Evening star., 1918-07-14


CHAPTER VI. 4
The Man in the Gallery. :
Beckoping to sweetwater. Mr.. Gryos
pointed out this extra man and asked
him II he recognized him as one Of the
twenty-five he had tabulated. .5 :
The answer was a vigorous no. Its
new face to me. He must have
dropped from the roof or come up
through the flooring. He certainly
wasn't anywhere about when I made
out my list. He looks trifie hipped,
eh?"
Enthusiastically troubled" d.
"You might go a little further and
say done up"
"Good-looking, though. Appears to
be of foreign birth"
English, I should say. and just over"
"English, without a doubt. I'll GO
speak to him; you wait here, but
watch out for the coroner, and send
him my way as soon as he's at
leisure" tSsl
Then he reapproached the bench
and observing. with the keenness with
which he observed everything with-
out direct look, that with each step
he took the strangers confusion in-
creased, he decided to wait till after
he had finished with the others, bes
fore he entered upon an inquiry,whicfr
might prove not only lengthy but of
the hrst Importance. @ n. ll-'4
He was soon very glad that he had
done this He got nothing from M.
Simpson; but the questions put Ia
Mr. TArnbull were more productive
Almost ct the. first word this gentls4
man acknowledged that he had seen
a movement ip the great square d
tapestry to which Mr.. Gryce drew Kia
attention. He did not know when. Of
Just where be stooo at the time, but
ne certainly had noticed It shake, -.
asked the gratined detective.
IT swayed out q r. a
"a" "As 4 blown by. some windY
: ne ste.ay %ogs 'ssss e 4 pushed forward ~
Il ssttlsd az back sRa: ai%ssa i1asar withou. {
'Tnstantiy!"
mo. not instantly. A moment Or
two passed before 1t fell back ints
.rhis was before. the attendant Cor.
rey called out his alarm. of course?''
Yes, Of course 1t was before; but
how ong before, he couldn't say.
how could>h he tell! He had no watch
.-~ Mr. Gryce thought possibly he might
assist the mans memory on this point
put 1orbore to do so at the time. It.
that the necessary link to the estab.
ishment Of his theory had been
found. No more doubt now that the
DOW lying in the niche Of the door,
use Of in this desperate tragedy; and
the way thus cleared for him, he could
confidently proceed in his search for
the man who had flung II. there. He
believed him to be within his reach
tenance gave no index to his thought
as reapproaching the young man now
sitting all alone on the bench, he
halted before him and pleasantly in-
. DO see you for the first timer
i thought we had listed the name Of
every person in the building. How is
1t that we did not get yours?"
The tide of color which instantly
astonished Mr.. Gryce both BY its
warmth and fullness. II he were as
thin -skinned as this betokened. one
should experience but little difficulty
in reaching the heart Of his trouble. :.
With an air of quiet interest Mr..
Gryce sat down by the young. mans
side. Would this display Of friend-
liness have the effect Of restoring
some Of his self-possession and giving
him the confidence he evidently
lacked? No. the red fed from his
cheek. and ghastly white took its
place; but he showed no other change. .
Meantime the detective studied his
countenance.
It was good one, but just now so
distorted by suffering that only such
as were familiar with his every look
could read his character from his
present expression. Would a more de
rect question arouse him? Possibly.
At all events, Mr.. Gryce decided to
make the Experiment. "a
Wil YOU give me your name" he
asked, your name and residence?'
The man he addressed gave q quick
start. pulled himself. together and
made an attempt to reply.
MY name Is Travis. am an Eng.
lishman just of the steamer from
Southampton. My home is in the
county OF Hertfordshire< I have NO
residence here" .aF7 l
"Your hotel, thenw IA, e.
Another fush-then quickly; II
have not yet chosen one" -
This was too surprising for belief. A.
stranger in town without rooms or
hotel accommodations. making use OF
the morning hours to visit a museuml
You must be very much interested
in art" observed his inquisitor a little
dryly. '..