Evening star., 1921-08-04
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Starr

II have not. and never another will
I hire after the one I rented for Mol
ly's wedding. 1t might have been the
stuff they used to clean it with. but
then again it mightn't. and I'm taking
no more chances
Never mind; I've none myself"
McCarty said hurriedly. You'll hear
from me before g."
He strobe off toward the modest
bachelor quarters which ne occupied
over the antique shop of Monsieur
Girard. but upon reaching his own
corner he halted abruptly. A news
paper was spread on the step leading
up to the apartment entrance and
upon it an exceedingly long-legged
young man was seated twirling his
hat on the head of the cane between
his hunched-up knees.
His red head glowed brazenly in
the sun and he looked up with boy
ish grin as McCarty advanced re-
luctantly.
Hello there. Mac. ] thought you'd
lar now that you're moving in society.
If I had your luck in falling over
news I'd be city editor by now. What's
the good word in the Creveling
case?"
"There's none" McCarty retorted
promptlyu as Jimmie Ballard. most
ubiquitous of reporters. prepared unin-
vited to ascend with him to his
rooms. "Creveling was found dead
with the gun beside him: that's the
long and short of it, You'd better be
seeing the Inspector
mot chance in the world and you
know it, Jimmie laughed. Come
now. Mac. be a sport! We've got the
obituary salted down at the shop. of
course, but I've got to have a double
column for the first edition of the
afternoon rag. Usual stall at the
house: Mrs Creveling prostrated.
couldn't see any one and had nothing
! burglar creeping out of the house and,
investigating. found Creveling's body
OF course. you're retired from the
force, you've nothing to do with the
vate citizen drawn by your own curl
osity into the caSe?'
you've got me right. my lad"
McCarty threw the butt of his cigar
out into the middle of the street and
turned to insert his latchkey into the
door.
"WeI. then. you old fraud.'' Jimmie
made his point gleefully. There's
no reason why you can't give me
your private opinion. Do you think
that young crook shot CrevelinS?
McCarty sighed and then his eyes
twinkled with sudden inspiration.
There's no getting away from you.
Jimmie." Come on up if you want
to; it's no good denying that I'm in
terested in the case. for all I'm back
number. and my curiosity that you
were talking about is still working.
You started in as society reporter,
didn't you?"
'Uh-huh." Jimmie admitted with
grimace as they mounted the stairs.
"I'd rather do the sob sister stuff any
day. But what about that gangster
you caught crawling out of the win
dow
rs he gangstero" McCarty asked
cautiously.
'Surest thing you know; one of the
Lexington Avenue Blackjacks. though
he's only a kid. What little nerve he
had is gone and he's bleating down
at headquarters now that it was the
first job he ever tackled and he only
did it to prove to the rest of the gang
that he was as good as any of them.
He declares he found Creveling dead
on 1.-The fioor-and that YOU can swear
to it. How about it. Mac?'
We'll. there was no silencer on the
gun we saw lying beside the body
and the one found on the crook when
] frisked him was loaded to the full"
each word. Il saw the fellow just
ahead of me on the avenue skulk;ng
to the house and getting through the
McCarty replied slowly. weighing
window and 1 waited outside for him.
but / didn't hear any shot. Come till
/ shave I've little time to spare, for
I've got to catch the 1880 train to
Homevale. to evict one of my ten
ants"
Jimmie grinned again at the pal
pable mendacity, but followed and
perched himself on the foot Of the
bed, where he could view the bath
room through the opened door.
You're busy little landlord. aren't
ycu?" he jeered good-naturedly. Did
you see anything while you waited
under the Window
Nothing but the legs of my young
friend Bodansky coming out faster
than ever he went In. and 1 didn't
have long to wait, either; not more
than three minutes" McCarty paused
to draw the razor along the lines Of
his square jaw and then turned.
will be good reading il 1t goes back
to the days when Creveling was
known as Million-a-month' along
Broadway"
'I was a cub then, but 1 remember
him and the crowd he trailed with"
Jimmie remarked. Didn't see much
of him at society crushes until his
engagement to Miss Alexander was
rumored."
'She's a f1ne-looking woman" Nc
Carly turned again to his task. "Are
Good blood in them: old stock, but
it's run to seed The money went.
too, during the past generation or so.
and old George Alexander helped 1t
along with q lot of fool speculations.
He must have been very nearly at the
- of his rope when Creveling mar.