The Washington herald., 1920-02-19
BY May Christie
Copyright. 1920. Mcclure Syndicate. }

last. IF you aren't going in to
talk to Alice. then you'd better
come round with me to the ga
rage"
There's something that want
to say to you. Helene" Tony
placed firm hand Immediately be-
| low my elbow, ard piloted me
| across the lawns. His voice took
on the hard note which Invariably
is the prelude to something un-
| pleasant.
Speak on" I said. its a free
| country"
IT'S about MIR. Travis Lloyd"
proceeded Tony. Helene. you'ye
been encouraging him outrageously
and he's old enough to be your
fatherT
\ demon of perversity entered
| me.
Hes a perfect dear" said,
and quite one of the most attrac-
tive men I've ever met! 1 like him
! treme endously-"
Go easy, Helene" a hard. ieal-
Gus note was in the young mans
/ voice again. Attractive. is ne7
! Well, maybe. But I could tell YOU
| thing or two about him that
would make you sit up and take
| Ou DtlltT De careful
j swung round on Tony. 1 felt
irritated. For 1 have no use for
the type of man who miscaIls an
| other man behind his back.
Why did you partake of his hos
/ pitality them"
| Because of you, Helene. I want
ed to keep an eye on you. You're
SO impressionable-"
i smiled at this.
Don't be a jealous goose. Tony"r
! 'Oh, I'm not jealous" said my
companion huffily. "only-there's a
mystery about this Travis LLOYD
| why does he live alone in that
huge barracks of a place? Why
isn't he married and settled with
a family like other men? Why does
he prowl around the place at night
soaring a fellow stiff with his
| queer movements"
| What do you mean" I asked
| thinking of the curious scene that
| mad witnessed from my bedroom
window at Thorny Grange.
| Tony lowered his voice as he said.
| Night before last / went out rather
late to get a breath of air and smoke
a cigar. Just as | was about TO light
up. saw a mans figure skulking in
the shadow of the house. 1t was Travis
Lloyd. I lay low-then / followed him.
He went round to a back wing of the
house. and gave a long. low whistle.
Then two men appeared. They were
great, hefty chaps-looked like pugil-
lists or burglars-or worse! Repulsive-
looking customers they were"
Go on" I said breathlessly. "I
was deeply interested in this version
of the tale.
1 ut was mighty odd" continued
Tony. medjtativeIy. "They had a short
confab with Lloyd. and I saw him slim
couple of $50 bills into their hands
fhen they sneaked of across the grass
land again / followed, keeping well
in the shadow of the house.
] Il rounded corner and nearly ran
full tilt into what looked to me like
an undertaker's wagon. The men
weren't to be seen-but presently they
emerged from inside the Charming
vehicle, went to an ivy-covered door
and presently returned with what
looked to me like a corpse smotherel
i'm blanketsn'
He paused for a moment, then went
on:
" Again appeared our friend. Mr..
Travis Lloyd. Blessed II he didn't stea
out of the shadows, whispering: All
Iclear! Inc men hurried towards the
cart. I watched. feeling very eorie.
for made certain that a murder had
been committed, and that the body
was being smuggled out"
But, just as the procession went
by me, the queerest thing occurred,
The corpse inside the blankets gave
blood-curdling laugh-a long, low,
horrible chuckle that almost froze
me to the marrow! Honestly, Hell
enc, was scared stiff, I didn't wait
for any more! I'd had enough"
\ Maybe you were mistaken? 1
suggested, wishing to hear more.
"oh. no, indeed,r said Tony quick
ly, "the whole affair was very SIMS
ter-very shady! didn't say a word
to Travis Lloyd about 1t, for, of
course, thcre was foul play some-
where. But I'm watching him"
| (Tomorrow-Jim's Mother.)