Evening star., 1921-08-05
Continued from Yesterdays star.)

J Yet when he had traversed the
park and turned down the broad ave.
nue. sentimental reminscence had
been superseded by reversion to the
stern realities of the present. Old.
heart-warming memories were all
right in their place. but a crime had
been committed and Special Deputy
McCarty was out for evidence which
might lead to its perpetrator.
A block or two north of the Crevel-
ing house he stopped before one
which. although smaller by half than
| the palatial home in which Creveling
mad met his death, was built upon the
same general architectural lines. An
ELECTRIC brougham stood at the curb
and as McCarty descended the steps
to the entrance and reached out his
| hand to touch the bell the door was
opened from within by a lanky foot
| man and trim little figure appeared
on the threshold.
With raven-black hair coiled be-
| face the young woman paused and
eyes that were still deeper blue set
In the clear. alabaster oval of her
face the young woman paused and
regarded him with grave inquiry.
The little princess grown up!
! McCarty flushed and swept off his
| hat. ignoring the fact that the foot
man still held the door open. staring
with all his eyes.
Mrs. O'Rourke?"
voice was low and clear without a
trace of impatience, but her gaze trav-
eled past him to the waiting car.
Gould you spare me a few minutes
on matter of great Importance.
ma'am? I'VE come from police head
upoLIGE-?" A little frown had
gathered between her narrow
straight brows. "Oh. presume it is
in connection with the sudden death
of our friend Mr.. Creveling?
McCarty bowed again.
You have heard from Mrs. Creve-
ling?"
"Yes. Her maid was sent to me
with message not an hour ago.
But come in; I can spare you a few
minutes, of course. but 1 am afraid
that I will be Of little assistance to
you. You are a detective?'
She added the question as she
turned and led him past the round
ing room. motioning for him to take
seat.
McCarty regarded the fragile chair
with some VniSgiving and settled his
bulk gingerly upon it before he re-
piled:
netITeu, all. anu IL OHfy
to tell you that I am not here off,
cially. SO to speak. I'm an old friend
of the inspector in charge of the
case and he often calls on me to help
him out by gathering general infor-
nation for him when he's. too busy to
go after the side issues himself"
McCarty beamed disingenuously upon
her. I'm sorry to be bothering you.
but the inspector wants me to see as
many of the 'Crevelings' close friends
have any idea why he would take his
own life
Mrs. O'Rourke drew a deep breath
and her starry eyes widened.
Il thought-that is, Mrs. Creveling's
message was to the effect that he had
been shot" Her tones vibrated
through the stiffness of the room. 'I
did not know that it was suicide. We
my husband and rfancied that it
was an accident of some kind. 1t did
not occur to us"
Her voice trailed off into silence and
faint wild-rose color appeared In
the creamy whiteness of her delicate
face.
"The medical examiner says that
Mr.. Creveling killed himself. but as a
matter of form the inspector has to
look into every possibility. ma'am.
especially as up to now they've found
no motive for suicide and Mrs. Creve-
ling won't believe he did it himself"
McCarty explained. Might I ask you
what message she sent you?"
1T did not come directly from her.
but from mutual friend of ours who
has come to town to stay with her