Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-10

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agreed with Mr.. Porter. had thought
all along it was some one unknown to the
Sedgwick people, but some one well
| known to Joseph Crawford. For, had II
| been an ordinary burglar. the victim
| would at least have raised q protecting
hand.
"Of course Hall will be set free al
once" continued Mr.. Porter, but to ar
rest him was foolish thing to do
''Still. he ought to prove his alibi.'
said.
very we'll, then; make him prove it.
Give him the third degree, IL necessary.
and find out where he was on Tuesday
night
II doubt il they could get it out OF
him." I observed, III he continues de-
termined not to tell"
"Then he deserves his fate" said Mr..
Porter. q little petulantly. He can freq
himself by a word. If he refuses to do
so. it's his own business"
But I'd like to help him." said Flo.
I can do so. Mr.. Burroughs?''
Indeed there Is" / said. you are
rich woman now; use some OF your
wealth to employ the services OF Fleming
Stone, and I can assure you the truth
Indeed ! will said Florence. PLEASE
| send for him at once"
NONSENSE" said Mr.. Porter. cit isn't
necessary at all. Mr.. Burroughs here
and young Parmalee are all the detec-
tives we need. Get Hall to free himself,
as he can easily do, and then set to work
in earnest to run down the real villain"
mo, Mr.. Porter" said Florence, with
firmness; Gregory will not tell his Sc
cret. whatever It u.s. I know his stub,
he's freed. as he is sure he will be, but
he won't tell what he has determined
not to divulge. No. l am glad l can 90
something definite at last toward aveng-
ing Uncle Joseph's death. Please send
gladly pay his fees and expenses" Mr..
Porter expostulated further, but to no
avail. Florence insisted on sending for
the great detective.
So I sent for him..
He came two days later. and In the in-
terval nothing further had been learned
from Gregory Hall. The man was an
enigma to me. He was calm and imp2s-
sive as ever. Courteous. though never
cordial, and apparently without the least
the crime which had caused his arrest
Indeed, he acted just as an innocent
man would act; innocent OF the murder,
that is. but resolved to conceal his where
abouts of Tuesday night, whatever that
resolve might imply.
To me 1t did not imply crime. Some
thing he wished to conceal. certainly:
but I could not think q criminal would
act so. A criminal Is usually ready with
an alibi, whether it can be proved or not.
When Fleming Stone arrived / met him
at the station and took him at once to
| the inn, where had engaged rooms for
him.
We first had a long conversation alone,
in which I told him everything l knew
concerning the murder.
when did it happen?' he asked. for,
though he had read some Of the news
paper accounts, the date had escaped
him.
1 told him and added, "Why. I was
called here just after I left you at the
Metropolis Hotel that morning. Don't
you remember, you deduced q lot Of in
formation from q pair of shoes which
were waiting to be cleaned?'
Eyes, I remember" said Stone, smiling
little at the recollection.
'And ! tried to make similar deduc-
tons from the gold bag and the news
paper. but I couldn't do it. bungled
mostly from the witnesses looks or
tones when giving evidence"
ION the stand?"
mot necessarily on the stand. I've
learned much from talking to the princi-
"And where do your suspicious point?''
Nowhere. I've suspected Florence
Lloyd and Gregory Hall, In turn and in
collision; but now / suspect neither OF
them"
why not Hall?'
His manner is too frank and uncon-
cerned."
"a good bluff for q criminal to use."
'Then he won't tell where he was that
night
"If he is the murderer he can't tell.
A false alihi is SO easily riddled- It's
rather clever to keep dosgedly silent; but
what does he say IL his reason?"
He won't give any reason. He has
determined to keep up that calm, 1ndif-
ferent pose, and though it is aggravat-
ing. I must admit 1t serves his purpose
well.''
How did they find him the morning
after the MURDER
LET me see; I believe the coroner said
he telephoned first to Halls club. But
the steward said Hall didn't stay there,
as there was no vacant room. and that
he had stayed all night at a hotel"
"What hotel?"
IT don't know. The coroner asked the
steward. but he didn't know"
Didn't he find out from Hall after
ward?'
II don't know. Stone: perhaps the coro-
ner asked him, but IL he did, I doubt II
Hall told. 1t didn't seem to me impor-
tant''
Burroughs, my son. you should have