Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-23

he can't get back there before we do"
But Vertigan?" said Lord Arthur dry
ly. why should Vertigan-Mr. Murray,
don't think you quite understand what
this means"
ut means a good deal, my lord, that
we don't understand"
THAT my cousin Dick Meriet is still
alive?"
"oh. don't think that, my lord"
We'll, who else?"
II do not know, my lord-as yet"
you think Vertigan does not know
that Dick Meriet is dead, and they ar
ranged this between them before Dick
Meriet left England"
"Mr Vertigan does not know, my lord.
He was in the headmaster's house when
Russell went there with the news"
well, it's a rum job-don't you think
we might have the light?"
The detective switched on the electric
light again and Lord Arthur examined the
holes in the windows. The glass had
starred slightly round them. but the holes
We're as clean as If they had been cut in
slice of cheese.
zone of those new rifles" he said
very high velocity. I've got a rifle my
self that'd make a hole just like that"
Where do you keep it. my lord2"
queried the detective.
"Oh, in my rooms in town. l should
say the fellow who fired that shot had
some idea of shooting. We were going
thirty miles an hour, and he must have
been some way on, for heard no report"
Accident, do you think, my lord?"
queried the inspector.
HIN, hardly. Folk don't so about fir
ing off rifles at this time of night. wish
you'd let me stop the car, Mr.. Murray.
don't see how we are to get any clues
now"
II know the place" said Murray rather
curtly. 'I could tell you to within yard
or two where we were when the bullet
struck the window"
IT don't even know which side 1t was
fired FROM" said the inspector.
Lord Arthur examined the two holes.
"It was fired from our left" he said
from the direction of the river"
YES" said Mr.. Murray. II know that.
The hole on the right is slightly nearer
the top of the window. Tho ground slopes
down to the left. Is that how you argued
it, my lord?''
mo" said Lord Arthur rather con-
temptuously. "I ought to know by this
time on which side bullet strikes an OBJ
Ject. Now, where shall tell the man to
drive to?"
1.-THE schoolhouse," said Russell.
me" said Murray sharply. "Verti-
gan's lodgings first and then the school
house-2O Moon street"
LOru arthur put ms InOuln 10 lno
speaking tube and gave the chauffeur the
address. A few minutes later the car
drew up outside the house.
who's to go in" queried Lord Ar
thur, "and what excuse Is to be made
for calling at this hour?"
"You can leave that to me. my lord"
said the detective, with n smile. He
picked up his bag. alighted from the car
ard knocked at the door OF the house. 1t
was opened by an elderly woman in
black.
"Mr. vertigan in7" queried Murray.
Eyes. sir; what name shall say?"
The detective gave the woman his card
and a minute later was shown upstairs
to a room on the first floor. Vertigan
was lying on q sofa in front of the fire.
He showed no surprise as Murray en-
tered the room, but rose to his feet with
some difficulty,
"Sorry to trouble you so late as this,
STR" said the detective. but I under
stand that you knew the late Richard
MeTet"
Yes, certainly. know he's dead.
Well. he's no loss. Sit down, won't you?
I'll lie on the sofa. If you'll excuse me,
I've been rather seedy all day"
THE changeable weather, sir, I've no
doubt. l have certain things here OF