Arizona republican., 1911-07-16

dresser, mad brought the news
brought it, at this unconscionable hour
of four in the morning, in a copy OF
that premature theatrical and sport.
ing daily which meets you at the res.
taurant door after your late supper
Hollis had been awakened out of a
sound sleep by the fellows persistent
knocking, and had risen in a half
daZe TO switch on the light and go to
the door. Drowsy and bewildered as
he was. the little mans pallid face
and excited manner as he had thrust
into his hand the crumpled paper,
damp from rain, had conveyed the con-
tagion of alarm. And a swift glance
had revealed the cause.
Then he had staggered back, with
that one muttered exclamation,
through the parted curtains that sep
arated his two rooms. and had sunk
Imply to the beds edge. Parrish,
stopping beneath the archway, still
stood there, his disregarded umbrella
shedding a trickling stream OF water
which was forming a pool on the
waxed floor between the rugs.
For a moment the printed lines had
mingled into a gray blur under Hol-
lis's Unlicensed gaze. But now he was
reading with burning interest the brici
story of the tragedy. The facts owing
to the lateness of the discovery of the
crime were necessarily meagre. War
rem Stanton, whose recent success in
the eccentric role of Jonas Hcrrick in
The Soul of the Town" at the Avon
Theater. had lifted him from the ruck
of character actors, into the ranks OF
the genius-endowed, had shot and
killed Edith Thornton, late Of the
'Tasker's Girl company, in her apart
ments at The Clydesdale." on West
Ninety-eighth Street. The crime had
been committed between the hours OF
nine and ten the previous evening, but
its discovery had been delayed until
an hour later, when Miss Thornton S
colored maid. returning after an even
ing out, had found the dead body OF
her mistress on the drawinS-room floor.
The elevator boy, however. had heard
the shot fired According to his reck-
oning the time was about nine forty
FIVE or fifty. He had taken Stanton 10
Miss Thornton's apartment at about
nine o'clock 4 few minutes after the
report Of the pistol, he had seen him
descend the stairs and leave the house.
Careful search of the rooms had failed
to discover the weapon used. And this
was supposed 10 do away with the pos
sibility OF suicide. Moreover, it was
known that Stanton and Miss Thorn
ton had frequently quarreled of late.
More than once he had been heard to
threaten her life. And, most convinc'
ing argument of all, he had fed.
These were the facts. hastily gath
cred, boldly stated: all the facts which
the article contained. 1t seemed &c
Hollis that there must certainly be
something more. He turned the page
and ran his eye up and down the col
umns, without reward. Then he looked
up and caught little old Joe Farrish's
grave gaze fixed upon him.
There's nothing more, sir. HaV
ing said it. the dresser seemed to hang
waiting on Hollis's comment.
"But-why-why, don't you see,' the
young man stammered, tit ISM
possible. After all, it isn't possible
You know IL isn't. Parrish. And Their
he got up suddenly. with little short
grim. hysterical laugh, and stood witt
a nervous hand fiuttering uncertainty
about the brass ball final of the bed
post.
~ quite see, sir 1t isn't possible
unless"
Unless what?"
Unless they've got the time wrong
sir"
Yes" Hollis agrees. Unless they've
got the time wrong. Which they
haven't" he added, after a seconds
pause. Which they haven't"
Its odd they haven't mentioned
-" the old man began, but Hollis
interrupted him.
They're a pack of fools" he de
clared excitedly, mot to see how pre-.
posterous II is. You know. and ]
know, that at the hour they give there
why. everybody knows-the com
pany. the orchestra, the stage hands
the eleven hundred applauding souls
in the audience, every solitary one oil
them. that at that hour Warren Stan
ton was on the stage Of the Avon
Theater, playing Jonas HerTfck, just
as he has been playing it every week
day night for the past month. It's an
alibi. Parrish; a complete, an irrefut
able aliDl.
The dresser appeared relieved. For
the first time he became conscious OF
his dripping umbrella. and hastily de-
posted it in a conveniently placed jar
diniere.
81 was a little fearful. SIR he be-
gan again, but once more Hollis broke
In:
mo, no, Parrish. You can be per-
fectly at ease. You must be at ease.
You must! Do you understand me!
Why. man alive, you'll be able to save
him yourself, alone. by your own tes-
timony. Let us see. They fix the
pistol shot at a little before ten. Be
tween nine-thirty and ten, anyhow.
Where was Stanton during that half
hour?" .
Ito ., eenfirssdl