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

suddenly Iuu Oh all Tue cases OIL HIS
taken justice had ever heard Of.
At the hearing next day / was
bound to admit that Screed had got
some excuse for his mistake. The por-
ter of Palm Tree Court, who had re-
ceived more tips from me than could
afford, did not say very much, but he
left the impression that l was man
of irregular habits. The way he put
it almost convinced me that / was.
Until that moment 1 had never seen
myself as others saw me. The porter
also swore to the dead man being
Anderson, and when I asked what
other person had a key to Mr.. Ander-
sons rooms, he declared that / could
not possibly have seen anyone enter
ing them. 1 imagine that everyone
present, from the magistrate down.
wards, assumed had looked upon the
wine when it was red.
| But there was more evidence
against me. A man, quite young fell
low, up from the country, stated that
he had come to find Mr.. Wicklow at
No. IA Palm Court. He had evidently
been given the wrong court for the
name was not known there. He was
coming down the stairs of No. IA, and
was on the first landing, when, look
| ing from the window, he saw girl in
a brown fur coat come out of the
house opposite. At the time he did
not notice it was No. 5. She went to
the colonnade end and made signal
to man who had opened an upper
window. He recognized me as the
man. The girl passed through the
colonnade. He watched for moment
from the landing window, rather
amused by the little romance, then
came down the stairs. AS he came
along the passage to the door he saw
gentleman, whom he now knew to
be Screed, and who had come from
the other end of the Court, enter the
house opposite. The next minute
rushed out and went in pursuit OF the
girl. The recital served to stain my
character further.
Screeds evidence was scrappy. He
did not repeat a word of our CONVEX
sation, nor did he mention the hole in
the floor of my chambers. What he
did say, however, was sensational. For
some time past search had been made
on the continent, and in this country,
for a gang of thieves and blackmail-
ers. Their operations were extensive
and miscellaneous in character, ex-
tending at times to well-paid spy work.
1t was only lately that any real clues
regarding the members of this gang
had been picked up, and it was dis
covered that woman was a very
prominent member of it. An unex-
pected communication had been re-
ceived from Mr.. Anderson of Palm
Tree Court saying he was in posses
sion of certain information which
would be useful to the authorities,
and on the morning in question
Screed had called at the time ap-
pointed. He had met me rushing
wildly down the stairs. When he went
to Mr.. Anderson's chambers he could
get no answer, and when, with the
help of the porter, he had got in, it
was only to find Mr.. Anderson lying
dead upon the floor.
On the conclusion of his statement
an adjournment was asked for as it
was expected that further evidence
would be forthcoming. l was removed
in custody, and it was difficult to
realize that did not deserve it. There
are times when it is not easy to be-
lieve in your own innocence.
1t was dark when my cell door
opened and Screed came in.
Hope you're not too comfortable,
Mr.. Yates, to object to a night out"
more evidence to be knotted about
me?" l asked.
"Can't say how it will work out eX-
actly, but at any rate it may afford
you a little excitement"
Excitement" and l laughed, and
as we walked away from the station
told Screed how 1 had longed for
adventure. The idea seemed to amuse
him.
1--WE are going to Palm Tree Court,"
he said. "The dead man had been re-
moved, the place has resumed it's nor
NAL aspect, and yet we may find adj
venture"
81 have already had more than
bargained for"
"Then don't be selfish. l am still
unsatisfed."
Before you reach the tunnel leading