Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-28

AS though in dnZe Mctnrty felt
the grip Of soft but vigorous hand.
and found himself In the depths Of q
great chair with the best cigar he had
ever smoked between his teeth and keen.
inscrutable gray eyes smiling down at
him.
You're Mr.. Nicholas Cutter, sir?'
he asked when he could find his voice.
and then at the others nod he added
You've been waiting for me? don't
get you--"
Your former colleague. or--er--
competitor. Mr.. Wade Terhune. has
already paid me a call and he told me
that ! might expect you shortly Mr..
Cutter dropped indolcntly into a chair
and stretched out his long. slim legs
luxuriously. I'm quite ready to tell
you anything can about our late friend
Eugene Creveling
80 Terhune had been before him and
left that ironic warning. knowing that
1t would be repeated, lIcCarty stifed
a profnne observation and his own hon
est blue eyes travelled in swift appraisal
over his companion. He saw n man in
the late forties with dark. lean. almost
ascetic face and hair just CRAVING at
the temples a man who bore himself
with the cordial but unconsciously aloof
air Of m aristorrat and yet about whom
there appeared to be an alert tenslty
M Of one habually on guard There
seemed to McCarty to be something
vaguely familiar about that expression {;
upon whose face had he encountered II
before
You II excuse me for intruding on
you sir. but we've hardly any clues
to work on and 'tis only through Mr..
Creveling's friends and associates that
We can hope to get line on him. Me-
Carly began at last We're trying To
find out what motive he c ,uld have had
for killing himself
Mr.. Cutters eyebrows went up md
he put the tips Of his long. slender,
tapering fingers together.
80: The authorities have come 10
the conclusion that It was suicide? That
was not the impression I gathered from
Mr.. Tcrhune.
''Mr. Terhune is a private detective,
sir: scientific criminologist, he calls
himself. and wonder he is in some
respects with his little recording ma
chimes and such. but I'm O special dep
uty on the police force and one OF the
old school Suicide the assistant med
icnl examiner names it. and as a suicide
i Ill INV ''uSt' WV ut'N '
tone was that OF one harnessed TO rou
tine. bat there was a speculative gleam
in he gaze he bestowed upon his host.
Mr.. Gutter shook his head.
"Of course you know your business
Mr.. McCarty. and your medical ex
pert's diagnosis ought to be conclusive
but isn't there room for doubt? I'm
mi actually ipsinuatinp that some one
hroke In and shot Mr. Crpyeling. bu,
have Won looked at the case from all
s;desP''
~ there was room for doubt that il
vos suicide what else are YOU thinking
of brt murder Mr. Cutter?" McCarty
demanded
The other shrugged.
II have formed no opinion. person. .
oil, ran no more conceive of Mr..
travelling killing himself than can Of
ony one wishing 10 take his life. yet the
f,rt remoins that hc Ia dead from thu
shot ~ nis,ol fred by his hind or that
~ another II the authorities are Sat
;s6ed that IL is n case Of suicide that
is one step on the way TO its so'nti"h'
You've known Mr.. Crevel'ns long
time?"
Since he left the university, but
onlv casually In those earlier years
H. u.oS having his fling in the bright
i;ahts and INV tastes drew me in quite
another direction il was only after his
marriage and tarough mutual 'rirhn
lin, and discovered that We had an in e
,crest in common which rendered US
congepial."
'fAna what was tha, interest, Mr.,
CUTTER" McCarty asked quickly.
"a love Of the beautiful in all things
textiles. books. paintings. Dor"eialnS'
scnlnture. II had lain dormant In him
hut with me it was innate, the passion
Of lifetime: he had inc h'Nnls',iN'
zceI Of n collector and the apprerin :.
tion Of an hereditary possessor. but !
wax naturally interested IN finding n
kindrcd spirit where 7 had least Thought
to discover one. II you were con
noisrour. Mr.. McCarty. you would Gn
dcrstond what q pleasure il was 10 me
- inrtruct and advise him in his choice,
Ue made many mistakes but he was
ioarninp-he was learning, What n
nitv''
81, >, N,Co,y aurcrd cravcly
,,,,.n .''' ,'ny S,' rho mutual friend that
u" ", ",, ,ore,herp''
oro,.n' 'nor,laS Wayerly."
lii. :" NJcCnrty calculated And
'i.u o,, ooII n connoiSscur, too?"
Is NJ W"". ,,nr S"a YmiIcd with evident
o.,.,,scmcn, .Sc