Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-25
WILD

to the precinct an have EN- identify me
there? They know me-
81 suppose I'll have to let YOU in. Sir; but
it's all very queer and unusual. Follow me.
THE valet turned on the single light in the
! hall He Immediately began to mount
the stairs to the first floor, Haggerty at his
heels. The valet stumbled, and the bundle
slipped from his arm. The wrapping paper
broke and disclosed half dozen pairs Of
old Shoes Haggerty picked up two pairs,
and the valet gathered up the others He
sravely led the detective into a large room.
Haggerty grasped his revolver, then let go
of it, granting inaudibly. What he saw in
the dim freight was not living people: only
the shells,-rows of m,lmmies and mummy
cases called cartonnages.
Better not turn on the lights, said Hag-
gerty "The fires enough. These things
give fellow the chills.'
The valet deposited the shoes along the
wall, and Haggerty placed his beside them
threw on log. A blaze started up.
"Sit down, Sir. This is Mr. Crawfords
study"
Haggerty was quite familiar with it; but
only in the daytime.
you'll excuse me, Sir, till | pack the
shoes. You see, Mr.. Crawford tramps about
a good deal, and likes old shoes because they
are most comfortable. We leave for Naples.
There have been some new excavations at
Herculaneum which Mr.. Crawford IS an
xious to see"
"You can pack the shoes when your mas
ter returns replied Haggerty. The valet,
whether he knew anything or not, would be
perfectly justified in warning his master OF
his, Haggertys, presence. Then genlally, to
cover the menace of his words, he added,
"These oil geezers might walk out on me II
was left alone with them.
Mason shrugged He turned on the low
desk lamp and began to arrange the books
and papers on the broad fiat desk. Some
he put away in drawers which he locked.
He then put out the light and took the easy
chair by the fire, his back in half-view. Here
Haggerty recognized the gentleman's gen.
tleman, the servant who held himself de-
tached from all affairs that did not concern
his master personally, and considered it i'll
bred to converse with strangers of Hag-
gerty's caliber. 1t was lean, serious face:
the hand that propped his chin was long and
slender.
TT was half after eleven by Haggerty's
watch: an hour, probably, to wait.
mere Uney were, lOuI vi lIlclll, diiu lllC oiiS
with the door hanging loosely new one,
four safes of various makes and sizes! What
was the game?
1May ask what it is you wish to see Mr.
Crawford about?" asked the valet after
long pause.
Ha! thought Haggerty. He was human,
after all! ooh, he's going to give me some
thing for my collection" Haggerty chuck
led "But what's all these safes for?"
"A hobby of Mr.. Crawford's when he's
not at work on his brochures.
"His what?..
"His little books on new discoveries in
archaeology"
"Ah! What's he do with themo'
"Sends them to the various universities
and societies"
"No, no-I mean the safes.
"He opens them. Do you know anything
about the French Revolution
"I've heard about it, answered Haggerty
cautiously.
"Well, when Louis XVI. wasn't tinkering
with the Revolution he was tinkerlng with
locks and clocks 1t amused him; took his
mind off his cares and troubles. MIR. Craw-
ford finds like amusement in buying up old
safes and opening them; cracking them,
believe, is the vernacular. He is remarkably
clever at it."
@Well. wha' do you know about that!'
@Beg pardono"