The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-23
Copyright, 1916 by Lippihcott's Magazine.
Copyright, 1915, by Mcbride, Mast & Go.

IeBride, Mast & Go.
as the clock was Ginning the last
stroke Of midnight"
! ssThen you would have walked up the
street from an easterly direction?"
! Certainly"
did you meet any one or anything?''
] "a taxicab, empty-for the hood was
lowered passed me as l turned the
corner. There was no other vehicle in
the street, and no person"
"You don't know from which door
the cab Gamer"
"As / turned the corner" replied
| Excl, 81 heard the man starting his en-
CINE, although when actually saw the
| cab 1t was in motion, but judging by
| the sound to which 1 refer, the cab had
! been stationary, if not at the door of
Palace mansions, certainly at that Of
the next block, st. Andrews man
sfonS."
Ibid you hear or see anything G e?''
Il saw nothing whatever. But just
| as I approached the street door heard
a peculiar whistle, apparently proceed.
ing from the gardens in the center of
| the square. / attached no importance
! to it at the time"
"What kind of whistler"
| II have forgotten the actual notes,
but the effect was very odd in some
way
I'm what wayy'
| IAN impression of this sort is not
entirely reliable, inspector, but it
struck me as oriental"
"Ah!'' said Dunbar and reached out
the long arm for his notebook.
| "Can / be Of any further assistance? ~
said Excl, glancing at his watch.
you had entered the hallway and
were about to enter your own fiat
when the voices Of DR.. Cumberly and
Mr.. Leroux attracted your attention."
II actually had the key in my hand,''
replied Excl.
did you actually have the key in
the lock?'
.eLet me think" unused Excl, and he
took out bunch of keys and dangled
them refectively before his eyes. mo.
| was fumbling for the right key when
1 heard the voices above me-"
"But were you facing your door,"
mo" averred Excl, perceiving the
drift Of the inspectors inquiries. 81
was facing the stairway the whole
time, and, although it was in dark
ness, there is street lamp Immediate
" outside on the pavement, and I can
swear positively that no one descend
i ed-that there was no one in the hall
1 nor on the stair except Mr.. Leroux
and DR.. Cumberly."
"Have brandy and soda?" suggest
ed DR.. Cumberly, his eyes turned upon
the pathetic face of the novelist.
But Leroux shook his head YEARLY.
go ahead, Inspector he said. 1T
am anxious to tell you I'll know.
God knows an. anxious 10 tell you"
A sound was heard Of key being
inserted in the lock of door.
Four pairs of curious eyes were
turned toward the entrance lobby
when the door opened, and a sleek
man of medium height, clean shaven,
but with his hair cut low upon the
| cheek bones so as to give the impress.
sion Of short side whiskers entered in
manner at once furtive and servile.
| AFFECT terror was written upon his
features and for moment the idea OF
fight appeared to suggest itself ur
gently to him, but finally he took 8
step forward toward the study.
| who's this?' snapped Dunbar with
out removing his leonine eyes from
the newcomer.
sit is Soames" came the weary voic,
of Leroux.
"Butler?"
Eyes"
where's he been?''
81 don't know. He remained ou
without my permission
"He did, eh?"
Inspector Dunbar thrust forth a lon,
finger at the shrinking form in tn,
doorway.
"Mr. Eoames," he said, 'you will b,
going to your own room and waiting
there until I ring for you"
Eyes, SIR said Soames, holding Iii
hat in both hands and speaking husk
lily. Eyes, sir; certainly, sir"
He crossed the lobby and disap
peared.
~There is no other way out, is
there?' inquired the detective, glanc
ing at DR.. Cumberly.
"There is no other way" was tn.
reply, "but surely you don't suspect
II would suspect the archbishop O.
Westminster" snapped Dunbar, 1T h.
came in like that! Now, sir''-he turn
ed to Leroux-"you were alone her,
toni"ht?'
&c ute alone, inspector. The truth is