The Tomahawk., 1916-04-20
He must nave been shot,

And certainly not with that. It's a
very small illuminate of mercury shell,
and never held lead. No. The man
was down, if not dead, before that
went Off"
Average Jones was now at the Win
dow. Taking a piece OF paper from
his pocket he brushed the contents OF
the window sill upon it. A dozen dead
flies rolled upon the paper. He ex-
amined them thoughtfully, cast them
aside and turned back to the mana
ger.
1T isn't probable that anyone got
into the room from either SIDE
Impossible said the manager.
Here Mr.. Thomas Colvin Mcintyre
arrived with flushed face.
you are right, Average" he said.
''The same man had reserved rooms
at the Nederstrom for'Telfik Bey.'
whats the location?"
Tenth floor; north side. He had
insisted on both details. Nos. 1915,
1917"
"Um-m-m. What across the street,"
How should I know? You didn't
tel me to :-sk."
cts the Glenargan office building,
just opened, Mr.. JONES'" volunteered
the manager.
Average Jones turned again to the
window, closed it and fastened his
handkerchief in the catch. Leave
that there he directed the manager.
Don't let anyone into this room. I'm
off,"
Stopping to telephone, Average
Jones ascertained that there were no
vacant offices on the tenth floor, south
side of the Glenargan apartment build
ing, facing the Nederstrom hotel. The
last one had been let two weeks be-
fore to-this he ascertained by judi
cious questioning-a dark, foreign
gentleman who was an expert on rugs.
Well satisfied, the investigator
crossed over to the skyscraper across
from the Palatia.
He entered the Office. In it were
basket. The basket was crammed
with newspapers. One of them was
the Hotel Register. Average Jones
found Telfik Bey's name, as he had
expected, in it's roster. The newspa-
pers, mainly copies Of the Evening
Register, seemed to contain, upon
cursory examination, nothing germane
to the issue. But, scattered among
them, the searcher found number of
fibrous chips. They were short and
thick; such chips as might be made
by cutting a bamboo pole into cross
lengths, convenient for carrying.
1.-THE spirit wand,'" observed Aver
age Jones with gusto.
Next, he turned his attention to the
desk. It was bare, except for a few
scraps of paper and some writing i'm
Elements. But in crevice there
shone glimmer of glass. With a
careful finger nail Average Jones
pushed out small phial. 1t had evil
IDENTIFY been sealed with lead. Moth
ing was in it. Itn discoverer leaned
back and contemplated it with stiff
fened eyelids. For, upon it's tiny, i'm
provised label was scrawled the "Mer-
cy sign; mysterious before, now all
but incredible.
For several minutes Average Jones
sat bemused. When, only a moment
before five, the Advisor entered his
office Bertram, who was waiting
with Mcintyre, held out a newspaper
to him.
Cast your eye on that" said he.
"The Register fairly reeks with freaks
lately
Average Jones read aloud.
FORMERLY "a BEL
laire-Send me present location; TURK
ish Triumph about smoked out. Mercy
Box "a, Office.
Its my work." observed Average
Jones blandly.
The visitors stared at him in ST.
lence.
Rather a forlorn hope, but some
times bluff will co." he continued.
Are you so infantile as to suppose
that this murderer will give informa-
ton about HIMSELF" demanded Nc
Intyre.
Average Jones smiled, drew letter
from his pocket. 1.-The advertisement
worked to a charm Mr.. Smith gives
his address in this, and intimates that
I may call upon him."
Young Mr.. Mcintyre rose.
You're going to see him, them?
AT once"
think there1l be excitement ?"
asked Bertram languidly. I'D like to
go along
Across town and far up the East
side whizzed the car, over the bridge
that leads away from Manhattan is
land to the north, and through quiet
streets as little known to the average
New Yorker as are Hongkong and
Caracas. In front of frame house it
stopped. On side porch, over which
bright roses swarmed like children
clambering into hospital lap, sat a
man with gray face. He was tall
and slender, and his hair, dingy
black, was already showing worn
streaks where the color had faded.
At Average Jones he gazed with un-
concealed surprise.
"Ah; it is you!'' he exclaimed.