The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1911-05-11
very animated xroup. The taller one

VcTy animated 8fOup. Inc tdlier OAot
an oldish man, lean and hard, an.
nounced his errand at once.
"a Pittsburg warrant l 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 I'VE
hope you will see the wisdom of waiv.
ing extradition," he went on. 1T will
save time"
I'll come, of course" l agreed.
THE sooner the better. But / want
you to give me an hour here, gentle.
men. I think we can interest you.
Have a cigar?"
The lean man took q 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 I'M
easily, his hands under his coat-tails.
The arrival of Mcknight created a d.
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, Blakeley? 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.
Hotchkiss finished a mental synop-
sis of his position. and put down his
glass. Gentlemen" he said pompous-
ly, within Eve minutes the man you
want will be here, a murderer caught
in net of evidence go fine that q
mosquito could not get through"
The detectives glanced at each 9TH
er solemnly. Had they not In their
possession a sealskin bag containing
wallet and bit OF gold chain, which
by putting the crime on me, would
| leave 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.
CURED. 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"
IN 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 its sequel. They listened
gravely, without interruption
MIR. 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
dete ctives. who rose when l did. Nc
Knight. therefore, brought her in, and
| met her at the door
Il have put you to a great deal of
trouble" l said contritely, when l saw
her glance around the room. Il wish
had not"
1T is only right that should come"
she replied, looking up at me. Il am
the unconscious cause of most of it,
| am afraid. Mrs. Dallas is going to
wait in the outer Office.
presented Hotchkiss and the two
detectives, who eyed her with inter
est. In her poise, her beauty, even in
her gown. l fancy she represented
new type to them. They remained
| standing until she sat down
Il have brought the necklace" she
began, holding out a white-wrapped
| box, "as you asked me to-"
! passed it, unopened, to the deteo-
tives. The necklace from which was
broken the fragment you found in the
sealskin bag l explained Miss
West found 1t on the floor of the car.
| near lower ten"