Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-01

The newcomer wpN n NOlnRtGn man. 2
musician. who had lust come from a con.
cert and was on his way to the club al
the end of tho street. Probably. had he
have been greater than his l%ncredulity. As
ii was, however. he gazed at Tavernake
for n moment. bianklv.
.rooL ho.a, 10 s.,d atbts doesn't
so,ng y - i,,oI,, stor,, Of yo,ira. Won
i,ya, - 'NS "
"o'
= don't care Whether ~ nkeiy Ua
not, IaVernake ansWereu noViS !
true! The knites N tne todu
there-lt rel up against the ralI'hsS'
They crossed the road together ana
searched. There were no signs of the
weapon. Tavernake peered over the rail-
ings. Is
.vybo, NV fr;e,d struck tho other man
ord t,ytstod hin, cyarr he exploined. "the
knife seemed TO NV I'M into the air: It
| n,irht even have reached the gardens.''
He comnanion turned slowly away.
well. its no use looking down there
for n - he ren,arted. I'VE might try the
dnor II Vol, like"
Thev learned their weight against It,
hammered at the nanels. and waited. The
door was fast cIoaed and no replv came,
The musician shrugged his shoulders and
nrepared to depnrt after one more glance
at Tnyernakn. half suspicious, half ques-
tioninp.
III vou think worth while" he said,
.tvou had better fetch the notice nerbaps.
If Won take INV advice, though. I thinK
I mould go home and forget ali about
iA
He passed on, leaving Tavernakc
speerhIess Tho idea that people might
NOT believe his story had never seriously
occurred to him. Yet all of a sudden
he began TO Doubt It himself. He stepped
back into the road and looked up at the
windows of the house-dark, uncurtained,
revealing no sign of life or habitation.
Had he really taken that walk with
P%ritchard, stood on this spot with him
only a minute or two ago? Then he
picked up the police whistle and he had
no longer my doubts, The whole seems
was before him again, more wildly than
ever. Even at this moment. P%ritchard
might he in need of helpl
He turned and walked sharply to the
corner of the Terrace, lnding himself al
most Immediately face to face with II
policeman.
you must come into this house with
me at once!" Tavernake exclaimed, point
ing backwards. "a friend of mine was at
lacked here lust now: a man tried to
stab him. They are both in that house.
The man ran away and my friend fol-
him. The door is closed and no
one answers" !
The constable looked at Tavernake very
much as the musician had done.
do either of them live there, sir?' he
"How should ] KNOW Tavernake an
3wered. TT man sprang upon my
friend from behind. He had a knife in
his hand-I saw it. My friend threw him
lyer and he escaped into that house. !
rhey are both there now" +
(which house is it, sir?'' the policeman
inquired,
They were standing almost in front of
t, The gate was open and Tavernake
Deat against the panels with the fiat OF
lis hand. Then, with a cry of triumph,
lie stopped down and picked something up
rom a crack in the tagged stones.
The key!' he cried. Come on, quickw
He thrust it into the lock and turned
t. the door swung smoothly open. The
,oliceman laid his hand upon Tavernake's
Look here he said, "let's ave that
tory of yours again, a little more clear
y, WHO is 1t that's in this house?'
Five minutes ago." Tavernake began,
p~ealing rapidly, Il met a man in the
trand whom I know slightly-Pritchard,
n American detective. He said that he
ad something to say to me and he asked
e TO walk round with him to a club in
his Terrace. We were in the middle of
ne road there. talking, when a man
prang at him; he must nave come UP be-
ind quite noiselessly. The man had n
nife III his hand. My friend threw him
cad over heels-it was some trick of
have seen it lone at the Poly
,chnic, He fell in front of this door
hich must either have been ajar or else
2me one who was waiting must have let
i'm in. He crawled through and my
followed him.. The door was
ahmed in my face"
How long ago was this?" the police
an asked
mot much more than five minutes =
avernake answered. ,
The policeman coughed. =
IT'S a very queer story, sir" :
It's true!" Tavernake declared. fierce ,
you and 1 rave got to search this &.
luse-" =
The policeman nodded :
There's no harm in that, sir. any '
ay." y
He flashed his lantern around the hall :
lfurnis ed, with paper hanging from the :
alls. fhen they began to enter the ;
'oms, one by one. Nowhere was there 9
~ sign of occupation, From floor to i
Tor they passed, in grim silence, In n
e front chamber of the attic was Il .
mp bedstead. rHo or three humble h
'ticles of furniture, and a small stove, ~
'~Caretaker's kit" the policeman NUT 4
red. Nothing seems TO have been a
ied for some time" n
They descended the stairs again.
You say you saw the two men enter y
is house, str?' the policeman remarked \
'ubtfully, r.
II did" T~avernake declared. There is h
doubt about It," Y
The back entrances are all properly :,
ak cd - fha nnliRamAn nninEa1 nTEF = ATAaA -