Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-06-08

"And If ! do happen to possess such
a key and should use it-what them"
Bunting and I would be under the
painful necessity Of arresting you
that's all. A man of your reputation
who enters a building like this one at
this hour of the night is, at least, a
suspicious character. Get me?"
"Quite so, Muchmore. But you
don't get me-"
Crewe turned on his heel, but q
sharp command from Muchmore
stopped him when he would have
gone away again.
'Wait!" the lieutenant ordered;
and Crewe saw that he held an auto.
matte in his hand to enforce obeii.
ence.
"Well, Mr.. Muchmore, what now3"
Crewe asked.
'Ill trouble you for that key Hand
1t over"
as this a hold-up, with the char
acters reversed, officer?" Crewe in.
quired ironically.
Call it what you like, but hand
over that key"
| Suppose l refuse?'
"Then We'll take you in no matter
what happens"
| "Muchmore, for man of un-
doubted genius in your chosen call
ing, you certainly can do the biggest
fool things of anybody l know"
Hand over that key, Crewe. I'm
not going to lose my temper again."
THANK Heaven for that"
Crewo took the key from one OF
his pockets, held it between his
thumb and finger for moment, and
then deliberately tossed it to Bunting,
who, being surprised by the act,
missed catching it, and it fell rafting
to the pavement.
"Pick it up, Sam, and find out if it
fits the lock-" Muchmore directed,
still keeping Crewe covered with his
gun.
1t did, of course, and presently the
door swung open; and Bunting, hold
ing it partly ajar, waited.
"Crewe," said Muchmore, 81 ought
to arrest you for having the key in
your possession, but l guess you
would have no difficulty in proving in
the morning how it came into your
possession, so Pm going to let you
go-with warning. / don't know
what the game is that you are playing
but / suspect it Is a deep one-and
Pm going to find out what it is, too.
There is man upstairs waiting
for you who can tell me, and l am
going up there now to ask him. You
have got something on him. Black
mail of some sort, suppose. Now, get
back to your dive where you belong,
and thank your stars that We permit
ted you to go there. Your race is
about run, Crewe, take it from me-"
He turned and the two officers dis.
appeared into the building, locking
the door after them; and strangely
enough Crewe laughed aloud, and
with genuine amusement when they
had gone.
Thea he wheeled and hurried
around the corner toward a drug
store that was located two blocks dis
tant
He knew that those two officers
both large and heavy men, would
climb those twelve flights of stairs Ia
the top of the studio building none
too rapidly, and did not doubt that
he would have ample time for what
he wished to accomplish.
Crewe shut himself in a telephone
booth in the drug store and called
the number that the artist Birge Nor
eauX claimed as his own.
Hello" he said when he received
a reply, which was almost at once
You recognize my voice? Very we'll
I was obliged to give up my key to
two officers who We're waiting fol
me at the door. They are now climb
} ing the stairs to the studio.
: Hurry down to t. , studio door
| and when they ring wait a suitable
. time and then demand to know wLc
is there. Make thom believe it is
MoreauX who is talking, but refuse
! to admit them. Tell tho to go tc
the devil, if you want to. When they
sc away follow them down the stairs
and as soon as they pass outside a
the rear door fash light to m;
: through the front door and open il
and let me in. That's all"
Whosoever has climbed twelve
flights of stairs at one inning vii
comprehend something of the condi
? tion, mental and physical, of the tw'
, officers when at la thu stood before
. the door of artists studio.
, Breathless, exhausted. weakened
il the true sense of the expression
they waited there several moment!
before touching the button of thu
electric bell. They had snapped ol
! h light in each hallway as they as
) cended; they intended to snap then
, of again when they returned.
: Crewe had counted on that ide
when he gave that direction over tn