The Washington herald., 1919-01-19

attorney. the coroner. may want TO
] inteiyiex you. The sci wants. the
ne~s - pers. Idle tongues wiz oonnees
your name with ti4aS OF Lois Stock
/ bridge. This connec lion, taking IA
] the fact that sne had a revolver OF
the same caliber as was used TO slay
her father, may cause trouble.
want"
How do you know it's the same
revolver-the same caliber?"
There was a stubborn defense in
the young mans tones which some
what pleased the detective. II prom
ised loyalty.
! 1T may not be the same revolver,
Drew said softly. 1t may be that
the murder was not committed with
a revolver. A rifle, held close TO a
mans brain, would make the same
kind of marx and bruins. I do know
this. however. that the opening in
Mr.. ssockbridge's head is the same
size as my IeadpeaciI-which I have
measured and found TO be under a
quarter-inch. IL would seem then
.,.ssC twenty-five caliber might Mt the
wound. know OF no other calieer
! very close TO II"
An army rife" suggested Delaney
from the doorway.
1T is larger" said Nichols with a
quick frown. The modified Lee
Enhelds which We are now using.
! have a greater bore than the British
or German rifles. They are about %
caIfber''
Whatever the case" Drew said.
| I'VE must get to our first question
I'm trying 10 find the truth and pro
tect Miss Stockbridge from the po-
lice in case she Is suspected. Whose
revolver is this? Who does IL be
long to? How came she TO have IL so
soon after meeting you in the corner
drug store? Did she request IL? Per
haps you will clear these points and
allow me TO go ahead"
Before ! answer your questions.
Mr. Drew, before I say anything at
all. I would rather have a talk with
Miss Loris. You see. we are too
good friends TO act apart III answer
for her. She is innocent. She is too
good. 100 pure TO have anything to
do with it She never shot the old
Mr.. Stockbridge.'
He threw you out OF the house
on one occasion"
Harry Nichols cIenched his fists.
III do the same to you" he eE-
claimed. This is my apartment
What right have you got coming here
and accusing Loris? don't care who
you are"
Good" said the detective. rising
and stepping forward. You said just
what / wanted you to say. And you
4 said il like a man who can wear an
, American uniform. Shake hands"
Harry Nichols did not exactly
brighten under the professional flat-
Iery. He held out his fingers, how
transferring the revolver to his left
palm. He twiTled il as he steppe 1
backward. Clean" he said. 1t
. don't seem TO have been used for some
time But then. who knows: A gun
can be wiped and polished-even in
the bSrrel-in a very few minutes"
Drew glanced at Nichols with a
. silent question in hts eyes. Delaney
= had already sized Nichols Up as a
! very clever Young man. He vas not
: far wrong. as he learned when the
: detectives spoken question was shot
5 through determ'ne lips.
2 Nichols" said Drew. did YOU lend
; Miss StoCkbridEe this revolver Is It
yours? / shall have to turn il over
to the police sooner or later. They
t will trsve II by the number"
! is it fully loaded"
Drew turned the barrel with his
, broad thumb. He clicked the mechan-
, ism. He broke ii and held il out
, Yes he said Yes. it's fully
, loaded This is still merry whirl
for six
Are you sure
Positive NichcIs''
The soldiers face cleared like a
lake from a storm. He 5eHmed upon
drew. He smiled for = second time
He pointed toward the chair which
. the detective had quilted. Sit
down" he said. and make yourself
al home. This Is a temperance dug
out but I've got some real good soft
stun-grspe juice or club soda Which
q will you have -
IN take a cigar. said Delaney.
Drew allowed smile to creep over
his lips. He waited as Harry Nichols
dipped into kitchenette. then came
back With three glasses Of soda and
O. huge black Havana
Smoke up he said good uaturedly y
to Delaney. Light Up and take .
chair. It's daybresk isn't IL
Yes, time we're going" said Drew
ling his EMMY glass upon The Of
fered tray. We'll 20 in a minute
Now. as ] told YOU and as you car
o. looks clean. | suppose you lent il tc
Miss Stockbr dEe without any empty
cartridges. These are the ordinary
lead kind which can he secured at any
hardware store. You've got some
mere perhaps"
None here. They're all up al
PIattsburg. We do some target shoot.
ing at times. These little revolvers
don't make much noise. You can use
them most anywhere"
= That's satisfactory" said Drew
watching the glow OF Delaney's cigar
= That's all right. Now. when she
PhOned for the gun or YOU suggest.
ed that she better have one with her
} what did she say about the GENE
: terry letter or the threat over the
wire? Did she fear anything else
Was that her sole reason for having
: a revolver with her"
You cannot expect me 10 answer
. for Miss StoCkbridge. Mr.. Drew. 81,
r. i available. You can talk to re-
You represent her. I shall not sa!
Y anything concerning her. She i
sacred. The revolver WAS not dis
/. charged. 1t is the same as when
10 gave il TO her in the drug store
/ Therefore. I'll trouble you for It. It!
= mine. I admit that"
I Draw roSa from the chair His Iag