The Washington herald., 1919-02-07

Loris smiled as the maid answered
by opening the door TO a crack. Tea
for four" she said. "Pekoe and tea
She turned and widened her eyes
prettily. Would you have anything
clse?' she asked Drew.
strong tea" exclaimed the de-
tective. I'm take hops as We call
IL. Make IL very strong and then well
settle some Of these questions. My
head is none too Clear. I've been un-
der strain. I'm frank to admit
that"
Tho tea arrived within ten minutes.
Drew had prevented Delaney from
'phoning for the coroner or to Fos-
dick. Some matters TO clear up" he
whispered suggestively ''well leave
this place with the case entirely COM
pleted"
Nichols arranged two chairs about a
tiny teakwood table. lie had set this
table within the bay OF an alcove.
The space was small. with Delaney's
big feet very much in the way.
Drew poised his cup and glanced
from Loris TO Nichols Their heads
were very close together. The blue
black luster Of the girls hair was a
perfect contrast 10 the officers blond
pompadour which was slightly dis
ranged. The light from above haloed
with the soft fire OF frosted glass and
cut prisms.
The detective upended the cup,
drank deeply. then passed il over to
Delaney. Another, please" he said,
watching tho operative struggling
with a saucer which was far too
fragile for his thick fingers. One
more up" he added. No su~lr."
Loris leaned from the cushion at
the small OF her hack and gl7nced
toward the porticres with thought
laden eyes. Poor misguided fellow. d"
she said softly. Il feel uneasy. Mr..
Drew. Somehow or other ] feel that
We were partly responsible for his
death / wish it hadn't happened"
'1'H agree with you. We must for
get more than We remember i'm this
world Our time is short. The cor
oner and the central Office squad will
have TO lie notified. ] don't doubt
that Fosdick will be surprised at the
turn in the case. lie has some OF
your servants locked up, you know"
IIoris pressed closer to Nichols Il
wish that body wasn't in there" she
whispered Suppose he had other
He worked alone" assured Drew
finishing the second cup and setting
it down. II found no evidence OF
another crook. He worked single
handed and singIe-minded He made
one mistake. Morphy was bungler
4 bunEler is a man who lets his
artistic temperament get the better
OF him. Had he allowed Cuthbcrt to
slay both the-Mr. Stockbrldgc and
yourself over the phone hc would
never have solved tho case. II was
the telephoniuE from Sing Sing that
opened up the entire matter"
Tho inevitable Slip" exclaimed
Nichols.
Yes said Drew. They all make
it, ] could tell you OF thousand
instances. But back OF the inevitable
slip. as YOU call d. Is something
deeper. It has not often been mem
toned in dealing with criminals"
What il it," asked Lor1s
ECO, Criminal ego, Most trans
gressors would 20 20 tho electric
chair II tho newspapers would write
enough about them"
IloTis raised her hrOWS is that
the reason" she asked why Nor
ply tolephoned before he killed poor
father"
"Exactly:" declared tho detective.
Ego explains much that We call ro-
venEc. Now" he added. -IancinC
about and at a tiny clock on d Cs,h7
met. Now the questions from every
body. Make them short. Mi Delaney
and I will leave in ten minutes"
Nichols glanced at LoriS. You
first" he said.
'I've just one or two. Nj. Drew
she said
What arc they"
"Why did that poor dead man Sparc
my life when he called me up the
first time n" could have killed me
then"
Z explained that. 1t wasn't his
vendetta"
Vendetta ."
That is what this case is. An al
most successful attempt to wipe out
or 7 should say obliterate, the Stock
bridge family-root and branch. Nor
ply had nursed the thing for over a
year. He had soured up there in
prison. His mind became abnormal
He conceived an abnormal revenge.
reason to believe that he would never
be discovered.
Then. Mr.. Drew. he would have
called nc up on the phone later and
done what he did-to father? He
would have told me who he was over
the telephone. and-and-''
Yes. Miss Stockbridce Yes. he
calm, though. lie is beyond the pale
now. You will never hear from him
again. Be assured OF that"
Drew leaned in his chair and
glanced at DELANEY The big opera
tive fidgeted in his seat. ~quirmcd
reached for the tea pot. thcm drew
back his hand and started drumming =
the table with his fingers
Nichols disenEaeed his arm from
behind I,oris and squared his shoul-
ders. He moved forward. I'm go
ing to ask question for Miss Stock
bridge" he sad. "i'id YOU ever suS-
peCt her."
Never declared brew.
or me-
The detective hesJated before ho
answered. His smile cleared the air
as he said. "OnCc-for about an
hour That was when I found out
that you We're partly German. / got
oven it, though.
80 did l." declared Nichols. Il
got over the German part in no time.
l enlisted"