The Montgomery tribune., 1910-12-30

l
nounced his errand at once.
"A Pittsburg warrant7' I inquired,
unlocking my cigar drawer.
YES. Allegheny county has as.
sumed Jurisdiction, the exact locality
where the crime was committed being
in doubt" He seemed to be the
spokesman. The other, shorter and
rotund, kept an amiable silence. 1--WE
hope you will see the wisdom of waiv.
ing extradition.' he went on. 1T will
save time"
| "I'll come, of course I agreed.
"The sooner the better. But | want
men. I think we can interest you
Have a cigar?"
The lean man took a cigar the ro
tund man took three, putting two in
his pocket.
How about the catch of that door,"
he inquired jovially ANY danger of
it going Off again?" Really, consider
ing the circumstances, they were re-
markably cheerful. Hotchkiss, how
ever, was not. He paced the floor un.
easily. his hands under his coat-tails.
The arrival of Mcknight created di.
4 version; he carried a long package
and a corkscrew, and shook hands
with the police and opened the bottle
with single gesture,
Il always want something to cheer
on these occasions" he said. Where's
the water, Blakelev? Everybody
ready?" Then in French he toasted
the two detectives.
ITO your eternal discontinue" he
said, bowling tremendously. May
you go home and never come back!
If you take Monsieur Blakeley with
you, hope you choke"
The lean man nodded gravely.
"Prosit," he said. But the fat one
leaned back and laughed consumedly.
sis of his position, and put down his
glass. Gentlemen" he said pompous-
ly, within five minutes the man you
want will be here, a murderer caught
in net Of evidence so fine that a
mosquito could not get through"
The detectives glanced at each 9TH
er solemnly. Had they not in their
wallet and bit-of gold chain, which
by putting the crime on me, would
leave a gap big enough for Sullivan
himself to crawl through?
why don't you say your little
speech before Johnson brings the 9TH
er man, Lawrence?" Mcknight in
quired. They won't believe you, but
it will help them to understand what
is coming"
You understand, of course" the
, lean man put in gravely, that what
you say may be used against YOU"
'I'll take the risk" / answered i'm.
patiently.
} 1t took some time to tell the story
| Of my worse than useless trip to Pitts
burg, and it's sequel. They listened
, gravely, without interruption.
"Mr. Hotchkiss here" finished
believes that the man Sullivan, whom
we are momentarily expecting, com
, mitted the crime. Mr.. Mcknight is
, inclined to implicate Mrs. Conway
who stabbed Bronson and then her
| self last night. AS for myself, am
, open to conviction"
! Il hope not" said the stout detec
: tive quizzically. And then Alison was
announced. My impulse to go out
: and meet her was forestalled by the
|, detectives, who rose when l did. Nc
: knight, therefore, brought her in, and
met her at the door.
ii Il have put you to a great deal oi
t trouble" 1 said contritely, when I saw
: her glance around the room. 81 wish
t had not"
1T is only right that should come,
, she replied, looking up at me. II an
. the unconscious cause of most of it
, am afraid. Mrs. Dallas is going tt
a wait In the outer Office"
, I presented Hotchkiss and the two
detectives, who eyed her with inter
est. In her poise, her beauty even II
, her gown, l fancy she represented {
new type to them. They remained
;, standing until she sat down.
$ 81 have brought the necklace," she
) began, holding out white.wrappet
: box. las you asked me to-
! passed 1t, unopened, to the detec
tives. "The necklace from which wa,
|, broken the fragment you found in tn,
. sealskin bag" l explained. Mis-
, West found it on the floor OF the car
near lower ten"
ITO BE CONTINUED.)