Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-30

I'roppcd up In he'd.
quite satisfied with her services, was
| she not: Liked her in fact?"
suppose SO or she would not
have KEEP, her along. What's the
idea, sergeant? Think her a bit above
her place: She may be. but II she
has any Interior motive in bein-
mere. You can take ii from me 1t is
not for the purpose OF DISCRIMINATING
| U.s.
Could he have spoken from know
cage Was there a mystery within a
mystery In this strange household?
In the presence OF this wcirdiy pre-.
cocious lad the detective experienced
again that same sense OF bafrlcment
which had attacked him more than
once since he took hold OF the case.
as If door had suddenly been shut
in his face.
Rannic had turned his head away
and closed his eyes. as if to Indicate
.hat as far as he was concerned the
interview was over, and Odell rose.
! well, won't bother you any
more. and I'll see that my mon do
not. understand that one Of them
Numbered in while ago"
! NO. Old Socks here--sho., for
/ Socrates, YOU know-invited him in.
| Didn't YOU. old boy"
1 lie nodded toward tho parrots
cage and the bird. still hanging up-
side down, runled its feathers and
remarked dolorousiy:
'It burns
What is he talking about" Odc,,
walked over to the cage and pokea
tentative finger between tn. bars
Look out: Hell give you nasty
MIN Rannie warned. He doesn't
IKE strangers. Well, what do you
know about that"
The parrot had hooded his eyes in
speculative fashion. shifted his feet
and finally sidlcd over and presented
[ MS head to he scratched. For full IA
/ minute odell stood there with his
/ Pack TO tho couch, his eyes travelling
swiftly over the cage and its inmate.
/ ihen lie turned aud nodding casually
TO Ranaic started for the door.
Wise old bird" he commented
! You'll drop in and let mo know
how you get on?" the boy asked al.
most eagerly.
odeil promised. and, closing the
door. softly behind him, he went
downstairs. The last two minutes
IN the inval!d's. room had served 10
: dash 10 chaos all his previous cal
: cuiatons. vague though they had
been; and the fog OF mystery which
encompasscd him seemed to h,v,
deepcncd 10 solid. impenetrahls
wall.
y IL was the parrot who had fur
! nished him with the last and mos;
: r"nh'ct'nS clue. Neither the birds
= Wh'mhcrinE paint nor It's suspended
i"sIti"n in the cage was without
reason ON the detectives first an.
| rr"ach I" tn" hird he had observes
That its urtmrmcd feet were boz:
badly h!istered. The rods upon whicl
u hab!tually stood had not been re.
, placed in their supports, but lay on =
, table clos. by: and the sliding ira,
: which formed the bottom of the cage
; was charrcd black.
HIS first thought was that the BOY
~ shcer love of cruelty. might have
hSen torturinS his pct. hut closer
inspection had revealed. amid tho
: EraVcl with which the tray had been
l!Sht!y spr!nhled, few blackencd
: sl!vers OF wood
Gene Chalmers had told the truth
The sawdust had not been burn cd
in his crate. but i'm the trav from
The parrots cage. and the ashes later
placed where they were found.
captain Lewis looked up with a
grin as odel! entered the bureau al
police headquarters that evening and
sank into chair beside the big
desk.
u thought there must be sometime
doing when you phoncd down for
eight of the boys today" he com
mcnted. What's going on at the
Meade house,"
: Murder" responded Odcll suc.
cinc;!E. Systematic murder, on a
digger scale than this city has
known for years. and an inside lob,
some one Is trying TO wipe out the
whole family, captain: and have
struck Il million clues and no motive
In all the five years have been on
Your staff I've never seen anything
TO equal this case"
The captain gave a low whistle
Murder. ch? sure Of 1t. Oden?"
Does man cut his own throa,
by accident, sevcrins the jugular
vein: drop his razor. grope around
with bloody hands to save himself
and then. before he dies. hunt for
that razor 80 that no shall be found
It'll II In his hand?" demanded the
IL