The Washington herald., 1919-01-16
CHAPTER v. Ccontinred1

Get busy! Go over the room and
look for a possible hiding place. Yop,
butler. stand across that doorway!
Don't move from thereg" Drew
wheeled and stared at the white faces
OF the servants which were framed
In the sorber curtains of the opening
to the hall.
The detective swung back He
rounded the large table with slow
steps. He bent down. One knee
touched the rug. He reached and
grasped the maGnste's stiff arm. He
worked It like a hinge. He felt of
the muscles. They were rigid.
Rising. Drew again tested the air OF
the library. He glanced at Delaney.
who was opening the bookcase doors.
What do you smell2" he asked
sharply.
The operative turned and shifted
with widening nostriIs.
It's powder he said Gun
powder. chief"
Sure
ITS kinda pecUliar-at that"
Explain yourself-bc clear"
Delaney scratched his head. I'D
say. chief, IL was smokeless powder
II don't smell like the ordinary kind. d"
Il saw smoke when ! came i'm
That smOkeless stun smokes. It
amt altogether what they call IL. Re
member the shootin' gallery at head
Quarters? There's smoke there when
the police are practicing with them
steel jacketed bullets"
You're right" said Drew Keep
on looking about I'm getting on
! Stockbridge was shot at very close
: range behind and under the left ear.
: The weapon used was a small caIiber
revolver. The bullet is undoubtedly
lodged in the lower brain. Powder
stains are in his hair. The opening
il clotted shut. He fell forward. In
falling he knocked over the little table
with its load OF ash trays. match
boxes, telephone. cigar butts and the
whisky bottle and the glass. Hes
. been dead some time.v
/ II 'e'rd no shot cried the butler
4 from the doorway
/ Drew wheeled You wouldn't" he
said sharply. Delaney" he added
SAY, Delaney. get out your note
book and pencil 7 want TO put down
everything we can think Of before /
send for the coroner. Wen take a
: complete record. This thing is dia-
bolical You see nothing
Nothing" echoed Delaney A. he
slammed a bookcase door shut. busted
his fingers and reached in his rocket.
Theirs nobody planted iu this room
that's a fact, chief That's what
gets me. CIV was the murder done
SpeculaN is Useless-now, Get
ready for noNes"
I'm ready. chief"
The detective strOdc across the IL
/ brarN rugs and snapped on tb.. wall
switch by jabbiuE at a mother-of-pearI
button. Each time ne jabbed. nora
. lights came on The room flooded
with soft glowing light from concealed
globes. This glow brought out the full
details OF the paIatial interior. Drew
cheWed at his mUstaChe thouchffuIl1-
IL" measured the walls with his ewes
He Glided swiftly toward the win
COWS. He thrust aside the heavy cur
tainS Of one and glanced UPWARD
20 losed and locked" he said TO De
lanev. Put that down There snow
on the sill which has drifted through
the outer Stats. Put that down No
sign OF footprints Put that down.
Now, the upper part
Tie climbed up on the ornate radi-
ator box. His fingers went over the
catch Locked here he said. .CIanc-
ing down 'TloCked and the same as
II was. Make y note OF that
He spranE down and examined the
. other window. He went over the sill
ana the catch with absorbed intent
ness. His teeth hit against his upper
lip. He shook his head as he turned
No chance for bullet to have
been nred through these windows," ho
declared positively. NO chance at
all. This end OF the library is scaled
as far as We are concerned. Now.
well consider the only other opening
the door"
Double locks. Delaney" he called
over his shoulder as he crossed the
room and pressed the butler back into
the hall. Double locks Of the su-
perior order. Gold knobs and key
holes The holes are not in line The
chamterinT IS clean. except where you
struck it once or twice with the aN
No sign Of outside tamperinE or Jim
my work. I'd say we've covered this
door. Any suggestions 80
Z Delaney tried both the inner lock
and the bolt which was actuated with
a gold butterfiy-wing Of heavy con-
struCtiOn. He studied the flat key. Il
was gold plated. He dropped TO his
knees and went over the entire lower
chamfering with his broad finger.
He said. No suggestions. chief
This was locked twice. until We broke
hole through with an ak. don't
see"
Make a note Of everything Or
dered Drew with sharp glance at
the waiting servants. Make a full
record OF what We have found-in-
Guiding your exact Interpretation Of
the magpie's words. What Were
they"
{ "Ah. Sing
Il think the same. Lets Iouk tho
4 bird over. Perhaps it will repeat
: The two detectives strOdC 10 rnr
bird cage. I'm going TO ssud &c.,.
/ fOsdick and the coroner" said brew
hastily. We've got TO HURRY What
do you make Of this bird Could e
have had anything TO do with ,h"
murder
The magpie protested against thus
accusation. Its feathers rurfI,d. It's
claws clamped over tho perch Its tail
extended upward and sevm"d 10 dart
with Indignation.
"Ah, Sid"' exclaimed Drew close up
to the gilded bars. All. Sid. All,
Sid" he repeated as the bird sprang