Evening star., 1921-07-25
CONTINUED From Yesterdays Starr
CHAPTER III.
INQUIRIES.

Inquiries.
The inspector turned involuntarily
and glanced at his subordinate ou'
McCarty's face was blandly inscruta-
BILE.
"Mr. Alexander" began Inspector
Druet. your informant was unau-
thorized by the police department, and
we have no more knowledge than you
as to his identity, but your presence
here is more than welcome in this
emergency. Certain suspicious cir
cumstances, the details of which you
will learn later, caused an investiga-
tion Of the house between the hours
Of two and three this morning by the
regular officer of this beat. The prem
ises were found to be deserted, al
though a light was burning and the
remains of supper for two are spread
out in the breakfast room. In the
study, or den, there lies the body OF
Ia man in evening clothes. shot
identified as that Of Mr.. Creveling."
"Eugene-shot." the banker gasped.
! "Impossible! Good God, l cannot be-
Ilieve it. Why, only yesterday we had
a long conference at the Office But
VINO COulQ nave uOHe lulS lnlIS
THE pistol-an army Allies with
in touch of his fingers" replied the
inspector -,
ed HIMSELF" Mr.. Alexander bristled,
but he seemed to shrink even more
Ridiculous! What reason could he
have for such an act? His affairs
were never in better shape; the con-
ference at the office yesterday was
in regard to a large loan we con-
templated making. which would have
brought us in highly advantageous
returns and he had no other prob
lens or troubles, no entanglements
of any kind"
Come and see him for yourself"
Ise inspector turned and led the
following and Mccarty bringing up
the rear. AS they entered Clancy
and the two detectives stepped aside,
exposing the motionless form out
. stretched upon the floor, and, with a
shocked exclamation. the banker re-
coiled.
1T is he!-But Eugene never killed
himself! OF that 1 am as sure as
though I had been present when the
deed was donew
4 Why are you so certain. Mr.. Alex
, / aander?" the inspector asked.
There could have been no reason.
the other repeated. mo one ever
loved life better than he or knew
how to enjoy it to the full. He had
an unassailable position. both in the
social and financial world. a beautiful
i; Wife. host of friends-oh, it is un-
thinkable.'
yet the pistol is almost within
his grasp" Inspector Druet- reminded
the banker. Was he right or lef,
handed?"
| Right, but any one could have
| placed the weapon there after the
crime was committed to make ii
i look like a case of suicide" Alex
sides, who telephoned to me, and
Why"
, That we must ascertain later
The inspector shrugged. DO you
recognize the pistol. Mr.. Alexander:
Have you ever seen it in Mr.. Grew
: elings possession"
e Il have not sir The banker SHOOK
his head decisively. 1T may have
f been his, of course. A man whose
t home was filled with valuable object:
: stituted a huge fortune in them
1 | selves would be naturally supposed
to guard against burglary. but h,
could have had no personal reason
5 for such an article of self-protec
tion'
, The sound of another motor cal
e outside and the ringing of the from
I doorbell put stop for the time beinl
| to any further questioning by TIL,
, | inspector. and as one of the assist
: ants of the chief medical examiner
: was ushered in the dead mans part
4 ner turned to McCarty.
! Are you one of those in charg'
: here? If so. for Gods sake. TAX.
\ me out Of this for while. 1 can
!, stand it. The shock"
1t was the moment for which Nc
, Carly had been waiting.
a Come this way. sir. They'll cal
If you're needed" He drew the bank
er out to the hall and into tn,
breakfast room. where he switched
! on the light once more and pulled
. back to the disordered supper table
'Sit here, Mr.. Alexander, and res
> yourself. I'm not connected with the
, police force. If that's what you mean
Just happened by; and I'm a friend
of the inspector. 1t must have beer
terrible shock to you, as you say
to find the house deserted and Mr.
, Creveling killed like this"
The abrupt summons over the
telephone was startling enough, but
to lose my partner in this hideous
tragic way" The banker sank into
; the chair and pressed his delicate
blue-veined hands over his eyes fol
moment.
II think, sir, you said that Mrs
creveling was your niece? McCarty
Mr.. Alexander,s hands dropped and
he gazed at the other in a dazed
, fashion.
II "Yes. She was my late brothers
/ only child and my ward until ,hel
t marriage to Eugene eight years ago
;, 1t will be a most-most distressing
5 Homecoming for her. By Jove, we
i must wire her at once! I had for
I gotten-
Mrs. Creveling is away?" Nc.
Z Carty's ingenious blue eyes opened
, still wider That is why, then. thai
=, the house was all deserted"
= He added the last as II to himself
but the dazed look faded partially
from Mr.. Alexander's eyes and
shode as of caution crept into them
Mrs. Creveling has been paying 6
round of visits on Long Island for thu
D last few weeks and Mr.. Creveling ha!
5 been living much at the club since hi!
presence was required almost con
e stantly in town on this banking mat.
4 ter we were arranging to negotiate.
D His explanation came with nervous
haste. IL believe two or three OF thu
I servants were left here temporarily
as caretakers, though; I cannot imaE
inc where they may have gone. How
ever, Mrs. Creveling must be sent To-
at once! May 1 ask that you arrang'
n with the inspector to have one o
q those men in there dispatch a wir'