The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-12-04

But in justice to the mental capacity
of Soames it must be admitted that he
had not entirely overlooked such a pos
sibilitY as this; he had simply refrain
ed, for the good of his health, from
contemplating it.
Long before he had observed with
interest that should an emergency
arise (such as fire. means of egress
had been placed by the kindly archi-
tect adjacent to his bedroom window.
Thus his departure on the night Of
the murder was not the fruit Of sud-
den scheme, but of one we'll matured.
Closing and locking his bedroom door,
Soomes threw out upon the bed the en-
tire contents of his trunk, selected
those things which he considered indis-
pensable and those which might con-
stitute clews He hastily packed his
grip, and with last glance about tie
room and some seconds of breathless
listening at the door he attached to the
handle long piece of cord, which at
some time had been tied about his
trunk, and, gently opening the window,
lowered the grip into the courtyard be-
meath. The light he had already ex-
tinguished, and with tie conviction
dwelling in his bosom that in some
way he was become accessory to a
murder-that he was a man shortly to
be pursued by the police Of the civ
ilized world-he descended the skeleton
lift shaft, picked up his grip and pass
ed out under the archway into the lane
at the back Of Palace mansions and
st. Andrews mansions.
He did not proceed in the direction
which would have brought him out
into the square, but elected to emerge
through the other end. At exactly the
moment that Inspector Dunbar rushed
into his vacated room Mr.. Soames,
grip in hand, was mounting to the top
OF southwark bound bus at the corr
ner of Parliament street.
He was conscious Of need for re-
Fiction He longed to sit in some Sc
Guided spot in order to think. At
present his brain was mere whirligig,
and all things about him seemingly
danced to the same tune. Stationary
objects were become unstable in the
eyes Of Soames, and the solid earth,
burst free of its mornings, no longer
afforded him safe foothold. There
was humming in his ears, and mist
foated before his eyes. By the time
that the motor bus was come to the
south side Of the bridge Soames had
succeeded in slowing down his mental
roundabout in some degree, and now
he began grasping at the flying ideas
which the diminishing violence of his
brainstorm enabled him vaguely to
perceive. ~
At Remington gate the JUS made a
halt. Soames glanced at the clock on
the corner. 1t was close upon a. m.
Where in heavens name should he go?
What a fool he had been to come to
this district where he was known!
Stay! There was one man in London
surely who must be almost as keenly
interested in the fate of Luke Soames
as Luke Soames himself Indianapolis
Soames sprang up and hurried off the
bus: No public telephone box would
be available at that hour, but dire
need spurred his slow mind and also
lent him assurance. He entered the
office of the taxicab depot on the next
corner and from the man whom he
found in charge solicited and obtained
the favor of using the telephone Lift.
ing the receiver, he asked for East
1S642.
The seconds that elapsed now were
as hours of deathly suspense to the
man at the telephone. If the number
should be, engaged! If the exchange
could get no reply!
"Hullo! said a nasal voice. "Whc
is ftp
''It is s6ames, and I want to speak
to Mr.. King"
He lowered his tone as much as pos.
sible, almost whispering his own name.
He knew the voice which had answer
ed him; 1t was the same that he always
heard when ringing up East 1892. But
would Gianapolis come to the tele-
phone? Suddenly
SIS that Soames?'' spoke the sing
song voice Of the Greek.
eyes, yes!''
where are your
Eat Remington"
Are they following your?
NO, don't think So At least, what
am to do? Where am I to go?"
Get to Globe aroad, near Stratford
bridge, east, without delay. But what
ever you do, see that you are not fol-
Lowell. Globe road is the turning inn
mediately beyond the railway station.
1t is not too late, perhaps, to get a
bus or tram for some part of the way.
at any rate. But even if the last is
gone don't take a cab-walk. When
you get to Globe road pass down on
the left hand side and, if necessary.
right to the end. Make sure you are
not followed, then walk back again.
You will receive signal from an open
door Come right in. Goodhv''
TO Be Continuec)