The Jasper news., 1920-09-16
-D.iug Lutan, ne artress.-

1 |NHN|. AfNNuMg NIIU 0NNNGuAs
sWhe dld itf-
IT must have been burglar ~
terjected Mr.. wick. rMy theory 4
thnt. she cnme IN unaxpeetedIy go
found him az work"
-Who found herf"
these gentlemen" said the doctor,
including both Mr.. Wick and me with
q Nnye Of his hand.
The detectives turned 70 Mr.. Wick
first.
"TeIl us ubOut its ons Of tkeh d.
rected.
MY name Is James wicl," !" he began
rs II he was reciting a famIiiar lesson.
Il am the supeftntendent, Of the
0randdeck spartments. I was in the
elevator about half an hour ago when
heard a woman screaming and then
the sound OF the shot. took out my
revolver and got on at this fioor to an
vestigate. At the door found Mr.
Nelson. He. too. had heard tha
screams and the shot and tfo1Bllt they
came from this apartment. took out
my pass key and we went II"
"Were there any signs Of the bur
giarr asked the other man.
mo. we looked all through the
apartment and found no one"
"Was anything missingf"
waited with bated breath to hear
II Wick would tell Of having found the
wall safe open. II he did not felt Il
would be conclusive evidence that
there was something he was trying 20
conceal.
Il didn't notice anything mfnsing.-
he said gIibly. II wouldn't know. any
how. don't know what stun she had
here" ~
"who would known
"Her maid might. She's out now.
Generally she's home by eleven
o'clock"
"Did she keep only the one servantr
+. "Only the maid and a chauffeur"
"Then she was oil alone In the
apartment"
Eyes. She'd gone out all dressed mp
about seven In her own car, She came
home Unexpectedly In a hired taxi not
more than half an hour ago"
"Did she come home aIoner
"Sure she was alone. At least the
hall boys told me so. I did not see her
come in, myself'u
More and more was convinced that
Wick was lying. was sure he knew
far more about affairs than he was ad-
mltting. Why did he keep harping
on the fact that Miss Lutan had come
In Unexpectedly What means had
he Of knowing what time she was sx-
pected home7 Furthermore he said he
was In the elevator when he heard the
screams and the shot. I did not be-
lieve II would have been possible for
the sounds to have carried that far.
The walls were all deadened, and the
room where tho tragedy had taken
place was at the back Of the house
many feet distant from the elevators.
I wondered IL the burglar had not been
In the place with Mr.. Wick's conniv-
ance, while he stood guard outside. As
he heard me coming he might lave
taken refuge 10 the elevator. And
why did ne have his revolver 20 con.
veniently readyf
The detective who had been ques.
tioning Wick turned to me.
"Who are your
"Spaidlng Nelson"
"What do you dof Where do yo7
work."
'rm a clerk"
"a clerk living at the Granddeck
apartments" he sneered. "You must
have a good job"
II haven't any at present" re-
piled. I'm living here In Mr.. Gas
toms apartment, taking care Of It
while he and his wife are away"
/ could see that my statement that
was only a clerkand was not at pres
ent employed had not made q favor
able impression on the detective.
"Wili you explain what you were do
ing at the door Of this apartment
when the superintendent arriyedf" he
demanded with growing suspicion IN
his tones.
That's easy to explain I retorted.
II was in my apartment directly over
this one. heard her scream and then
the shot. 1t seemed to come from the
floor right below me. 20 ran down to
investigate
'Is that rightr' he asked. turning to
Mr.. Wick.