Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-16

to the girl at the switchboard.
You can go right up" lie returned
to the counter once more. Suite
eleven four"
McCarty alighted from the elevator
at the eleventh floor and knocked ut the
door Of apartment No. 4. .-...
"Comc in" It was unmistakably the
same voice which had talked to him
over the wire ut the Crcveling house.
McCarty obeyed and his eyes twinkled
anew as he glanced about him. The
room was in disorder with clothing and
newspapers scattered about and through
the connecting doorway he could see
the bed with its covers thrown back
Before him the stout, red faced man
stood attired in bathrobo and slippers.
You're from Mrs. Creveling" the
latter demanded.
1--WE come straight from her house,
Mr.. Waverly, though it's questions I've
brought, not message McCarty's y
manner was respectful, but the twinkle
had died out of his eyes. ''If you'll
answer me straight ri not be keeping
you long, sir, from the sleep you must
be needing"
"Who are you?" Mr.. Wavcrly
turned u shade more red. what do
you mean about my needing sleepp l
don't believe you have come from Mrs.
Crcveling, at all, you are an i'm
postor-!'
They don't call me that down at
police headquarters, Mr.. Waverly,"
McCarty interrupted, still quietly.
'You only reached the hotel ten min
utes ago, the ink is hardly dry on your
name in the register and finding YOU
ready for bed like this I thought you
must need some sleep"
police hendquarters! The ruddy
face palcd. That fool clerk downstairs
said that no one had called for me-,
"And no more they had, sir. I've
been waiting down in the lobby some
little time for you to come in knew
you were never here when you tele.
phoncd." McCarty paused and then
asked sharply: "Mr. Waverly, when
did YOU last see Mr.. Eugene Creve-
ling?"
"Why, the night before last. Tues
day." the other Stammcred. Whats s
all the row about? Has he disappeared
My wife said something about an acci-
dent, but IL it is just that he hasn't
turned up---"
Hes turned up all right, sir; turned
up his toes on the floor Of his study,
shot through the heart!" McCarty
watched the effect Of his announcement
carefully.
Gene Creveling Good God. it's inn
possible !" Waverly's flabby jowls took
on purplish tinge and his pale blue
eyes seemed to protrude from their
sockets. You don't mean murder
Looks like it, sir. The last time
you saw him alive was on Tuesday
;1bt1 "hnra fhiu ~
'At Nick Cutters" Waverly raised
a thick, pudgy hand to the folds of flesh
which hung pcndulous over his throat as
though the collar of his bathrobe had
suddenly grown too tight. God
Creveling dead Il suppose you're n
detective, but why have you come to
me?"
"To get the particulars of how you
learned of the supposed accident sir. ~
smile was disarmingly can
did. You say your wife telephoned
to you; where did she get you on the
wirc?"
"She didn't; telephoncd to her."
Wavcrly disclaimcd. ignoring the qucs-
tion. II wanted her to bring Mrs.
Creveling and motor in to town for
lunch. meant to dig up Creveling, too,
and drag him back to the country this
afternoon. Mrs. Waverly told me that
"A message had come between half past
4 and 3 o'clock this morning from Mrs.
Creveling's cook, summoning her I'm
mediately to town. that Mr.. Creveling
had met with some accident. They're
intimate friends of ours and naturally
| called up Mrs. Creveling mt once to
learn what had happened and to offer
my services. l never thought of any
thing like this! ] can't believe it even
vet. My God. it's horrible! Who
who could have done it,"
He sank into chair and reached
shakily for the fresh pitcher of ice water
upon the table at his elbow. McCarty
waited until he had drunk deep and
then as the pitcher .clattered back upon
the table once more he observed:
$50 the Crevelings are intimate
friends of yours. sir? How long have
you known them?"
Look here, what are you driving at !!
Creveling and / palled around together
for years before he was married and
Naturally when he became engaged my
marriage they have been closely identi-
fled with our immediate circle. My
wife and Mrs. Creveling are almost in
scparable.'
"And you and Mr.. Creveling, sir?
ly as well as you used to-" McCarty's s
tone was ingratiating. "You'll excuse
me, Mr.. Wavcrly, but didn't you and
he have a quarrel not so long ago?"
4" 'Quarrel'?" the other repeated.
strengthening himself suddenly in his
chair as though to meet an unexpected
thrust. Great heavens, no! Who told
you such lic?"
"You didn't have dispute with Mr..
Crcveling in his own house one night
not fortnight ago." McCarty per-
sisted. Il don't like to make mention
of n LADY,"
"By God, you'd better not - Waver-
ly rose from his chair with a threaten
ing sCOwl. I've stood about all of this
that I'm going to, my man! I don't
formation nor by what authority you
third degree. but I'll listen to no more
Get out before l phone the Office and
have you put out -
~ wouldn't try 1t, sir, IL l were
you," McCnrty said blandly. "I'd
have to ask you to take a littlo ride
downtown with me and the head house
detective here and tell the inspector
in charge of the case what II was you
and Mr.. Creveling almost came to
blows about nfter that little supper
week before last. thought you'd rather
keep out of the notoriety and all that's
why | came to you quiet like"
$50 that's II I" Wavcrly's lip curled.
Graft, ch? Blackm-!"
Don't go too far, sir!" McCarty's
tone was ominously quiet and there was
a CLINT of steel in his eyes. ''It'll do
you no good to be calling names. I've
got proof that two weeks ago come to-
morrow night YOU had supper alone
with Mr.. Creveling in his house and
high words passed between you over