Evening star., 1921-08-13

examiners report. Young and rich
and popular and all as he was, it
stands to reason that he must have
been nutty to do thing like that.
here last night. weren't they?"
Yes. They d!ned with me and we
talked until an unconscionable hour.
Clever fellow. Ford: one of the
shrewdest operators on the street.
Take few of these cigars with you
it, you liked that one" Mr.. Cutter
invited cordially as he held out a
handful. You won't find any of the
same sort in the city, for they are made
especially for me. Look in on me
again any time you care to do so:
! shall be glad to learn how your
investigation is coming along"
McCarty thanked him. reclaimed his
hat and departed. 1t was nearly s o'clock
and the early spring dusk was set
Ting about him as he made his way
to the nearest public telephone booth
and called up Dennis Riordan.
"As soon as ever I can get into my
regular clothes" the latter promised.
What was that you said this morn
ing about dress suit?"
You'd not be needing it tonight"
McCarty chuckled. Don't make 1t
more than half an hour, for if it's not
mistaken am, we have job like the
old times before us, Denny. I'll be at
the table in the corner waiting for
YOU
Ringing off, McCarty inserted an
other nickel in the slot and. calling
headquarters. got an eager and impa-
tient inspector on the wire.
rs that you. Inspector Druet?" he
demanded cautiously
Where the devil have you been,
Mac? Here I've been waiting for your
report
Twill keep, sir. at least for a
while, for I've nothing definite. but
think I'm on the heels of something.
morning on susp.cion?"
''EodanSky?"
mo. sir. The valet. Has he laid
low or yelled for a lawyer?"
He's standing pat. Says he'll ask
for a lawyer when he needs one and
seems confident Wen have to let him
go for lack of evidence. 1 had him up
on the carpet for three hours. but no
amount of grilling will get out of him
where he was during the hours be-
tween II and 6.
We'll. guess he's rightw Mccarty
observed. IF you'll take a little tip
from me. sir, you'll turn him loose"
Turn him What-t" The wires
fairly sizZled>
Let him go, sir. at sharp to-
night" McCarty urged. Give him an
idea that you've gained new evidence
tiidt iedEes hiIn out OF tne case en-
tirely and you don't give a damn
where he spent the night. Get that
through his head and then throw him
out, but not minute before 8. Have
you Martin there. or Yost?"
Martin. But what have you got
under your hat, Mac?"
My head. sir: and it's wonder
tits still on my shoulders with all the
queer dope I've been getting this
day" responded McCarty with fervor.
However. when you let our bird out
have Martin on the job. I'll pick the
fellow up just outside and do you
tell Martin. please. sir, to trail along
after me, but do nothing until I give
him the sign. 1 may be wanting Yost
later, but if do I'll phone again"
you're all wrong this trip. Mac.
but I'll let you see it through" The
inspector laughed meaningly. "Our
bird is too wise to lead you to his
ccvey, but when he's trailed his broken
wing before you long enough pull him
in again and come down here with
him. Understand? I've got something
to talk over with you"
Yes. sir" McCarty agreed noncom-
mittally. But until I do see you, sir.
for the love of the saints keep the
newspaper boys of the same opinion
as the medical examiner Don't let
them know but that the case is closed
as far as we are concerned, and it
might be a nice little diversion for
them if you dropped a hint about
and our late friend having showed
signs of going bugs himself. Don't
put 1t too strong, sir; Whit is
enough for them news hounds to
get on the scent and tits being laid
careful for them and for US, too, if I'm
not mistaken
Il get you" There was a new note
in the inspectors tone. Your party
will be under way at sharp"
An hour later, over a thick steak
and very black coffee. McCarty re-
counted TO the eager Dennis all that
the firehouse that morning.
And that's the whole of it," he
summed up, waving a greasy knife
comprehensively. Every last one of
them bIuffing and hedging. and lying
like hell except the O'Rourkes and not
a soul of them knowing that they're
giving themselves away with every
stall they make! If it's all the one
thing they're working together to
keep dark, then tits better organized
they are than Tammany itself was
in the old days, but if they've each
got their own private reasons-out-
side an aversion to notoriety-for
warding off an investigation, they
must be a fine bunch of crooks!
There's something queer about the
lot. Denny, something I don't under
stand. I told you the dope I got on
ing out my old friends the O'Rourkes
though God only knows how they
come to be mixed up in that crowd
take the KIP woman. She knew well
1 was no reporter, but she tried to
bluff it out and put over the lie that
she was asleep in her bed all night
and had hurt her arm by a fall. She
didn't dare deny, though, that twas
Waverly that sent her the message
about what had happened to Creve-
ling because she wasn't sure of her
ground, and when I sprung it on her
that twas suicide it swept her clean
off her feet; if she don't actually
know it was murder she's got a
mighty strong suspicion, and so have
the rest of them"
"'Twas fool move she made, quar-
reling with the old danes shed hired
to boost her into society,"" Dennis
commented. knowing the woman had
something on her. she'd ought to have
kidded her along to keep her mouth
shut"
McCarty shook his head.
Fool she may be, but she knew
that the Frost woman wouldn't talk
unless it was dragged out of her for
fear that notoriety would spoil her
chances with another sucker; one hint
of scandal and her graft would be
gone. AS it was. when I put it up
to her she cleaned her own skirts
by blackening the other woman's
of her house at all hours almost
against her will? Blackmail or some
thing like drink or dope that she
couldn't keep away from? What kind
of investments is her money tied up
in that she's flush one minute and