The Ocala evening star., 1911-06-23
The House
of the
Whispering
Pines
By ANNA KATHARINE GREEN
Copyright. 1910. by Anna Katharine
Rohlfs
CH APTER XI-
20 CETHRERT ROAD

g. CUTHBERT ROAD.
- wEETwATER was soon at the
bottom of the hill. where the
street. taking a turn. plunged
him at once into a thickly pop
ulated district. As this was still the
residence quarter. he passed on until
he gained the heart Of the town and
the region of the saloons. Here he
slackened pace and consulted a mem
orandum he had made while talking
TO Hexford
Ii was not his intention to revisit the
places so thoroughly overhauled by
the police He carried another list.
that of certain small groceries and
quiet. unobtrusive hotels. where a
man could ind private room In which
TO drink alone. il being Sweetwater's
conviction that I'm such a place. and
I'm such a place only. would be found
the tokens of those solitary hours spent
by Arthur Cumberland between the
time of his sisters murder and his re-
appearance the next day.
He asked the first passerby the way
to HubbeIls alley.
Ii was a mile off THAT settles it."
muttered Sweetwater Resides.
doubt If he would go into an alley.
The man has sunk low. but hardly so
low as that. What's the next address
have? Cuthbert road Where's
that?"
Espying a policeman eying him with
more or less curiosity from the other
side of the street. be crossed over and
requested to he directed to Cuthbert
road
"Cuthbert road. That's where the
markets are. They're closed at this
time of night" was the somewhat sus-
picious reply.
Evidently the location was not a
savory one
lis there nothing but markets thereT"
| inquired Sweerwater quite innocent
| ~. 1t was his present desire not
| to be recognized as detective even
| hy the men on beat. I'm looking up
| friend He keeps grocery or some
| kind of small hotel have his num-
| ber. but l don't know how to get to
Cuthbert road"
Then turn straight about and go
| down the first street, and you'll reach
| IL before rhe trolley car you see up
there can strike this corner. But
Srst sew up your pockets. There's a
bad block between you and the mar
kets."
Sweetwater slapped his trousers and
| laughed
81 wasn't born yesterday" he cried
and. following the officers directions,
made straight for the road Sixty-two
| was not far off.
| He hesitated when he reached 1t.
Some houses invite and some repel.
This house repelled. Yet there was
| nothing shabby or mysterious about
| it. There was the decent entrance,
lighted. but not too brilliantly; row
Of dark windows over 1t. and above II
all a sloping roof In which another
sparkle of light drew bis attention to
an upper row Of windows. this time
Of the old dormer shape An alley rar
down one side of the house to the
stables now locked. but later to bt
1 thrown open for the use of the farm
ers who begin 10 gather here as ear
ly as O'Clock. Nothing wrong II
Its appearance. everything Shipshapt
and yet II shall End some Strang,
characters here" was the Sweetwatel
comment with which our detective
opened the door and walked into the
house.
I 1t was an unusual hour for guests
and the woman whom he saw bending
over a sort Of desk In one corner OF
the room he strobe into looked III
hastily. almost suspiciously.
"well. and what Is your business
she asked
II want a ROOM" he tipsily conf1det
to her. lin which l can drink ant
drink till 1 cannot see-whisky. jus