The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-19
The Window
By MARY ROBERTS
 RINEHART
(Continued.)

filled with people, and noDody near 1t. Were there any powder marks on the bodyF'
 "None. Hunter said.
 The chief got up stif1y.
 Thank you very much, gentlemen. Hunter, would like to see you for a few minutes"
 think Wardrop was dazed at find ing himself free. As we walked to the corner for a car or cab, whichever ma terialized first, he looked back.
 sI thought, so," he said bitterly A man was loiteringi after us along the street The police were not asleep; they had closeds only one eye.
 The last train had sgone. We took a night electric car to Wynton and walked the three miles to Bellwood. Neither of us was talkative, and I imagine we were both thinking of Margery>andathesne she would have to hear.
 If had been raining, and once War drop turned aroundsto whereswe could hear the detective splashing along. The detective was we'll behind, but aft CT awhile Wardrop stood still, while I plowed along. They came'up together presently, and the three of us trudged on, talking ofsimmaterial Pthings.
 At the door sWardrep turned to the detective with faint smile. "It's raining again." he said. You'd bet ter come in. You needn't worry about me, rmSnot going to run away, and theresa coEchiin the library"
 The detective grinned, and in the light from the hall recognized the man I had followed to the police sta- ton two nights before.
 sI guess willy he said, looking apologeticaily at his muddy clothes. This thing is only a matter of form, anyhow"
 He took a chair in the hall near the foot of the stairs, and we left him there with the evening paper and a lamp.
 Wardrop looked so wretched that asked him into my room and mixed him some whisky and water. When I had given him cigar he began to look a little less hopeless.
 sXou've been a darned sight better to ne than I would have been to you under the circumstances" he said gratefully.
 @I thought we would better arrange about Miss Margery before we try to settle down." replied ''Will you tell her about her father22
 "I believe 1t would come better from you,n he said finally ''I am in the peculiar position of having been sus- peeted by her father of robbing him, by you of carrying away her aunt and now by the police and everybody else of murdering herSfather."
 -s'I do not suspect you of anything" !" I justified myself. 'T don't think you are entirely open, that is all, Wardrop. think you are damaging yourself to shield some one >else.''
 His expressive face was on it's guard in a moment. He ceased his restless pacing, pausing impressively before ,me,
 ''I give you my word as a gentle man I do not know who killed MT. Fleming and that when I first saw him dead my only thought was that he had killed himself. He had threat ened to that day. Why, if you think I killed him you would have to think I robbed him, too, in order to find a mo- tive"
 I did not tell him that that was pre- cisely- what Hunter did think. evad- ed the issue.
 'sMr. Wardrop, did you ever hear of the figures eleven twenty-two? You never heard Mir. Fleming use themF"
 He looked puzzled.
 Probably he said. s'In the very used figures all the time. Eleven twen- ty-two That's the time the theater train leaves the city for Bellwood. Not what you want, eh ?'
 'Not quite," I answered noncommit- tally and began to wind my watch. He took the hint and prepared to leave.
 He opened the door and stared rue fully down at the detective in the hall below. ''The old place is queer with out Miss Jane," he said irrelevantly. swell, good night, and thanks"
 He went heavily along the hall and closed my door. heard him pass Margery's room and then go back and rap lightly.
 AIt's Harry" he called. "I thought you wouldn't worry if you knew I was in the house tonight"
 She asked him something, for
 "Yes, he is here," he said. He stood there for a moment, hesitating over something. but whatever it was, he decided against it.
 Good night, dear," he said gently and went away.
 The little familiarity made me vince Every unattached man has the same pang now and then. I have it some times when Edith sits on the arm of Fred's chair, or one of the youngsters leaves me to run to daddy And one of the sanest men ever met went to his office and proposed to his sten- oErapher in sheer craving for don1es- ticity. after watching the wife of one of his friends run her hand over her husbands chin and give him a reprov- Ing slap for not having shaved.
 | was ready for bed when Wardrop rapped at my door. He was still dress ed and had the leather bag.
 Look here," he said excitedly when had closed the door, ''this is not my bag at all. never examined it care fully