The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-11-05


have fixed on you. Seer 4
laughed but felt uncomfortable. /
defy anyone not to feel shiver down
his spine when Screed shot out sug-
gestions of this kind.
"You see the idea, Mr. Yates. The
first questions which came into my
mind are: "What did you do last
night, and why were you in such a
devil of hurry this morning? That
hole might be the answer to both
questions"
at isn't" I said 81 will tell you
why was in hurry this morning"
"No. may help things a bit if l
tell you," Screed returned. 'You
were smoking at your window when a
girl in fur coat passed through the
Court and waved to you. A signal, Ell,
Mr.. Yates?"
ga signal"
MAY ask if you have had pleas
ant day."
mo"
"Then my third suggestion. Tell me
all you know"
81 told him exactly as have set it
down here. Further 1 explained that
1 had dined alone last night, had gone
to the theater, and, meeting an ac-
quaintance, had gone back to his
rooms in Bury Street to play cards
for an hour or so.
"Do you often do that kind of
thing?"
81 am out great deal"
Constantly home late, eh
Eyes. l am often at my club until
late, the Oriental"
$50 that if anyone wanted to come
and look at that hole during the even
ing he might fairly calculate on your
not being in?"
81 do not live by rule, and anyone
would run considerable risk by enter
ing my chambers unlimited"
"He might knock first" said Screed.
"He might be someone you knew, Mr..
Anderson, for instance, and therefore
not make you suspicious if you hap
pened to be in"
"The dead man is not Mr.. Ander-
son." said.
"Well, you might have visit from
the gentleman you know as Mr. Ander-
son. 1t would interest me to hear
about him"
81 do not know him. I have met
him on the stairs once or twice, and
seen him unlock his door. He was
only about for two or three weeks.
The porter could tell you more about
him than l can"
"How long is it since you have seen
him." Screed asked.
Seven or eight months"
Screed was thoughtful for few
minutes.
"Now about this girl. What kind of
a girl was she? Something very spe-
cial surely to make you tumble down
the stairs in such a hurry"
"She was disappointing on closer in
spection and not at all pleased to find
1 was following her."
"Then why did she invite you by
waving?"
81 didn't discuss the matter with
her, l just accepted the position, and
put my tail between my legs"
care you sure she waved?"
"Quite. She was carrying her glove
in her hand. Of course, it is possible
she was waving to someone else"
ooh, no, it was to you all right"
"How do you know?"
"From information received" and he
laughed. would you know the girl
again."
"Do you mean close to or from any
Window"
"Close to-
eyes,"
"You have more confidence in your
self than 1 have in Jeremy Screed,
which is saying a lot. She did no
glove waving when you spoke to herr"
mo She kept her hands in her
muff."
"You are observant, Mr.. Yates. You
will have to come and help me when /
get into difficulties, that is if l can
get you off this time. Were they
brown gloves?"
Il couldn't swear to that"
"But the coat and muff We're
brown"
yes"
"That color?" and Screed suddenly
held out a tuft of brown fur to me.
Something of that color, but l am
not going to swear to that, either"
"This tuft was found in the hand