Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-05-28

Leu I6r TO get tu0 pOllCS, 100, L
insisted.
And let the burglar escape while
we're doing it," objected Mr.. Wick.
Come on, let's look through the apart
ment. He may be hiding somewhere
STILL"
Together, while the boy was 'phon-
ing, we went from room to room, peer
ing into closets and under beds. There
was no one there and no traces of the
murderer's presence. Even the serv-
ants quarters were untenanted. Only
one thing happened that struck me as
peculiar. As started up the hall to
search the bedrooms, I looked back
and caught Mr.. Wick furtively closing
the wall safe. His action in surrepti-
tiously closing this without saying
anything to me made me suddenly sus-
picious of him. / recalled that Detec-
tive German had put Mr.. Wick into his
circle of suspects along with the bur-
glars wife. Could it be possible that
the SUPERINTENDENT of the building him
self was in connivance with the band
of criminals who had been harassing
the Bradfords and me? I determined
to watch his every move.
"There's no one here" said, as we
completed our round of the various
rooms. 1.-THE murderer has made his
escape. Hasn't that boy 'phoned for
the police YETI"
Mr.. Wick seemed so averse to carry
ing out my suggestion about the police
that I think he must have sensed the
suspicion in my voice.
'T think 1 had better ask Mr.. Kent
about it first" he said nervously.
who's Mr.. Kent?" 1 demanded.
My thoughts were so taken up with
the unexpected tragedy that the name
at first meant nothing to me. Sud-
denly 1 remembered. 1t was to the
apartment of Mr.. Henry Kent that
Miss Kelly had 'phoned last night
when she was dining with me. I re-
called, too, that German had charged
me to find out all / could about him.
"Who's Mr. Kent?" I repeated
sharply. whats he got to do with 1t ?'
Hes the owner Of the building" ex-
planned Mr.. Wick. "He doesn't like
the Granddeck to be mentioned in the
papers. He says any notoriety is bad
for its eXclusiveness. 1 don't believe
he'd want the police called in. In
fact, sir, I'm sure he wouldn't"
whether he wants it or not" said
firmly, sits got to be done. You can't
keep murders out of the paper. Either
you call the police right away or else
1 will"
My threat forced him to telephone
against his will. 1 could quite under
stand his employers aversion to hav-
ing a crime in the Granddeck made
public. But there was no help for it.
There had been dastardly crime COM
mitted, and the police must be in
formed. Yet it was not to the police
that Mr.. Wick was telephoning. 1t
evidently was to Mr.. Kent's apartment
in the building.
Miss Lutan's been shot by burglar
in her apartment" I heard him say.
"Mr. Nelson and me Just discovered
her body. What's that, sir?'
Just what Mr.. Kent's reply on hear
ing the shocking news had been had,
of course, no means Of knowing, but
whatever it was, over the superintend-
ent's face came an expression Of in
credulity and amazement.
What do you think" said Mr.. Wick,
turning to me; "he says for me to call
up Headquarters at once"
"Of course" 1 said, sit is the only
thing to do"
Nevertheless, as Mr.. Wick waited
for the number, he kept shaking his
head and muttering under his breath
something that sounded like:
ITO think of his telling me to call
in the police" !"
With the doctor summoned and the
police sent for, there seemed to be
little else for US to do but wait, SC
Wick and I sat down together in the
rear sitting room with the elevator boy
still on guard at the door.
"Who was Miss Lutan?" asked.
"Why, Daisy Lutan, the actress
said Mr.. Wick in surprise. Il sup
posed every one knew her."
'Tve heard about her." I fastened tt
say, "but had no idea that she livet
in the Granddeck. Did she live here
aloneT
"She keeps a maid, an old woman
that has been with her for years."
where's the maid tonightw
"Out to the movies, I s'pose. That's
where she goes every night when Mis-!
L-tan isn't playing. When she is, she
goes to the theater with her,"
"Then Miss Lutan is not playing
row?"
mot for the last month"
"Had there been any one here witt
her tonight?'
"Pll ask the elevator boy"'
"John says she came in alone abou
fifteen minutes ago." said Mr.. Wicl
about seven. Her own chauffeur wal
driving her then, but when she came
back she was in a hired taxi. That's
something I can't understand"
"How do you suppose the murderel
escaped?"
| hetS Il ylnS CNS1y dNSAuS VI 4uCS
tioning to see if 1 could not surpris'
Wick into some damaging admission
1 was beginning to suspect that h
knew far more about Miss Lutan'
, murderer than he was telling. l fel
somehow that his whole search for tn
man who had killed Miss Lutan ha,
been entirely perfunctory, bluff t
deceive me. In my growing dislik
for the man, felt that it would no
be beyond the range of probability TO
Wick to have been standing guard a
the door while confederate rifled tn
apartment.
"Pm no detective" he answered nor
committally. "All I know is that h
has gone. He certainly amt here 1
the apartment"
1t was on the tip Of my tongue t
suggest that we look in the secre
passageway. felt that the shock
would be to Wick to learn that / kne
; about this might lead him to open h
Il