Evening star., 1921-05-08

dress suit which had palpably not
been made for him. He had sullen
and suspiciously Teutonic cast of
countenance, and he was engaged in
speech as l entered.
'Ha, Knox. said Harley. slancins
over his shoulder. did you manager"
! Yes" l replied.
Harley nodded shortly and turned
again to the man in the chair.
trouble. Mr.. Meyer" he said. but l
should like my friend here to see the
room above"
At this moment my attention was
attracted by singular object which
lay upon the desk in a litter Of bills
and accounts. This was piece Of
rusty iron bar, somewhat less than
! three feet in length, that once had
, been painted green.
You are looking at this tragic
fragment. Knox" said Harley, taxi
ing up the bar "Of course"-he
shrugged his shoulders-"it explains
The whole unfortunate occurrence.
You see, there was flaw in the
metal at this end here'-he indica ed
the spot-'and the other end hatf
. evidently worn loose in its socket
But ! don't understand"
ut will all be made clear at the
inquest. no doubt. most unfortu-
Most unfortunate" declared the
| proprietor of the restaurant. extend
ing his thick hands pathetically.
, Most ruinous to my business"
We'll go upstairs now" said Har-
ley. You will kindly lead the way.
| Mr.. Meyer. and the whole thing will
be huite clear to you. Knox"
AS the proprietor walked out Of
the Office and upstairs to the second
floor Harley whispered in my ear:
where did she go?"
NO. As Hamilton place" l replied
in an undertone.
GOOD Cod muttered my friend
+, and clutched my arm so tightly that
I WINGED Good God, This crime
was the work Of genius"
ing. Mr.. Meyer admitted US to a
small supper room. Its furniture
consisted Of round dining table.
several chairs. a couch and very lit
tie else. observed. however, shat
the furniture, carpet and few
other appointments were Of char
acter much more elegant than those
of the public room below. A win
dow which overlooked the street was
open. so that the plush curtains
which had been drawn aside moved
slightly in the draft.
explained Harley. He crossed the
room. III you will stand here be-
side me you will see the gap in the
railing caused by the breaking away
of the fragment which now lies on
Mr. Meyers desk Some few yards
where the assault took place Of
! which we have heard. and the unfor-
tunate Mr.. De Lana. who was dining
here alone-an eccentric custom OF
his-naSurally ran to the window
upon hearing the disturbance, leaned
hA
railing. The rail collapsed and
we know the rest"
TT will ruin me-" groaned Meyer:
'it will give bad repute to my es-
tabliShment."
Il fear it will" agreed Harlsy.
sympathetically. unless we can
manage to clear up one or two little
difficulties which l have observed.
For instance'-he tapped the pro-
prietor on the shoulder CONFIDENTIAL
| idea. Of the identity Of the woman
who was dining here with Mr.. De
| Lana on Wednesday night?"
i The effect of this simple inquiry
upon the proprietor was phenomenal.
His fat. yellow face assumed a sort
inent eyes protruded abnormally. He
IT tell you-already I tell you,"
! he muttered. that Mr.. De Lana he
engage this room every Wednesday
and sometimes also Friday. and dine
here by himself"
| "And ] tell you" said Harley,
| sweetly. that you are an inspired
| liar. You smuggled her out by the
| side entrance after the accident"
| THE side entrance?' muttered
! Never. '"The side entrance"
; EXACTLY: the side entrance. There
! is something else which I must ask
! you to tell me. Who had engaged
! this room on Tuesday night. the
night before the accident"
..- X X X
THE propretor's expression re-
l. manned uncomprehendinS. "A