The Washington herald., 1914-06-07
(OopfriRht. lell.l
IRON the easy life of a young maj
about town the Honorable Algernoi

about town the Honorable Algernoi
Knox. who had just left q remark
ably cheerful dinner party. found him
self. in the matter of a few seconds, con
fronted by one OF the grimmest tragedies
OF existence. Before him on the we
pavement was stretched the figure of 4
man, writhins in pain, sobbing and moan
ing, clutching at the air with empty
hands Barely twenty PAGES away. an
other man, who had been hurrying OF
disturbed by the sound of Knox's ap'
preaching footsteps, had turned deliber'
ately around and, reckless of the ada
cent gas lamp, stood with still smoking
revolver extended toward the newcomer
On the other side Of the way, Knox wa:
dimly conscious of third disappearing
figure vanishing like a shadow amid the
dark spaces.
Knox, for those first few seconds, was
too amazed to speak or move. Only a
dozen yards or SO around the corner was
the house at which he had been dining.
The drizzling rain and a scarcity Of taxi
cabs had sent him out under the shelter
Of friendly umbrella to find a vehicle
of some sort In one Of the more crowded
thoroughfares. The faint report which he
had heard had scarcely even disturbed
his meditations. He had come so sudden
" upon this strange little tableau that
for the moment his brain refused to work.
It was really only a matter of seconds,
but 1t seemed to him afterward, when he
thought of It. an intellectually longer
measure of time during which he stood
there, the cigarette still burning between
his lips. the umbrella still held over his
head, gazing from the twitching figure
at his feet to the threatening vision which
confronted him few yards away. Even
his impulses, when they came, we're
mixed. He hesitated whether to bend over
the suffering victim or to spring forward
in pursuit of the presupposed assassin.
1t was the latter who by speech changed
the tableau into q living drama.
Stay where you are, SIR" he ordered
sternly. This affair concerns no one
save those who have taken part in it. II
you attempt to follow me. you do so at
your own PERIL
The voice was calm and we'll bred. The
face of the man vas pale, clean shaven,
Tesolute. The hand which held that
small revolver was like a line of steel.
Nevertheless, Knox, released from the
momentary paralysis OF amazement,
threw his umbrella and cigarette and
started to spring forward. His leg, how
ever, was caught by the convulsive fin
gers Of the man upon the pavement.
Don't leave me-" he sobbed Don't
leave me.''
Knox stopped downward. His own
words sounded to him ridiculous. What
has happened?' he demanded Has that
fellow shot your
The mans lips parted. His face was
distorted with pain. He struggled for
speech and failed. Knox looked UP once |
more. but the street was empty. He drew |
a small whistle from his chain, and blew |
it.
Take me, home, IL you can," the |
wounded man faltered, opening his eyes |
once more-.I7 Dorchester Gardens
AS though the effort of speech had been |
too much for him, he swooned away. |
Knox, supporting the PROSTATE figure |
across his knee, blew his whistle furious |
ly. The man was in evening dress. ap-
parently just under middle age. fiorid. |
and heavily built. His clothes seemed |
good, although they were almost unrec-
ognizable now by reason of the mud in |
which he had lain. A few yards away a I
silk hat rolled into the gutter. Once more /
he opened his eyes. I'm DONE" he NUT
tered a little vaguely. "123s-''
The words seemed to flicker away upon
his lips. Knox bent closer over him.
You'll be all right he said encourag-
ingly. Hold on a few minutes. There's
some one coming
Help arrived at last. Three policemen
appeared. hurrying from different parts
of the square. A taxicab, too, drew I'D
by the curb. One of the policemen re-
lieved Knox of his burden. Rapidly he
stood up and told them what he knew Of
the affair. An inspector took charge of
the proceedings. The wounded man.
from whom there now came no signs of
life, was taken off in the taxicab with
one Of the policemen to st. Georges Hos
pital. The inspector and the other police
man searched the neighborhood fruitless-
ly. They then drove off to the nearest
police station, where Knox made his
At his own suggestion, an in
spector was sent back with him to the
house where he had been dining, and
where he was readily identified The
same man then left him at his rooms,
where the evidences Of Knox's respecta-
Dility and the quality of his whisky
proved alike convincing. As soon as he
was alone, Knox rang up the hospital.
After a few moments delay he received
! reply. The gentleman who had been
'rought in with wound in his chest had :
He'd Immediately after his arrival, with =
nut having recovered consciousness.
Knox put down the receiver with tremb-
ing fingers. He found himself curiously
Effected by the result of this strange ad- e,
'enture 1t was easy enough to read of
hese things-a very different matter to
laye borne q part. however small, in such |.
tragedy. He glanced at the clock. It
vas a quarter past one. After a few mo-
nents' hesitation he descended into the
treet, called a taxicab. and was driven !.
'ack to Culmore Square. A small crowd -.
Z people had collected upon the pave
nent close to where the affair had hap
'ened Knox, with a small electric torch
n his hand, crossed the road and walked
lowly along q path which bordered some
ardens toward the spot where he had r
ancied that he had seen a third figure
isappear. He walked backward and
onward twice for the distance of about
fly PAGES. The third time he caught
ght of something cleaning In the gut c
er and picked it up. 1t was a rather II
orn manicure file with an ivory handle. n
[e thrust it into his pocket and. salts Z
ed that there was nothing else to be dis c