, 1913-01-09

The Wall Showed an Opening About
Foot Square.
new apprehension added to the shocl
|of the night before he looked as though
his nerves were ready to snap.
Wardrop vas a man Of perhap.
itwenty-seven. as tall as l, although no,
so heavy, with direct blue eyes and
fair hair. altogether a manly and pre-
possessing sort Of fellow. I was moi
tsurprised that Margery Fleming hat
found him attractive. He had the blond
hair and offhand manner that womer
seem to like. am dark myself.
He seemed surprised to find Huntel
there. and not particularly pleased
but he followed US to the upper foo,
@nd watched silently while Hunter
went over the two rooms. Beside thu
large chest of drawers In the mair
attic Hunter found perhaps half 6
dozen drops of blood, and on the edg,
of the open drawer there were trace.
sof more. In the inner room two trunk
had beer moved out nearly a foot, al
he found BY the faint dust that hat
been under them. Then he took oui
his notebook.
Have you a pencil Of pen, Mr.
KnoxT' be asked me, but I had none
Wardrop felt his pockets.
~ have lost my fountain pen some
where around the house today" hi
said irritabiy. Here's a pencil-noi
much of one"
Hunter began bis interrogations.
How old was Miss Maitland-Mis,
Jane. ! meanY
"Sixty-6ye." from Margery.
"She had always seemed rational,
Not eccentric. OF chiIdishr
mot at all; the sanest woman I eveI
knew" This from Wardrop.
"Has she ever to your knowledge re
ceived any threatening lettersr"
Never In all her life" from both Of
them promptly.
You beard sounds. you say, Mis-
Fleming. At what time"
about half past l or perhaps a few
minutes later. The clock struck 2 Will,
I was still awake and nervow."
This person who vas walking
through the attics here-would you
say 1t was a heavy persons man, ]
meant"
Margery stopped to think
yes" she said finally. ut was very
stealthy. but ! think It was a mans
step"
"You heard no sound of q struggle
no voices. 10 screamsf"
''None at ALL" she said positively
And l added my quota.
There could have been no suci
sounds" l said. 81 sat in my room
n smoked until a quarter to 2.
heard nothing until then, when I heart
Mr.. wardrop trying to get into tn,
house. l went down to admit him
and-I found the front door open abou
an inch"
Hunter wheeled on Wardrop.
"a quarter to 2?" he asked. "Yo,
were coming home from-the ciryr'
Eyes, from the station"
.sThe last train gets In here at 1880
Hunter said slowly. Does 1t alwayi
take you an hour and a quarter II
walk the three squares to the housef"
Wardrop flushed uneasily. and .
could see Margery's Eye dilate will
amazement
II did not come directly home" h
said almost de1antly.
"Then-~ill you be good enough {,
tell me where you did go. have rea
IONS for wanting to know"
Hang your reasons. Look here. Mr.
Hunter, do you think I would hurt Z
hair of that old lady's headf Do yol
think I came here last night and hlles
her. or whatever It Is that has hap
pened to her. and then went out ane
tried to get in again through the win
down
"Not necessarily" Hunter said. un
rufled. 'It merely occurred to mt
that we have at least an hour OF you
time last night while this thing wal
going on to account for However
we can speak Of that later. l am prac
tically certain of n thing-Miss Matt
land is not dead or was not dead whei
she was tn ken away from this house.
Taken away Margery repeated
..Then you think she was kidnapedT'
.weli. 1t is possible. You are certain
there are no closets or unused roomi
where II there had been a murder tn
body could he c~onceaied?'
81 never heard of any" Margery SAID
but I saw wardrop's face change OIL
the instant. He stood frowning a
the door.
Margory was beginning to shot thu
sfrect of the long days strain. Cha