The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-08-16

raj tnlnS that | had taken it..
He struck you. | believe. and knock
ed you down." asked Hunter smoothly.
Wardrop flushed.
He was not himself. and-well. it
meant a great deal to him And he
was out of cocaine. | left him raging,
and when | went home learned that
Miss Jane Maitland had disappeared.
been abducted. at the time my satchel
had been emptied! It's no wonder
question my sanity
And then-tonight?' the chief per-
sisted.
Tonight l felt that some one would
have to look after Mr. Fleming. l was
afraid he would kill himself. 1t was a
bad time to leave while Miss Jane was
missing. But when l got to the White
Cat found him dead. He was sitting
with his back to the door and his head
on the table,
WAS the revolver in his hand?"
yes
"You are sure?" from Hunter. isn't
it a fact. Mr.. Wardrop. that you took
Mr. Fleming's revolver from him this
morning when he threatened you with
it,"
Wardrop's face twitched nervously.
You have been misinformed." he re-
piled, but no one was impressed by his
tone. 1t was wavering. uncertain.
From Hunters face | judged it had
been random shot and had landed
unexpectedly well.
How many people knew that Mr..
Cat:" from the chief.
Every few-besides myself, only
man who looks after the clubhouse in
the mornings and ClarksOn. the cash
Ter of the Borough bank. who met him
there once by appointment"
The chief made no comment.
Nov. Mr. Knox. you heard no shot
while you were in the hall?'
There was considerable noise
heard two or three sharp reports like
the explosions of an automobile en-
gine.'
you are right about the automo-
bile" Hunter said. 1.-The mayor sent
his car away as left to follow Mr.
Wardrop The sounds you heard were
not Shots
1T is a strange thing" the chief re-
fected. that revolver could be fired
in the upper room Of an ordinary
dwelling house. while that house was
filled with people. and nobody hear it.
Were there any powder marks on the
body?"
| "NOne." Hunter said.
The chief got up stif1y.
Thank you very much. gentlemen.
Hunter. would like to see you for
| few minutes.
think Wardrop was daZed at find
ing himself free AS we walked to the
corner for car or cab. whichever ma
terialized first. he looked back.
II thought So" he said bitterly. A
man was lettering after us along the
street The police were not asleep:
they had closed only one eye
The last train had gone. We took
night electric car to Wynton and
walked the three miles to Bellwood
Neither of us was talkative. and |
imagine we were both thinking of
Margery and the news she would have
to hear
1t had been raining. and once War
drop turned around to where we could
hear the detective splashing along
The detective was well behind. but aft
er awhile Wardrop stood still. while
plowed along. They came up together
presently. and the three of US trudged
on. talking Of imma terial things
At the door Wardrop turned to the
detective with a faint smile. Its
raining again." be said You'd bet
ter come in You needn't worry about
me- I'm not going to run away. and
there's a couch in the library"
The detective grinned. and in the
light from the hall | recognized the
man l had followed to the police sta
ton two nights before
II guess | WILL he said. looking
alphabetically at his muddy clothes
This thing is only a matter of form.
anyhow"
But he didn't lie down on the couch.
He took chair in the hall near the
foot of the stairs. and we left him
there with the evening paper and
lamp
Wardrop looked so wretched that |
asked him into my room and mixed
him some whisky and water When
l had given him cigar he began to
look little less hopeless.
you've been a fkrned sight better
t. ne than would have been to you
unler the circumstances" he said
gratefully.
~ thought we would better arrange
about Miss Margery before we try
to settle down." l replied. Twill you
tell her about her father?"
Il believe it would come better from
you" he said finally. II am in the
peculiar position of having been sus-
pected by her father of robbing him,
by you of carrying away her aunt and
now by the police and everybody else
Of numbering her father
II do not suspect you of anything"
l justified myself. Il don't think you
are entirely open. that is all. Wardrop.
| 7 ;nl- dor OIL vyO,,rcolf RI