Evening star., 1921-08-09
Continued from Yesterdays star.)

CONTINUED from Yesterdays starr
The questions multiplied in Nc
Carty's BRAIN. Where had she been
on the previous night that she found
was in that message which Waverly
had sent to her, and what was her
connection "a rank outsider with
the set in which the Crevelings had
! moved? That some community of in
terest drew them together was plain,
but what could there be in common
between gentleman like John
O'Rourke and a bounder like Waver-'
ly. an aristocrat such as Mrs. Crevel-
ing and climber of Mrs. Kip's type?
Could the answer be found among the
others of their immediate circle?
1t was almost 8 o'clock when. hav-
ing finished his meal, McCarty hailed
a taxi and drove to the st. Maur
apartments on Madison avenue. Mrs.
Lonsdale Ford was.at home and
would see him. Reluctantly he
dropped in the elevator the news
paper which he had purchased on
leaving the lunchroom and in which
his interview with Jimmie Ballard
appeared with arrant embellishments.
trusting that - copy of it had not yet
reached the eyes of the lady, upon
whom he was calling, but his hope
was a vain one. Even as an obsequi-
Gus Japanese butler ushered him into
the drawing-room the curtains lead
ing to the library parted and slen-
der little woman with round. china-blue
eyes and hair like spun fax fairly pre-
cipitated herself upon him.
"Oh. you're Officer McCarty. who
found poor Mr.. Creveling's body" she
exclaimed in high, babbling voice.
I've been reading about you in the
paper. Please, please tell me how
it happened! I tried to get Mrs
Creveling on the phone. but she
wouldn't talk to me or else Stella
Waverly wouldn't let her! 1 can't get
my husband until the stock market
closes and I've been just wildy'
Of yours. ma'am?'
"Of course! This is the most shock
ing thing She seemed to speak in
italics and her tone suggested that
the shock was more exciting than de-
plorable. "Lonny-my husband-and
eral deals together and they were
great pals! / think Mrs. Creveling is
just the sweetest thing: I've missed
her horribly since she has been out
of town!-But did Mr.. Creveling kill
himself? OF course, you found the
pistol in his hand, the paper says, but
then there was that burglar you cap
you for anything"
McCarty eyed the doll-like face be-
fore him with its insipid prettiness
and his wonderment grew. sweet
was not a term he would have applied
to the strong. self-contained Mrs.
Crevelng. What could there be In
common between her and this shall
low, empty-headed little creature?
"'Tis the opinion of the medical
examiner that it was suicide. ma'am."
he said gravely. We're trying 10
find out from Mr.. Creveling's friends
have for killing himself; II he seemed
In trouble or low in his mind. When
was the last time you or your hus-
hand saw him?"
II think Lonny saw him only yes
terday. on business. The last time we
met him together was on Tuesday eve
ming. and we expected him last night.
but he didn't appear"
He had an engagement with you?'
Mrs. Ford bit her pouting under
lip and for the merest second the
round, childish. blue eyes narrowed
with a shrewdness oddly foreign and
incongruouS to them.
Not with US, and 1t wasn't an-ap
engagement exactly. My husband and
I dined and spent the evening with Mr..
Cutter and they are such inseparable
friends that we rather thought he
might drop in"
A sudden remembrance of Douglas
waverly's testimony flashed across
|McCarty's mind. The last time he ad-
|mitted having seen Creveling had been
on Tuesday evening also, at the house
of Nicholas Cutter.
Twas at Mr.. Cutters that you
saw him on Tuesday. then. wasn't it?"
he asked. who else was there?"
The O'Rourkes and Mr.. Douglas
Waverly and Mrs. Baillie Kip" Mrs.
Ford spoke haltingly and the high
treble voice lowered. "Mr. Creveling
seemed in the very best of spirits: he
always was when he
when he what. maam?' McCartY
prompted quickly as she paused.
The blue eyes fell and she began
fiddling nervously with the many
rings which covered her small fingers.
when he'd got something that he
wanted" The words came In a little
rush. He had a perfect craze for
antiques. you know; musty old tapes
tries and faded rugs and books that
nobody ever heard Of. This time it
was a rug, think, with some queer
unpronounceable name. He's been
after it for months"
Il see." McCarty interrupted dryly.
do you remember. ma'am. whether
him and Mr.. Waverly had, much talk
together that night?"
"Why, no" The blue eyes opened
wide once more. Il don't remember
that they even spoke, but l wasn't
paying any attention to them. 1 know
Mr.. Creveling left early. very soon
after Mr. Waverly came.''
rs it habit of Mr.. Cutters to en-
tertain so much in his own house?"
Mrs. Ford stared at him and opened
her lips to reply when there came the
sound Of a key grating in the lock of
the hall door, and with a glad little
cry she sprang up and rushed from
the room. McCarty heard the door
open and close. a muffled exclamation
l-"Oh, Lonny!"-and then a mans
voice rasped out hoarsely:
you've heard. Nellie? You know?