Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-23


after the riot last night. Since Mike had
done all the work, had to put him in a
position where he'd squeal on Robert. Of
course l thought could bring it off last
night, but l didn't know quite enough,
and didn't guess how carefully Robert
had planned the whole campaign.
I'D figured, of course, that the attack
had come from behind the scenes on
the side where Carlton fell That heavy
mantel makes an angle in the scenery.
l saw Mike slip in there just before
the big scene, and | was sure | had
him. The main trouble was, didn't dare
show myself to him. had to jump him at
the very moment he was making the at
tack. stepped around when Wilkins hit
his line, and got just one glimpse of Mr..
Mike. He had his back to me, so fortu-
nately he didn't see me. He had the
right-hand flap of his coat hunched up
above his shoulder and pressed against
the scenery. His left hand was fumbling
inside the mantel.. was just about to
jump him when-bang! The riot broke.
The lights went out. OF course the beggar
had strung his wire along the roof Of the
cellar. I had the whole thing now, and l
knew could bring it off tonight if Will
kins wasn't done for. That staggered me,
and pretty much forgot everything else
until I'd run on the stage and found him
still living"
II suspected drug at the FIRST" Quaile
said, "but couldn't see, and don't un-
derstand now, how it was used. You say
Mike held the right-hand flap of his coat
against the scenery?'
Eyes, so knew it was in that pocket.
You recollect how Wilkins came up here,
night before last, and told us about that
time simply dropped out of his life?"
Naturally. The same drug was re-
sponsible?'
eyes. That started me after the drug
hot-foot. questioned wilkins about the
cab-driver that brought him up here, and
he couldn't describe him, because it was a
cold night and the man had had his face
muff1ed and his hat low over his eyes. But
he remembered that the fellow had got
down from his seat, opened the door, and
helped him in. He couldn't recall any,
thing after that until he was turning out
of the street your apartments on, feeling
queer. 1t was easy enough for Mike to
have cab handy there. There's no
stand near, and Wilkins would be sure to
pick it up. OF course Mike drove him
around until the effect of the stuff had
worn off. And it nearly worked. If
hadn't been able to go to Wilkins and
tell him what we were up against, there
would have been no revival of 'Coward's
Fare He'd had about enough.
aVOU remember, Quaile, I took the
doctor home from your place last
night. He was all worked up over the
case. He was stumped by Wilkins re-
actions, as he insisted on calling them.
When | told him about the affair in the
cab and Cartoons death, and all knew
and suspected, he got an idea. You see,
it's his business to have ideas about drugs.
He took me into his library and went
through lot of murderous books. Say,
l never knew there was so much learning
in the world. Finally he put his fingers
together and said it might be hydro
cyanic acid. He doped out theory that
the analysis has verified"
"That's dangerous and powerful stuff,
isn't it?" Quaile asked
$50 powerful" McHugh answered,