The Washington herald., 1915-12-19
Copyright. lab.)

10 see Inspector Grimsby walk into
my rooms.
1--WE just run up from Cresping b,
the carly train," he began abruptly
you've heard all about the murder
of course
pointed to my newspaper, con
spicuous upon the front page o
which was:
THE MURDER AT CRESPIE
HALL"
"Ah. vcs," he said, abscntly. "Ncll
I've been sent down. and to tell yor
the white and unsullicd truth, I'm ii
a knot"
What arc the difficulties" | ash
ed.
"Tbere's only one" he raped back
"Nho did it,"
at hooks to me very clear case
against Ryder, the eN-butlcr.'
so it did to me-" he agrccd-"un'
til | got down there! Id got a war
rant in my pocket all ready. Then
began to have doubts!
What do YOU propose to do"
Grimsby hesitatcd.
We'll" Inc replied, at wouldn't dc
any good to make mistake in Z
murder case; so what | should like
10 do would be to get another opin,
ion-not Official, OF courser
glanced across at him.
"Mr. Morris Klaw;"
He nodded.
saw through Grimsby's plan. He
wanted me to invite Morris klaw to
look into the Crcsping murder case
in order that he (Grimsby) might
reap any official benefit accruing
without loss of sclf-estcem! | laugh
ed
"All right, Crimsby" I said. "Since
he has made no move, voluntarily, ii
may be that the case does not inter
est him; but VIC can try"
Accordingly, We took the train for
Mapping, and as laggard shn began
to show up the dingincsS and the
dirtincss of that locality, sought out
a certain shop whose locale | shall
no more closely describe than by
saying that it is close to Mapping
Old Stairs.
One turns down a narrow court,
with a blank wall on the right, and
a nailcd-up doorway and boarded-up
window on the left.
The court is cul-de-sac. The
shop OF Morris Klaw occupies the
blind end. Some broken marble ped
cstals stand upon the footway,
among scatlcss chairs, dilapidated
chests, and litter OF books, stuffed
birds, canoes. inkstands, swords,
lamps. and other undesirable rub
bish. A black doorway yawns amid
the litter.
Our eyes. at first. failed to pene-
trate the gloom. All about moved
rustling suggestions OF animal activ-
ity. The indescribablc odor of old
furniture assailcd our nostrils, to-
gether with an equally indescribable
odor OF avian, reptilian and rodent
lIfc.
Morris Klaw! Morris klawl The
devils come for you0
Thus, the scraping voice OF the par
rot. \ door opened, admitting a lit
tic more light and Morris klaw. The
latter was fully dressed; whereby !
mean that he wore his dilapidated
capcd black cloak, his black silk muf-
flcr and that rarest relic OF his un-
savory reliquary, the flattopped
brown bowler.
In that inadequate light his vel
lum face looked older, his shaggy
brows, his mcagrc beard, more tone
less. than cvcy. Through the gold
trimmed pincc-nez he pcered ior a
moment downward from his great
height. He removed the bowler.
Good morning. Mr.. Searles! Good
morning, Inspector Grimsby! ] am
lust from Paris. 1t is SO good OF you
TO call so early 10 tell me all about
the poor murdered man OF Creeping
Good morning. Good morning.
The contrast of entering the inner
room was startling. Morris klaw
placed his hat upon the desk, and
from it took out the scent spray
without which lie never travels. He
played the contents upon his high
yellow forchead-flling tho air with
the refreshing odor OF vcrbena.
Grimsby cleared his throat. "Iou
will have read"
.Ah, my friend" Morris klaw held
up a long, tapering, white hand. "As
though YOU do not know that | never
confuse my poor brain with those
foolish papers. No, | have not read
my friend!'
"Oh!" said Grimsby something
taken back. Then | shall have 10
tell you the family history"
Isis klaw entered.
From her small hat. with its flam-
ingo-like plume, to her dainty shoes
she was redolcnt of the Rue dc la
Paix. She wore an amazingly daring
toilette; | can only term it study
in flame tones. A less beautiful
woman could never have essayed
such a scheme.
Inspector Grimsby greeted her
with embarrassed admiration.
I'VE must hurry, father! said
the girl.
Morris klaw reclaimed his archaic
bowler.
MIR. Searles and Inspector