Evening star., 1920-04-04

were In such hurry this morning."
i have no intention of doing So"
Expect you'll have to. First of
all. l must ask you to come down
and see Mr.. Anderson. He isis
waiting for you to see him"
Il don't know him."
mot by sight?"
Il have met him on the stairs
once or twice. but he hasn't been
here for months"
He has come back. exnect ha
will explain why l am here"
Screed closed the door of NV cham.
Ders as we went out, and spoke of
the weather as we went down the
stairs 1 wanted to resent his manner.
but was too interested in him. and
the adventure, to do so. He was a
personality you instinctively wanted
to study. He might be a burglar.
trusting to bluff. and. although I
went with him meekly enough, I was
prepared to put up a fight If neces-
sary.
He knocked at Andersons door,
which was opened Immediately. AL
though 1t was still daylight, heavy
curtains drawn across the windows
shut 1t out and the electric light
was switched on.
We've come to see Mr.. Anderson"
said screed to the man who opened
the door. Ever been in these cham.
bers before, Mr.. Yates?"
Never"
mo one been here for months the
porter says, and he ought to know.
There, Mr.. Yates"
He had shepherded me across the
room, and as he spoke he whisked a
sheet from chesterfield which was
pushed back against a wall. 1 stop
ped with half-strangled cry in my
throat Lying there was a man
dead. murdered. He had been stab
bed in the neck.
Does Mr.. Anderson explain why I
am here?" Screed asked, after a
pause. did not answer Immediately.
l looked at him, then at the dead
man again, and unpleasant ideas
rushed into my brain. Here was an
adventure could easily have done
without.
"A detective" I said. slowly. I be-
gan to have vague impression that
! had heard the name of Screed be-
fore-had seen 1t in a newspaper,
perhaps.
That's the position" ne answered.
l bent down to look at the dead
man. to look closely into his face
THAT Ia nOf Andarcon o,;a
Look at him again. Violent death
alters the aspect of a man."
THAT Is not Anderson" repeated.
VERY curious" said Screed taking
case from his pocket. THAT is a
photograph of Anderson-authentic
Seems to me it is the picture of the
man lying there"
Yes. but it is not Anderson"
answered.
AN interesting point" he said.
replacing the sheet and the case.
I'VE must argue it out. Shall it be
here or upstairs?"
In my chambers" said.
he said something which l could
not catch to the man as he opened
the door for US, and we went up.
stairs in silence. Screed took my
most comfortable chair without in
vitation.
First suggestion." he said. Draw
the curtains and switch on the light.
Prevents people in the opposite houses
getting too interested"
l complied.
Second suggestion. Don't tell me
anything you don't want me to repeat.
Talking to me is sometimes like talk
ing into gramaphone."
Look here, Mr.. Screed, are you
thinking that ] killed the man down.
stairs?"
Suggestion three. Should advise
you to tell me everything you know"
you do not answer my question" I
returned.
Suggestion four Don't expect It.
hardly ever do answer questions.
Spend most of time asking them. II
you haven't smoked all your cigar
cites I'll have one"
passed him my case.
"Egyptians, and you usually smoke
Virginian by the ends Oh the hearth.
Dined out last night and ran short.
That is rather interesting to me. Mr..
Yates"