Rocky Ford enterprise., 1911-03-17


an oldish man, lean and hard. an.
nounced his errand at once.
"A Pittsburg warrant?" inquired.
unlocking my cigar drawer.
"Yes. Allegheny county has as
sGmed 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"
iii come. Of course" l agreed.
"The sooner the better. But ! want
you to give me an hour here. gentle
men. ! think we can interest you.
Have 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
1t 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 d.
version: he carried a long package
and a corkscrew. and shook hands
with the police and opened the bottle
with a 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 ccme back!
II you take Monsieur Blakeley with
you, 1 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 five minutes the man you
want will be here. murderer caught
| in q net of evidence SO fine that
mosquito could not get through"
The detectives glanced at each 9TH
er solemnly. Had they not In their
possession a sealskin bag containing
| a wallet and bit Of gold chain. which
by putting the crime on me. would
leave q 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
1t 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
burg. and its sequel. They listened
sravely. 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 imp!icate Mrs. Conway.
who stabbed Bronson and then her
self last night. As for myself. I am
open to conviction"
| Il hope not" said the stout -deteo-
tive quizzically. And then Alison was
announced. My impulse to go out
and meet her was forestalled by tho
detectives. who rose when 1 did. Nc
Knight, therefore. brought her in. and
I met her at the door.
Il have put you to a great deal Of
trouble" I said contritely. when saw
her glnnce 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 II,
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. I 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 mo to-"
passed It, unopened. to the detec-
tives. The necklace from which was
broken the fragment you found In the
sealskin bag" explained. Miss
West found 1t on the floor of the car.
near lower ten"
CTO BE CoNTINUED)