The Huttig news., 1910-05-21


 put that package?"
 He found it finally and opened it on a table, displaying with some theatric- alism rectangular piece of muslin and q similar patch of striped tick ing.
 You recognize it2" he said The stains, you see. and the hole made by the dirk. I tried to bring away the entire pillow. but they thought I was stealing it, and made me give it up"
 Richey touched the pieces gingerly. By George he said, and you carry that around in your pocket! What if you should mistake it for your hand kerehief?"
 But Mir 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, MT Blakeley?" he inquired
 glanced to where they lay un- opened, and shook my head
 Then l have disagreeable task" i he said with evident relish "Of course, you had considered the matter of the man Harrington's death closed. after the wreck. I did myself. As far as was concerned, I meant to let it 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 fa- vor.
 T verified your identity, for in stance, as soon as I recovered from the shock. Also-I found on inquiring dark clothing"
 Mcknight came forward threatening ly Who are you, anyhow?" he de handed And how is this any busi. ness of yours?" Mr. Hotchkiss was entirely unrufTled
 ''I have a minor position here," he said, reaching fer visiting card. "i an very small patch on the seat oi government, sir
 McKnigh. muttered something about certain offensive designs against the said patch and retired grumbling te the window. Our visitor was opening the paper with a 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 ill- fated Washington Flier. It 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 F'lier. sent this telegram to the chief of police:
 Body of Simon Harrington found stabbed in his berth. lower ten. On tario, at 6:30 this morning
 JOHN FLANDERS. Conductor.
 ''It is hoped that the survivors oi the wrecked car Ontario will lse found to tell what they know of the discoy cry of the crime
 MT. John Gilmore. head of tn, steel company for which Mir Earring ton was purchasing agent. has signifiet his intention of siftirg the matter tt the bottom
 So you see Hotchkiss concluded there's trouble brewing You and are the only survivors of that unfer tunate car"
 1 did not contradict him, but I knew of two others, at least: Alison West hea mn haA Inf hac la "a road that morning, babbling incoher- ently, her black hair tumbling over her white face.
 Unless we can find the man who occupied lower seven, I suggested.
 T have already tried and failed To find him would not clear you, of course. unless we could establish some connection between him and the mur. dered man. 1t is the only thing see, however. have learned this much" Hotchkiss concluded: Lower seven was reserved from Cresson."
 Cresson, Where Alison West and Mrs. Curtis had ta ken the train!
 Mcknight cane forward and sud. denly held out his hand MT Hotch kiss he said, "l--Im sorry if have been offensive. ] thought when you came in, that. like the Irishman and the government, you were .fornjnst us. If you will put those cheerful relics out Of sight somewhere, should be glad to have you dine with me al the Incubator" (iis name for his bachelor apartment) Compared with Johnson, you are the great original protoplasm."
 The strength of this was lost or Hotchkss, but the invitation was | clear. They went out together. and from my window I watched them gel into McKnights car. It was raining and at the corner the Cannonbal skidded. Across the street my detect i've, Johnson. looked after them with his crooked smile. As he turned ur his collar he saw me, and lifted his hat
 l left the window and sat down ir the growing dusk. So the occupant oi lower seven had got on the car al Cresson probably with Alison West and her companion There was some l one she cared about enough to shield