Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-13

look az the old newspaper files will give
me line on that" McCarty spoke ms
tnough to himself, but he watched the
o.ner narrowly. Twas the usual
tn,ng, L suppose: wine and women and
horses and cards. The first of them at
least he didn't give up when ho mar
ried, by your own testimony, but how
ABOUT the last? Has Creyeling been
gsmDIing heavy lately. that you know
here?'' '"''' 'i'''e san'cS
M ~ shook his head decisively.
| ne hasn touched card in years.
at least not that I've heard of. Ie
never even sat in at Mrs. Crcyclipg' 4
Dridge parties. After he married and
settled down he started in antique col
lec,ing' not paintings so much but rugs
| old books.
!, regular passion it got to be with
MN ana he studied up on periods and
sush, but then he was always natural
Juuge OF good things, Mr.. Creveling
McCarty pondered for moment. The
oi1cr mans expression was as inscrut-
aoie as ever, but there had seemed to be
thinly veilcd double meaning in his
iust remark. Why had he been SO OBJ
sious'y on the defensive since the begin.
m,ns OF the interrogation? He was
shrewd aud intelligent above tho aver.
asc OF ms class: surely he must realizr
tnc equlvocal position in which he stood
with the inspector after his open de-
lance h and refusal to state where he
hnu himsclf been during those crucial
..,S,', McCarty tried another lead.
ihlS mousse has kind of now
iook 10 ", in spite of all Of the old things
o,,e.vvcllng collected" he observed.
w hcn was it built?"
az the time of his marriage sir:
u" putt it for his bride. There's not a
reSldoh"o of its size on the avenue to
compare with it," The valet spoke with
almost personal pride.
Il, ANA twas him put up that high
piank wall at the back?" asked Nc
Carly. "Why?"
,, Il never heard him say, sir. sup
pose he preferred it TO the back courts
OF the side street houses" The re-
serve deepcncd once more in Hills
tones. 1T may have been Mrs. Crcyelipc
VINO suggested it; | cannot say"
Did anybody ever die here before -
Mccarty S own tones had lowered.
"Die?' The valet started ncrvously.
I'm this house, mean Has there
No. not until this :"
That's funny. never heard Of a
new house with never n death in it
that sportcd II ghost before" McCarty
seemed again to be rctlccting aloud and
for moment there was silence while
the other eyed him aSkancc At length
he resumed: "GOu used your own latch
key in coming in while ago who else
has keys TO the house,
Il don't know" The valet smoke in
evident relief Rollins, of course, aud
his wife. The rest of the staff were
supposed to turn theirs in to the house.
keeper when they left. but they may
have had duplicates made. The house
keeper went back to Scotland Il month
ago when the establishment was closed
and Mrs. Crcvcling started visiting. but
| don know what became of the keys. +"
II suppose you do know. though.
what you're letting yourself in for BY
refusing to tell where you have been
since II o'clockT" inquired McCarty.
"You are the last so far as we know
to have seen Creveling alive, you had !
key to come and go as you please and
you won't try to make out an alibi for
yourself. It's liable to go hard with
you"
Maybe" Hill commented without
bravado, but there was peculiar CLINT
in his swiftly lowered eyes. IF you're
on this case. Mr.. McCarty. it's for YOU
and the Inspector to prove that | was
here after ! not for me to prove that
| wasn't. I know American law. sir. :"
In spite of his respectful tone there
was covert challenge in il which
McCarty Crimlv accepted.
"IOu'vC had reason to. maybe, he
.,,,1 =
more to add to what you've told the in
spector and me?-Thcn we'll just go
baCk-'
A heavy. dull thud sounding from
the main hall broke into his sentence
and with common impulse both mon
turned to the door McCarty reached
it first aud opening it stepped mcchani-
cally outside just as the inspector and
Mr.. Alexander issued from the break
fast room.
Across the rOtunda. flooded with n
mingling Of pale sunshine and the more
brnzcn electric lights. the four men be-
held figure which momcntarily held
them spcllbOund. A f'w steps from the
main entrance doors which had Just
closed behind her woman stood looking
from one to another of them.
Ash blonde hair abave deep violet
eyes pccpcd from beneath her motor
hood and her tall. statuesQue form.
swnthed in a long satin coat which re.
vcalcd rather than concealed its Spcn
did lines, was drawn up to its full
height as she regarded them for II long
minute in silence which none Of them
seemed inclined to break.
At last her lips moved and with
perfect self possession she inquired