?" he inquired.
] glanced to where they lay un.
opened, and shook my head.
Then I have a disagreeable task"
he said with evident relish. "Of
course. you had considered the matter
of the man Harrington's death closed.
after the wreck. l did myself. As far
as I was concerned. ] meant to let It
remain SO. There were no other sur
vivors. at least none that 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 I 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 unrufied.
Il have q minor position here" he
Co. lutN ~
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 q tremendous expendi-
ture OF energy.
Here It is. Listen" He read rap
idly aloud:
THE Plttsburg police have sent to
Baltimore two detectives who aro
looking up the survivors Of the Ill.
fated Washington Filler. II has trans
pired that Simon Harrington. tho
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. nt 6:30 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.
MIR. John Gilmore. head OF the
steel company for which Mr.. Harring-
ton was purchasing agent. has significd
the bottom"
so you see." Hotchkiss concluded.
there's trouble brewing. You and I
are the only survivors OF that unfor-
tunate car"
did not contradict him, but I knew
OF two others. at least: Alison West.
and the woman We had left beside the
road that morning. babbiing incoher-
entity. her black hair tumbling over
her white face.
Unless we can find the man who
occupied lower seven." suggested.
Il have already tried and failed. To
find him would not clear you. Of
course. unless we could establish some
connection between him and the muir.
dered man. 1t Is the only thing l
see. however. 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. Tin sorry II have
been offensive. I thought when you
came in, that. like the Irishman and
the government. you were 'forninst
us. II you will put those cheerful
relics out Of sight somewhere. should
be glad to have you dine with me at
the Incubator" Ills name for his
bachelor apartment.) Compared with
johnson. you are the great original
protoplasm."
The strength Of this was lost on
Hotchkiss. but the invitation was
clear. They went out together. and
from my window l watched them get
into Meningitis car. It was raining.
and at the corner the Cannonball
skidded. Across the street my detect
i've. johnson. looked after them with
his crooked smile. As he turned up
his collar he saw me. and lifted his
hat.
left the window and sat down In
the growing dusk. So the occupant Of
lower seven had got on the car at
Cresson. probably with Alison West
and her companion. There was some
one she cared about enough to shield.
I went irritably to the door and sum-
moned Mrs. Klopton.