The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-12-24
UNSEEN HANDS
4 BepiLdering DetectiUe Story By Robert Orr Chipperfield

WHiie uep nuSn came aSa1n 1hte
 What has MT. Drew to do with the matter you have under investisa- tion?''
 ton, MT. Chalmers From taking i5art in many far more strenuous examinations Oden well knew the value of the repetition of g. name.
 Gene flung himself into a chair; and for moment there was silence
 while he puffed at his pipe. At length he looked up and met the detectives gaze
 downstairs that you could count on me, and I want this mystery cleared up as much as the rest do; more,
 5znce my own life was attempted last ! right. But I don't like to discuss my private affairs, and I won't have my friends dragged in. Unless you have been prying into my letters
 while I was out of the room. sup unearthing the family skeletons and black sheep and all that sort Of thing for your benefit However I've no reason for concealing my
 friendship for MT. Drew. I met him about four years ago." ''Where?"
 Gene had recovered his noncha- iance and waved Iazily toward a chair.
 'I forsee that this interview is apt
 to be a protracted one.' He knocked
 the ashes from his pipe into the
 hearth. II met him at a private understand your enterprising or SaniZation has since closed up." With or through whom did you
 meet him, MT. Cha1mers?'' 'I was with several friends of mine whose names I cannot recall at the moment and was presented to Mr. Drew by an acquaintance named Stone"
 Philip Stone, the -embezzler7'' OdelPs smooth, calm, level tones re-
 rnained the same; but Gene stirred in hds chair.
 "I did not know he had attained such prominence as to be known as jhe' anything" he protested with q l shrug. 'T believe he did get in some sort Of trouble later with a trust company or bank or something, but as I told you he was mere ac- cuaintance: I had been introduced to h.fn in restaurant only a night or two before.'
 You then were about twenty, I | think MT. Cnalmers?" T was l must ask you again what
 all this has to do with your investi-
 g&mon? Genes eyes began to glow | are wasting valuable tirne?" | MT. Chalmers, that is my affair To return to your friend, Farley | Drew; when did you first bring him l VI ASAAE0 e~AA0 1i4iL O0u IliIu IO your sisterS?"
 l A touch of sternness had crept l into the detectives tone; and the 1 glow in the eyes of the young man changed to a furtive glint. 'I say. you leave my sisters out of
 this!" He half rose from his chair. ] I'll tell you anything you want to
 know about myself. but I won't dis
 cuss them with you." | That does not answer my cues- | ton. MT. Cha1Ene CTS: and I douht if
 your soGc;tude is as much for your | sisters as for yourself" Odell eyed 'I represent the law, and there will Dc o lot more of OUT men here pres
 ently. It won't get you anywhe-s to try to oppose me-" l T have no reason for opposing you, sergeant Gene responded hasti- ly. 'It sort of gets my goat though, to be hammered at like this when, by jove. Pm the injured party. I introduced Farley Drew to my peo- pie about a year. ago.
 l "AEd did you present him to your
 pfo.Eer at the same time"
 roni7t To n,3t1, Iqlian? an o, Yes" He tried to
 chin trembled, and he put up his
 hand to mask it.
 Your brother then became one of
 his associates %
 "Cne of his friends" Gene re-
 marked stiffly
 Did that in any way affect your
 friendship with Drew, MT. Chalmers ?'' "Of course not. Why should it :? Julian and I travelled as a. rule in different crowds, but we had many mutual friends, and-Mr. Drew was
 one of them.''
 And did you and your brother gel
 on we'll together, MT. Chalmers? Yor . will have to pardon this question, but others will answer it if you refuse , OdeH paused and repeated: How die you and your brother get on to. !, gether?''
 About as well as any brothers do
 l fancy" Genes gaze wandered tt the filtered top of his dressing table
 but as if conscious of the defective. Q eyes upon him he quickly averted it : We had a healthy old row now ana 1 then, but-but we always patched i
 up I'd rather not talk about it now t if you don't mind, sergeant. It's onl, d a week, you know-' e
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