The Washington herald., 1913-01-05

-I, know It; that's what makes It 90
uncanny. I cannot possibly understand.
Perhaps the police can untansie IT."
The police! ! saw that should have
to give q good account OF myself when
the police arrived. Where did I stand.
anyhow? What did It mean7 No man
would write such thing for the fun
/ of Il.
I'm sorry" said I awkwardly. II
thought was doing right. Indeed, I
really thought so.'' ~
And thank you. You will admit
that some Of my suspicious were excus-
able. To whom am indebted7"-grac-
iously. In this mood she was charming.
told her my name.
She looked puzzled. and finally shook
her head.
at has a familiar sound. but I cannot
place IT."
There goes the bellw exclaimed.
TITS the police-come for the lunaticw
The girl few to the door. i could easily
read her mind. II was a burglar or a
lunatic, the police meant protection: In
case my errand was In good faith. there
would still be the police to greet the
mysterious stranger.
Presently she returned. followed by a
private detective and two policemen.
IL tul8 tit hrhtu IofIntr,
scowling at me-
The girl explained. rather incoherently,
her mistake. Everybody sat down. II
was quite a social gathering, or would
have been but for the scrutiny OF the
police, which / bore none too well From
all sides questions came popping at me.
and IL was only by. the use of the tele-
phone connecting my bachelor quarters
that I succeeded in establishing my iden-
tity. The frayed envelope was vastly
interesting TO the police. They read II
forward and backward. upside down. and
even held It close to the fire to see II any
sympathetic ink had been used in writ
ing II.
IT guess Mr. Carewe's a weil-meanIng
chap, miss" volunteered the detective.
But this matter will need close atten-
ton. II looks like a tough proposition. 50
He began TO ply her with questions, but
TO no avail.
During the examination ! vaguely won
dered what the other fellow was doing
with my coat.
The clock on the mantel struck half
after midnight
There's only one thing to be done"
said the detective: and that's to turn
out the lights and wait for the blood
thirsty gent"
For three-ouarters of an hour We FIVE
sat In the semi-darkness. our ears strain
ed to catch the faintest foreign sound.
Once I sneezed suddenly. and one Of the
policemen nearly fell out OF his chair.
II may seem funny to you who read. but
II was mighty serious to the girl and
myself. The suspense was nerve rack
ing We scarcely dared breathe natural
~. The occasional slumping OF the coal
in the crate was pregnant with terrors.
And our faces, seen but dimly. were
drawn and tense with the silent watch
ing. Every eye was directed toward the
baleful window. through which, at any
moment, we expected to see a man
crawl
"sh," The detective raised a warning
hand.
On the stiffness of the night there came
clicking sound, like that OF a key
being inserted in a lock- Presently We
heard the hall door open and close. We
waited in agony. or at least did. Pos
sibly n minute passed. and then We saw
the figure of a man loom in the door
way. We saw his arm extend toward
the electric-light button. and instantly
the room became brilliant with light.
The young man blinked at us and We
bIinked at him.
IF you move a step" said the detec-
tive threateningly. I'll plug you full o.
lead"
What the d." began the newcomer,
ga King from face to face.
Stop" cried the girl. springing to his
side: lit Is my brother
Her brother / looked at the man with
horror. He had on my
coat And. more than this. he was a