The Washington herald., 1919-01-12

voice. You did well in the Morphy
case. That's the reason I called uponi
you. Now find the niscreant or mis-
creants, who telephoned the cemetery
superintendent, and you'll not be for
gotten
Drew glanced shrewdly at the
phone. May / use it?' he asked
briskly. I'm try to trace that CALI.
Stockbridge moved his chair away
from the little table. Drew glided
across the room, pressed the ash
trays and match boxes to one side,
and picked up the receiver. He work.
ed the hook up and down with his
broad thumb.
Hello! Hello" he repeated clicking
the hook. Hello, central! Hello!"
He glanced at Stockbridge as he
waited. He frowned as he stopped
and spoke more directly into the
transmitter. Hello! Hello!'
Something the matter?' asked the
magnate with quick suspicion. Don't
they answer"
Hello! Hello! Hello, there!" Drew
glared at the transmitter, then tapped
the receiver against the siiver-plated
cover. "Hello!" he shouted. Damn
it, Hello"'
He turned. mo CO." he said
thoughtfully. "Copnection seems to
be broken. I'm talking right out into
thin air Wonder who cut your
wires?"
Stockbridge bristled. He slid for
ward in his great chair and stared
at the detective. They're cut, eh?"
he asked
Housed in Ornate Cafe.
Drew set the phone on the table
and turned. Looks mighty like it,"
he said His eyes swung over the
walls of the splendid room. They
rested upon high, ebony stand with
a belfry from which dangled a gilt
spring suspending an ornate bird
cage. Out OF this cage, a magpie
peered with beaded eyes. rs tail ex-
tended up through the bars like a
feather from a hat
MY bird said Stockbridge. "A
tame magpie l brought from Spain. 1t
talks"
Drew raised his brows He con-
tinued his search of the library. Its
wealth of books and paintings and
antiques almost stunned him. I'm
looking for another phone" he said
lowering his voice to whisper
Have you another phone in this
house,"
Yes. Two more. This is Gramercy
Hill 9763. The one in Loris' room is
Gramercy Hill 1864. Another in the
buffers pantry. downstairs, Is 9765
Perhaps the others are disconnected"
Wen see. I want that call traced
before it gets cold. 1 know a wire
chief at Crammercy Hill exchange.
He'll help II / can get him. Have
your butler show me his phone. Also.
we better get a trouble-hunter, or re-
port the cut wires. Somebody will
pay for this! It's an outrage and a
felony"
Stockbridge moved his slippered foot
and pressed a button under the
larger table. He waited. then pressed
again. His eyes wavered about the
room. They fastened upon the por-
there's which draped from the pole
across the doorway leading into the
hall. His tongue moistened dry lips
as he watched for the butler
Assigns Six Assistants.
"I'll phone my office" said Drew
hurriedly as steps were heard in the
hall ''l'll get up five operatives
no. six-right away. This all may be
a hoax. but I've lived forty-one years
too long to overlook a threat of this
kind. Particularly when it concerns
a man who has made as many en-
emies as you have"
The butler parted the portieres AS
! Drew ceased speaking. Stockbridge
nodded and indicated that tie de-
tectiYe wanted to go down stairs. The
butler led the way to the lower telc-
phone. Into this, Drew spoke hur-
riedly and very much to the point
He secured three numbers in rapid
| succession. He snapped his orders in
a manner to set the Cut-glass tinkling
on the pantry shelves. He hung UP
the receiver. glanced shrewdly at the
servants about, then climbed the
| stairs like a boy of 12
"All is set" he announced to Stock
bridge as he entered the library and
crossed to the table "All moving
now My wire chief had gone home.
got the chief operator. She's going
to send the first troublc-man handy
Delaney Will be up from the Office
with his flying squad left 1t to
him to arrange about tracing the call
through a telephone official No use
telling the chief operator too much
The official will go right over her
head and into the heart of the thing.
Now. Drew pulled down the lapels
OF his black coat and leaned over the
magnate. Now" he said with vigor.
now, what about your servants?
had a good look at some of them.
How about the English butler? How
long have you had him."
Old, Tried and Trusted.
| Ten years. Brought him over my
self. Wife picked the other servants
| They're all old, tried and trusted. IN
| answer for them. She died telling me
to take care of them. l don't think
her equal lived in choosing help. 1t
was uncanny!"
! Drew stroked his cropped mustachc.
| Good he said That's fine, Wen
start with the supposition that they're
not guilty. Are any of them of Ger
man BIRTH"
My valet is part German. but he
ran away to avoid their army He
hates the Junker party. Says 1t Is
responsible for the war"
How long have you had him."
Mine years"
| That should let him out Well"
! Drew added with a sweeping glance
! about the library, well, these big
| windows-hOw about them
| The detective advanced to the front
of the room as he asked the question.
! Two" he unused. Curtains very
heavy and rich. There's a good eaten
On this one. Both catches are closed.
| Seem to have been closed for some
time. Here's dust. High-class house
keeper, but I've got her here"
| Drew smiled as he ran his fingers
over the upper sash. He peered out
into the avenue with its flowing tide
| of vehicles. He turned and said to
| Stock kbridge:
"SupDOse Won order yOur hutler or