Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-23

room with a dead man, 1 would be
ruined!"
THAT cuts a whole lot of ice along
side a murder" snapped the captain.
Putting a few sordid dollars above
a human life!"
A black scowl came to his face as
he saw the blind nan smile at the
your sc devilish smart you've got the
whole thing solved? ?" he sneered.
We start pretty even on this case,
captain" There was no trace of ram
cor in the problemist's tone; but the
tolerance there was maddening. For
years Cotton n the police had been
sworn enemies. The paid investi-
gators of the city always resented the
blind mans presence at the scene of
a crime. Time after time he had
shown them the falsity of their prem
ises, and his reasoning had led hi l.
unerringly to the solution of the myl.
terry when the police detectives mad
been circling wildly. OF all the hun
dreds of detectives and policemt n
whom Cotton knew, but a scant ha.f
dozen or so ever appreciated his abil-
ity or help. The others, with the su-
periority of professionals in all lines,
went out Of their way to confuse the
blind man whenever possible. So Cap
tain McMann curve his lips in a
WiuST sheer as ne SalQ.
w won't be hat way long. That
luck of our can't last forever"
"A race for the solution ?" It was
but a quiet question, but there was a
challenge in it that the captain too
up instantly. He nodded.
TRY out YOU fool theories" It
was his turn to adopt the tolerant
tone, and he took full advantage of
1t. This looks as though it might be
a real case, and a thing for practical
men, not amateurs"
Very we'll" Cotton rose, with an
assumed languidness that concealed
the physical and mental t~enseness of
a hound held in leash the instant be-
fore release. You haven't any OBJ
1ectlons, 1 hope, to my waiting till
the coroner arrives ?"
Go as far as you like-as far as
you like" granted Captain McMann,
with magnanimity.
You aren't really going into my
diningroom while all the people are
there?" Manager Carl had come to
life again.
Come ont" Captain McMann said
~orusquely as he started for the door.
I'll get a line on this thing before
the cor gets here" With his hand
on the knob, he turned, as he remem-
bered something. Like to know how
| got wise SO quick, wouldn't You,
Colton?' he asked. with a grin of
knowledge withheld.
A slight motion of the problemist's
hand dismissed the possibility.
"Immaterial," he declared. Salient
facts are all I ever worry about. I
haven't h police practicability, you
see."
"Oh! OOH" The two EXPLANATIONS
were almost a chuckle. Wise to the
fact that l wasn't going to hand up,
eh 2" ~
Something like that" Cotton rose
n took from his pocket the strange
note reserving the table. Here's
that papyrus table reservation, Mr..
CARL I'm through with it."
The superior grin faded from the
captains ace with a ~suddenness that
opened his mouth and caused a gasp
ing sound to come from his lips be-
fore ne jumped forward with out
stretched hand.
Let's see that! Give 1t here!"
The blind man extended it politely.
Looks exactly like the one you got
doesn't it. captain ?" he queried.
The captains Eyes seemed fairly to
jump from the note to search the ex-
p~ressionless face of the blind man.
How did o know that?" he de-
manded, anger in his voice.
You have Just told me. Merely
NAO PtOOA - OllS VI Tie lIlGOIleS Vol
consider so uselessly foolish"
Clever" Carl put in the compli-
ment excitedly, evidently not ill-pleas-
ed at anything that reflected on the
police captain.
Cotton paid no attention, but went
on: To save your practical men the
trouble of tracing hat curious paper
through a hundred mills, I'll tell you
that 1t is papyrus, made of crushed
| raa6S fhaf ornuy nn1U ~ ETo,r1A ~
terial like it for conveying the written
word hasn't been manufactured for
two thousand years"
HUH" The captains grunt was
suspicious, his face still showed the
flush of anger the managers exclam-
alton had brought. why are you so
anxious to give this information p"
Merely so hat we can start out
even, that's ALL" Thornley, Colton's
tone was impatient. I've tried to
help 0 and your men out several
times, and you've always taken this
supercilious attitude. I welcome this
opportunity to match my wits with
your"-the pause before the next word
was pregnant with meaning-"prac-
tlcaoillty.' He dropped his cigaret
in an ash tray on the desk, locating II
with his fingers without turning his
head. If you want to get ahead of
the coroner you'd best hustle" he oh
served quietly. This is Bierbauer's
district. and his car with the loose
chain drive he never seems to have
time to fix has just drawn up to the
curb outside"
Again Captain McMann shot him a
suspicious look, and some subtle sixth
sense of the blind man seemed to in
stantly detect it.
Another of the papyrus notes." he
made answer simply.
When get time, I'm goin' to find
out now much you know" promised
Captain McMann grimIy, as he onened
the door, silencing Manager CarI'e
unvoiced protest without a single look