The Washington herald., 1914-06-07

the spot. Why don't you set to and give
Scotland Yard lesson. Algy?"
Knox yawned slightly. The four youns
1t was the second interval, and no one
wanted a drink. Their conversation had
drifted almost inevitably to the Culmore
Square murder.
That's all very WELL" Knox replied, as
he Strengthened his white tie in front of
mirror, ''but Scotland Yard wouldn't
stand my butting In
You should do 1t on the quiet. old
chap" one of the others remarked
''prowl around like a sleuth hound until
you have a clew, and then follow 1t to
the bitter end. You've got the pull, you
know. You're the only one who saw the
chap who did it. You'd know him again.
wouldn't you?"
Yes, I would know him again." Knox
admitted. Clear. deep-set eyes he's got
and fair skim
How shall you feel when you march
up against him some day." Sammy Forde
asked. queer sensation 1t will give you
II you pass him in Bond street, or come
at the Empire"
Knox polished his eyegiass Industrious
ly. ITO tell you the truth. you fellows"
he confessed, II begin to wish / could
find him. You see. he vanished without
leaving a single trace. and rather fancy
the detective who's got the matter in
hand down at Scotland Yard has some
queer notion at the back Of his head that
the chap never existed at all. They cross
examined me at the inquest as though
were criminal; wanted to know whether
didn't think 1t strange that the fellow
didn't run away instead Of stopping to
talk"
He certainly" Sammy Forde remark
ed. didn't behave like an ordinary GRIM
inal. He didn't attempt to rob his VIC
tim. One can't even guess at a motive"
Quite so." Knox agreed. You see,
the fellow was such a commonplace sort
Of Johnny-a hop factor called Behal,
with business in Southwark; living In q
private hotel in Kensington Of dull and
highly respectable pattern: forty-two
years old; no family. prosperous, with
plenty Of business friends; a common
place, easy-going. easy-living person, who
doesn't seem to have had an enemy in
the world or to have done anything in
his life to have deserved an enemy. There
doesn't appear to have been a spark of
romance about his life or any of his
actions, and yet, there he is. shot through
the heart by a man who meant to do II,
too; shot by a man who has sufficient
wits to walk. apparently. OF the face of
the earth"
Knox was about to go on, but was in
corrupted by a knock at the door. An
attendant entered. followed by a man in |
morning dress, at the sight Of whom
Knox rose with q sigh. You want me, |
nspectorr'
Sorry to trouble you, sir" was the
ivil reply. We've a man at Bow
treet whom we must ask you to have a |
ook at. We haven't much against him,
md the chiefs Just keeping him hanging
bout"
You mean that you want me to come
It. once?" Knox asked resignedly.
Sorry 10 break up your party, sir. but
he chief would take 1t as q great favor"
Knox put on his hat and overcoat. See
'ou fellows later" he remarked, as he
ook his departure.
They walked up to Bow street. and
here, after few minutes waiting, Knox
vas confronted by a man totally unlike
he wanted person. He turned away with
little exclamation of disgust.
Take him away" the inspector direct
d. Sorry to have troubled you, Mr..
,nox." he added. but we're at our wits
nd about this affair down at the Yard"
That's all very WELL" Knox expostu-
,ted. but I don't quite see why you
hould try me with such impossible peo-
lie. tell you that the murderer was a
entleman."
How do you know that, sir?"
II know it by his voice and by. his
Knox answered. He was a
entleman, and he was a man, too, of
olendid nerve"
The inspector sighed. I'm bound to
,nfess. Mr.. Knox" he said, that why a
,ntleman, and a gentleman of such
,urage as you describe. should have had
1ything to do with fellow like William
ehal fairly does me in. II you stick to
that the man you saw was as you de-
.ribe him. We haven't even got the thin
Id of a clew to work from"
Knox shrugged his shoulders. Sorry,
r. Inspector" he replied. for your sake I
Id for mine. Only I must tell you that c
y memory is perfectly clear. the man
ood almost underneath a gas lamp. and ,
isn't the slightest use your sending for 6
E in the hope of my Identifying ruff
ms like this last fellow. Good night" ,
Knox did not return to the theater. He
ok a taxicab instead to his rooms, and
ent an hour or more with a telephone =.
ok upon his knee. About II o'clock ne =
untered into the Milan grillroom and
ined his friends. He shook his head at
ice in reply to their eager questions. II i.
I'VE given up the police" he announced. :
he seated himself at the table. .T'mi
ing to take Sammy's advice. en- 60
g to look into this affair myself.
There was q little ripple of laughter.
, he sat there In his acknowledgement :
ening clothes studying the menu :.
rough his eyeglass, Algernon Knox GER :
inly did not present to any Of them, any i.
ore than he did to the world at large,
e last word in intelligence.
Tell you what I'll do. old chap"
mmy Forde declared. "rn bet you q
ny that you don't spot the winner
thin-say, a couple of months =
You're on" Knox agreed.
Mr.. Algernon Knox made highly sue v
ssful first appearance at Errlngton's
anicure parlor. His clothes and his a
anners were alike the subject CT much d
vorable comment. HIS chaff was deli e.
te and up to dafe aaS fbere waa i,.st