Charlevoix county herald., 1918-03-15
tiona. BeaIdes. lolr paper needs yod.'

lions. Besides. your paper needs you"
"Forget that last" ! said dryiy.
"rve no paper Now, what have for
an inquest or examination that either
you or Holme can't give?"
Marcus hesitated. each one OF these
people you have found" he said final
ly; but IL wasn't all he was thinking.
Correct; found 'em and left 'em
Just as they were." answered
promptly. "And you on the spot Q
few minutes afterward to see just
how they were found. Holme here
with me in this last case. too. Bosh.
Marcus! You wouldn't stall sea
voyage for that"
"Pm afraid Wen have to ask you to
postpone It." he said finally. $3.50
TASK and be damned!" cried an.
grily. Il won't postpone it-not for
a minute"
"Then we'll have to detain you. Gil.
more" declared the sergeant, rising.
ARREST me. you mean" -l
II didn't say that. Detain's the
word"
eth be a good deal more than, o
word that II hold me back" said sar.
castically. 1T II have to be chains
and bars. and a mighty good legal
reason on top OF them. Sit down.
Marcus. and let's find out just where
we are" '
The police sergeant had his hat and
. determination.
I'm going back to report. Gilmore"
he-said. land l am telling you now
that you are not to leave the city
without my permission"
"Sit down. you idiot" cried. Civ.
Ing him a shove that landed him In
his chair "Sit there and talk sense
III you can! I'm no drooling babe to
be told what I can or can't do by an
insensate ass! You give reasons and
III listen to them"
you've given the reasons yourself.
Gilmore" said Marcus. q bit less per.
emptory. you've reasoned II out SO
well believe you. Three people have
been shot to death on this floor. and
in each instance you are the only per
son awake. with keys to their rooms
and q gun that fits their bullets. II
F., isn't evidence enough to hang you. but
think II II hold you In town"
1T might" l acknowledged readily.
1T won't though. Marcus. for you're
not convinced yourself. 1t isn't as
though I was any Tom. Dick or Har.
ry: for the Sentinel will ask awkward
questions as to evidence. even II I'm
not on their staff. No. Marcus. you're
going to let me start for Ecuador"
continued impressively. you're 60
Ing to escort me to the dock and see
me sail. For whyf Because ! won't
remain unless you Jail me. and you
dare not Jail me-"
The sergeant was not easy In mind.
for Holme had nodded acQuiescence
to my statements, SO l hurried into
the gist Of my argument.
You'll let me sail for another rea.
son, Marcus, and that Is I'm safer
aboard the Wilton than I'd be detain.
ed or even In Jail. You have me pris-
oned where / can't saw bars or get
out writs OF habeas corpus. If-you
find you want me, you can wireless
Captain Blake, and I'm stuck In the
brig with bracelets on; or you take
me of at San Pedro or San Diego
when we put into those ports. When
you get your brains to working
smoothly you1l see that you want me
on the Wilton, not In jail"
Perhaps you're right" said Mar.
Gus, and my heart gave bound. I'm
talk 1t over with the chief"
80 will I, Marcus, so be careful In
your statements. Edwards and Holme
and myself will call on the chief later
this morning, and wen bring anti-de-
tention arguments with us, be sure Of
that. And have another Scotch. Mar
Gus, to show your hearts right, even
if you are a detective"
He grinned, not cheerfully. but he
drank my Scotch.
When Holme had finally departed.
following Marcus by some minutes,
1t was half past six and too late TO
attempt a nap, so I peeled down to the
buff and went for a swim In my tub
/ was splashing cold water over my
shlvering form when I remembered
the alarm: it hadn't gone OF.
At six o'clock the three OF US had
been sitting there. and II that nerve
destroyer had broken loose we'd have
hit the ceiling! 1t hadn't gone on!
jumped from the tub and ran as !
was. dripping little streams. ] grip.
ped the clock In shivering fingers and
held 1t to the light. II registered SIX
thirty-seven. but the alarm hand
pointed now at ten.fifteen. Some one
had surely attempted to prevent my
early waking. Had / slept at all. ]
should undoubtedly have missed my
appointment with Isabelle Reade.
CHAPTER VIII