Evening star., 1921-08-06


find that her husband shared?
His mind busted with vain conjec-
ture, McCarty passed the Creveling
house and continued south to Sixty
third street, where he turned east to
the address given him as that of Mrs.
Baillie Kip. Jimmie Billiards. de-
scription of her as an unsuccessful
social climber and the mystery of
her recent admission to the exclusive
circle in which the Crevelings had
moved, made him curious not only as
to her personality but to observe her
She could not be on as intimate
terms with the Crevelings as friends
of years standing, but would she,
too, scout the suggestion of suicide?
Her house was small, mere slice
between two larger ones. but gay
with window boxes ablaze with
color. An express wagon was drawn
up at the curb before it and as Nc
Carly reached the foot of the steps
the door opened and a man appeared
bearing upon his hunched back a
huge dark green wardrobe trunk
plentifully splattered with labels.
With a grunt he slammed it down
upon the sidewalk and turned to un-
hook the blackboard of the wagon,
and the tag fastened to the single
handle at its top was directly be-
meath McCarty's eyes. In glance
he read the inscription. written neat
ly in small but wayertng characters:
Miss Letitia Frost.
Hotel Fitz-Maurice,
New York City"
The front door was still open and
a trim little maid in a smartly frilled
apron regarded him curiously as he
mounted the steps. On a sudden i'm
pulse he asked for Miss Frost.
nj qnddQnlv
just this morning" the girl volun-
teered. She's taken her dog with
her, too, so if you're the man from
the Greendale kennels come to see
about boarding it."
Il am not" McCarty interrupted
with dignity: IT Miss Frost is not
here I would like to see Mrs. Kip.
Please tell her it is a matter of the
greatest Importance"
The girl hesitated, then somewhat
doubtfully ushered him into small
reception room glittering with mir
rors and spindle-legged gilt fprni-
ture and heady with perfume from
available space.
McCarty shifted. choked, tried a
chair, which creaked alarmingly. and
finally planted himself in the center
of the room facing the doorway and
waited.
murmur of feminine voices from
above, the girls and another. high
pitched and petulant Then came a
pause, the rustic of silk upon
the stairs, and plump young wom-
An with hennaed hair and heavy
lidded hazel eyes stood before him.
Her right arm was in sling and her
face drawn as with pain.
Il am Mrs. Kip. You wished to
see me?"
a moment" He added: I've come
from Mrs. Eugene Creveling's s
"oh!" The lady flung out her free
hand. "If you are a reporter I have
positively nothing to say! I know
the Crevelings. of course. and I am
deeply shocked to learn Of what has
happened. but I do not care to discuss
You mean Mr.. Creveling's death,
ma,am? How did you hear ar. OF itg" 2;
the papers yet
II was awakened this morning by
a message which was brought to me
but l really have no more to say"
She turned toward the door and as
the light fell upon her face he saw
that there were deep rings about her
eyes and the rouge, in spite OF the
artistry of its application. stood out
in blotches against the unnatural
pa1lor of her cheeks.
"At what time did this message
reach you?" McCarty stood his
ground.
About o'clock, I think. I had
retired early. but passed a wretched-
ly wakeful night. 1 slipped On a
a rug yesterday and fell. spraining
my ARM She broke off, biting
her Redeemed lips. Il must ask you
"Who sent that message, Mrs.
Kip?" McCarty interrupted sternly.
Il do not care to say; it was a con-
close friend Of the Creveiings," she
stammered, and then drew herself
up. why do you ask me all these
questions? Who, are you? My maid
says you inquired for my companion
Miss Frost"
yes, ma'am. will you tell me
where she has gomez" McCarty ig-
nored the interrogations.
"To Chicago" Mrs. Kip replied
hastily. IA relative of hers is Ill
and sent for her" Then her manner
changed, and as though impelled be.
dence she asked. How did it hap
pen? Who shot Mr.. Creveling?"
Himself. ma:am. When I saw Mr.;
Waverly this morning just before he
sent you that message twas thought
that a murder had been committed
but it's proven that Mr.. CrevelinR
died by his own hand
Mrs. Kip Nwavered and the color