The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1911-07-07
cHAPTER !.
! CO 70 'plttsburu.

been a bit squeamish. Given case
like that, where you can build up q
network Of clews that absolutely In
criminate three entirely different peo-
Pile. only one OF whom can be guilty,
and your faith In circumstantlal evil
dense dies Of oyercrowding never
see shiyering. white-faced wretch in
the prisoners dock that do not bark
back with shuddering horror to the
strange events on the Pullman car
Ontario. between Washington and
pittsburg, on the night Of September
Q. last.
Mcknight could tell the story q
great deal better than |, although he
cannot spell three consecutive words
correctly. But. while he has lmagi.
nation and humor, he Is lazy
IT didn't happen TO mo, anyhow"
he protested. when put It up to him.
And nobody cares for secondhand
thrills, Besides, you want the I'M
vanished and ungarnished truth, and
I'm no hand for that. I'm lawyer"
So am I. although there have been
times when my assumption In that
particular has been disputed. I am
unmarried. and just old enough to
dance with the grown,up little sisters
OF the girls | used to know. am fond
Of outdoors. prefer horses TO the afore.
said grown.up little sisters, and with.
out sentiment Gam" crossed out and
was" substltuted.--Ed) and com
plctely ruled and frequently routed by
| my housekeeper, an elderly widow.
In fact. OF all the men OF my &C
aualntanee. was probably the most
prosaic. the least adventurous, the
one man In a hundred who would be
likely to 20 without u deviation from
the normal through the orderly pro
cesslon OF the seasons, summer suits
70 winter tiannels. golf to bridge.
So It was a queer freak OF the de-
mons Of chance TO perch on my I'M
susceptible 30-year.old chest, tie me
up with crime, ticket me with a
love AFFAIR. and start me on that SEN
sational and not always respectable
Journey that ended so surprisingly less
than three weeks later In the firms
| private ONCE. II had been the most
remarkable period OF my life. would
neither give II up nor live II again
under any inducement. and yet all
that lost was some 20 yards of my
drIveI
II was really Meningitis turn to
make tho next Journey. had a
tournament at Chevy Chase for Satur.
day. and a short yacht cruise planned
for Sunday, and when man has been
grinding at statute law for week. he
needs relaxation, But Mcknight
begged of, II was not the first time
he had shlrked that summer In order
to run down to Richmond. and was
surly about II. But this time he had
I new excuse.
| Il wouldn't be able to look after the
business II did CO." he said. He has
y sort Of wide.eyed frankness that
makes one ashamed to doubt him.
I'm always car sick crossing the
| mountains, It's a fact, Lollie. See
saving over tho peaks does It. Why.
crossing the Allegheny mountains has
| the gulf stream to Bermuda beaten to
q frazzle,"
| SO gave him up finally and went
home to pack. He came later In the
evening with his machine, the Can.
nonban, to take me to the station. and
he brought the forged notes in the
Bronson case.
Guard them with your life" he
warned me. They are more precious
nan honor. Sew them in your chest
| protector. or wherever people keep
valuRbles, never keep any, I'll not
be happy until | see Gentleman Andy
doing the lockstep,"
lie sat down on my clean collars,
found my cigarettes and struck a
| match on the mahogany bed post with
! one movement.
Where's the Pirate?" he demanded.
The Pirate In my housekeeper. Mrs.
Kloptou. a very worthy woman, SO
labelNd--and llbeled-beeause of te-
! roctOus pair of eyes and what Me
Knight called bueaueering nose. /
| quietly closed the door into the hall.
| Keep your voice down, Richey." |
| said she Is looking for the evening
paper to SEQ II II Is going to rain. She
| has my Faincoat and an umbrella wait
ing In the hall"
| The collars being damaged beyond
repair he left them and went to the
window. lie stood there for some
| time staring at the blackness that
1 represented the wall II the house
| peSt door,
IT'S raining now" he said over his
| shoulder. and closed the window and
| the shutters. Something In his voice
made me glance up. but he was watch,
ng me, his hands idly In his pockets.
"who lives next doorr' he inquired
a perfunctory tone, after pause.
| was packing my razor,
House Is empty" | returned absent.
v, IL the landlord would Put It "A
ONE sort OF shape
Did you put those notes in your
rcketH" he broke in.
| Yes" was impatient Along
tth my certificates OF registration