Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-06

E1J

with passionate conviction, as drowning man
clings to straw She loved me! l could not doubt
that remembering the expression of her wistfu face
parted under the portico so short time ago.
though it seemed like lifetime. Had she planned
her fight even then, if flight it was-and what else
could it be?
MY cogitations terminated abruptly for the mo-
w ment heavy hand was laid on my shoulder
and a gruf voice said in my ear Come, none o
that, now! What are you up tor"
l turned and faced burly policeman, whom l
knew well. He recognized me also and saluted.
Beg pardon; didn't know it was you, Sir.
Thought it was one of these here suicides or some
one that had had-well, drop too much
He eyed me curiously. l dare say looked, in my
hatless and drenched condition, as if might come
under the latter category.
Its all right answered, forcing laugh. Il
wasn't medtating plunge into the river. My hat
blew off and when looked after it | something
that interested me, and stayed to watch
1t lame explanation and not precisely true.
He glanced over the parapet in his turn. The rain
abating once more, and the light was growing
as the clouds sped onward. The moon at full
and would set only at dawn.
II don't anything, he remarked. What
it, sir? Anything suspicious!
His tone inferred that it must have been
thing very much out of the common to have kept
me there in the rain. Having told him much, l
bound to tell him more.
"A rowboat with two three people in it, going
down stream. That's unusual at this time OF night
or morning it,"
He grinned widely "Was that all? 1t wasn't
worth the wetting you've got Sir.
We'll. sir, you newspaper gents are always on
the lookout for mysteries, he asserted half apollo
getically. There's nothing out of the way in boat
going up down stream at any hour of the day or
night or if there was the river police would be
its track in fy. They patrol the river same as we
walk beat 1t might have been one of their
boats YOU saw or some bargees as had been making
night of it ashore. If was you. I'd turn in
possible 'Tain't good for anyone to stand about
in wet clothes"
Wewaked the length of the bridge together, and he
continued to hold forth loquacously. We parted on
the best of at the end of his beat and following
his advice walked rapidly homeward was chilled
to the bone and unutterably miserable but if stayed
out all night that would not alter the situation
THE street door swung back under my touch as
was in the act of inserting my latchkey in the
lock- Some had left it open in defiance of the
regulations well known to every tenant of the block
l slammed it with somewhat unnecessary vigor, and
the sound went booming and echolng up the well OF
the stone staircase, making horrible din, fit to
wake the seven sleepers of Ephesus.
1t did waken the housekeepers big watchdog
chained in the basement, and he bayed fur1ously.
| leaned the balustrade and called out. He
knew my voice and quoted down at once but not
before his master had come out in his palamas,
yawning and blinking. Poor old Jenkins, his rest
pretty frequently disturbed for anyone OF the
bachelor tenants of the upper 1ats-the lower ones
returned in the small hours in condition that pre-
cluded him from manipulating it. Jenkins would be
rung up to let him in, and, being one of the best of
fellows would certainly guide him up the staircase
and put him comfortably to bed.
Pm right down sorry, Jenkins l called. Il
found the street door open and slammed it without
thinking"
Open Well there, who could have left it open
going out in9' he exclaimed seeming per-
turbed than the occasion warranted. Must have
been quite short time back; for it isn't hour
since Caesar began barking like he did just now, and
he never barks for nothing. l went right up the
stairs, and there was one there and not a sound
The door shut fast enough then; for tried it.
1t couldn't have been Mr.. Gray or Mr.. Selars, for
they're away week ending. and Mr.. Cassavetti came
in before twelve l met him on the stairs as l was
turning the lights down.
Perhaps he went out again, suggested. Good
,lt