The Washington herald., 1912-04-07
CHAPTER XIV.
The Inspector Explains

Thump, thump, thumpl
l had not thought slumber possible
for me, and yet must have slept. My
bewfdered senses, dazed BY a sudden
recall to activity, took subconsciouS
eognizance of regular, persistent
pounding and eventually succeeded in
stirring me to attention. | suddenly sat
up and looked about me l found my
self in the deserted cottage, the drug
slave still motionleSs on his couch and
the logs still smoldering in the fireplace.
That humping quickly saw where
Il came from. Davis was standing over
the sleeping form of Dodds, the con-
stable, engaged in the work of awaken
ing him by the park policemans method
kicking him on the soles of his shoes.
The process was successful. The con-
stable snorted, drew up his legs, rubbed
his eyes, and sprang to his feet.
1T will be daylight in half an hour"
go and get the blackboard and drive
around to where Rouser's body lies.
Bring me any papers you find in his
pockets. Leave his money and his
watch and keys, so as not to arouse sus-
picion of robbery. As soon as you have
done that want you to drive back and
pick up the body before any one else
finds it. Drive with it to Millervale and
leave it there. Don't talk too much Tell
everybody that you found the body at
the foot of the precipice and impress OH
them that il must have been an accident
in the dark. As soon as you can con-
veniently get away, come back here.
Make sure, though, that nobody follows
you"
As soon as the constable had gone,
Davis lit cigarette, turned up his coat
collar and took seat on a rough bench
just outside the door.
Come on out here, Harding, and
watch the sun rise" he called to me.
rose hastily from where had been
sitting gazing stupidly about me and
joined him on the bench.
There was something you wanted to
ask me, wasn't there?' he said pleasant
ly
There were SO many things | wanted
to ask him / hardly knew where TO be-
gin. but the first thing blurted out was
is Hugh Crandall guilty.
He's guilty only Of being in love with
Katharine Parrish against her fathers
wishes" he replied.
But surely" / said doggedly, "he has
some connection with the crime OF the
yellow letters. lie knew Young. He
knew where to find him. There are
many things about his actions that to
my mind call for explanation"
did you notice his eyes?" asked
Davis 1t was still too dark for me to
see the inspectors face, but felt sure
that he was laughing at me. He made
me feel that way all too often.
Il didn't,"f answered rather Grossly,
but what's that got to do with it?"
I'm afraid. Kent, as | have said be-
fore, you will never make a good de-
tectiye. You are entirely too unobsery-
ant of important details Do you recall
my asking early in our investigation
whether or not Crandal had blue eyes? ?"
call it"
"As soon as l discovered that Gran
dali had blue eyes that eliminated him
as the probable criminal"
Il don't see your logic"
I've told you before" said Davis,
after pause long enough to permit him
TO light another cigarette, that there
are classes of crime and types of GRIM
inals, each strongly marked after its
own sort. | saw right at the sart that
this crime was of the hidden sort, OF
the kind tina includes conspiracy, black
mail, secret plotting-the kind that re-
quires a skilful sneak You never in
your life found blue-eyed sneak. There
are lots of blue-eyed desperadoes and
burglars. Most of the notorious bad