, 1913-01-23
\,
A Night In the Fleming Home.

whats the matterr' Edith demand.
ed. ~glancing ~uneasily over her shoul.
der.
"some ,oneuhasS been upstairAr Mar
gerry painted. Somebody has, been
staying in the house while we were
away"
At the door of q small room NEXT to
what had been Allan Fleming's bed.
o we paused. It was filled with
feminine knickknacks and mahogany
lounging chairs. Wherever possible Q
pale brocade had been used. on the
empire couch, in panels in the wall,
It was evidently Margery's private
sitting OOH
The linen cover that had been
thrown over the divan was folded
back, and a pillow from the window
seat bore the imprint of a head. Mar
gerry had been right. Some one had
used the room while the house was
closed.
might It not have been your IA
therT" Edith asked when we stood
again at the foot Of the stairs.
81 don't think 80" Marsery said
wanly.
I put them In a cab and saw them
start away. Then 1 went back Into
the house. as I had arranged to sleep
there and generally to look after
things. Whatever scruples I had had
about taking charge of Margery Elem.
ing and her affairs had faded with
Wardrop's detection and the new
mystery of the blue boudolr.
The lower floor Of the house wa
full of people that night, local and
state politicians. newspaper men and
the usual crowd of the morbidly Gu
rious. Whatever panoply the death
scene had lacked. Allan, Fleming wal
lying In state now.
At midnight things grew quiet. ]
found Bella In the basement kitchen
with all the lights burning full, and ]
stood at the foot Of the stairs while
she scooted to bed like a scared rabbit
She was a strange creature, Bella-noi
SO stupid as she looked, but sullen, mo
rose-"smouldering'' about expresses
1t.
A guest room In the third story haze
been assigned to me. The telephone
bell rang just after l got into bed.
This is the Times-Post. IL Mr.. War
drop there?'
mo"
"Who is this2"
''This Is John Knox"
"The Attorney
yes"
Mr.. Knox. are you willing to put
yourself OF record that MI. Fleming
! committed suicideT'
Il am not going to put myself on rec
ord at ail!''
"Tonight's Star say you call 1t sui
eide and that you found him with the
revolver in his hand"
1.-THE Star iies!" l retorted, and the
man at the other end chuckled.
MANY thanks" he said and rang OF
I went back to bed. irritated that !
had betrayed myself. Loss of sleeI
for two nights. however, had told on
me. In a short time 4 was sount
asleep.
1 wakened with difficulty. The vino
was blowing hard, and a shutter wal
banging somewhere below. I looked
down into the well-like space beneath
: me. 1t was one Of those apparently
chance movements that have vital con
sequences.
Below me on the wall across was a
rectansle of yellow light. reflected from
the library window Of the Fleming
home. There was ZONE one in the
house.
Ny first thought was burglar Ny
second Lightfoot. Luckily I had
brought my revolver with me from
Fred's that day. and It was under my
pillow. Toeget 1t, put out the Light
and open the door quietly took only .
minute. l was in pajamas, barefoot
as on another almost similar occasion
but / was better armed than before.
1 nj Into n heap Of folding chairs
that had been left by the undertaken.
The light was out In an instant, and
with eoncealment ut an end. l broke
for the door and threw 1t open, stand
ing there with my revolver leveled.
We-the man in the room andi-were
both in absolute darkness.
"Who is hereT' l demanded.
Only silence. except thatI seemed to
hear rapid breathing.
Speak up or I'll shoot!' l said, not
without an ugly feeling that he might
be-even probably was-taking careful
aim by my voice. ! reached cautious
Iy to the left and found the electric
n,switch and turned 1t. The room was
empty, but a portiere in a doorway at
my right was shaking.
leaped for the curtain and dragged
lit aside, to have a door just close In
! my face. When l had jerked 1t open
i:found myself in a short hall, and there
| were footsteps to my left. The foot
steps seemed only beyond my reach
and at the other side of the room the