Evening star., 1921-07-31

, could interpose the fat elderly man
; spoke over her shoulder.
Sarah will have 'er-Ullo' Who's
Hill darted a swift glance behind
and for the first time McCarty caught
glimpse Of the mans countenance
| with the mask off, 1t was drawn and
eyes The next instant with a twisted
smile he had stepped aside
Perhaps you'd like to tell them
yourself. sir" He waived his hand
toward the newcomers. Its Rollins
The two stood rooted to the spot
as McCarty stepped forward.
Police headquartsrs." he announced aI,tss &c
eooh e1o'iy; here? Il Did sfy you % telephone out to
Broadmead where Mrs. Creveling is
staying during last night"
rr9lics the wcWan ssspsd IN hsea
! Mrs. Creveling for?" I'm one that
| minds my own business and makes
Unfeigned astonishment was blazon-
no sign of apprehension. and salts
! fed that he had been answered Nc
Carly turned to her husband.
You're the butler? Did you tele-
pnOne 10 Mr. .ieOrRe ALEXANDER ABOUT
4:30 this morning?"
"'Mr. Alexander! Rollins repeated
in evident stupefaction. "At 'alf after
4 I was trying to settle to bit of
sleep again in my bed at my sisters.
| The house she lives in took on fire at
?. and We were all routed out in
| our-as we were. sir: 1 'ad no occa-
sion to telephone to Mr.. Alexander or
any one else What is it? What's
been going on ere. robbery"
Mr.. Creveling was shot to death
here in his study some time during
feet of his words narrowly. DO you
know who was supposed to have had
supper here with him?'
shot" 1t was the cook who ut
tered the exclamation and her huS-
band turned on her before she could
continue.
1--WE know nothing about!'' His
| ruddy face had paled and the asser-
to McCarty. was as obviously in
| tended for the woman. This is ter
rible business. sir!- 'Ow-'ow did it
'appen?"'
know why, Mr.. Creveling gave you a
| why. yes. SIR the butler stam-
mered. "Td asked him for leave to
run up to Boston over night some
! time this week to see my brother-in-
! law on business, and yesterday Mr..
Creveling told me to so last night and
take Sarah with me if I liked: 1 un-
derstand that Frank would be ere to
look after the 'ouse."
them" demanded McCarty quickly.
Because my brotherin-law 'ad re-
! turned to the city. phoned my sister
e 'ad come home. that's why we went
| to 'er fiat ere instead"
! And stayed over night instead of
coming back here to your own rooms
| to sleep? There was contemptuous
did you do that?'
| Because we talked late and my
| brother-in-law and 1 split a bottle
! that he'd cot old of somewhere" Rol-
lins spoke sullenly and then as if in
was probably expected of him. MIR.
! Creveling dead! This is 'orrible, sir.
! .orrible! A fine. handed gentle
man he was. Did burglar break in.
I'm asking questions. not answer
sternly. IF you're not more frank
with me me than this fellow here has
you as it. will with him! Who had
| supper with Mr.. Creveling here last
night?"
| II don't know. sir. strike me pink!
No more does Sarah. We're paid to
do our work and keep our place and
we've done both. as Mr.. Creveling i'm
self would tell you II e was alive to
do it. Mr.. Crcveling has entertained
! gentlemen ere now and again. but
we didn't know he expected any one
sent for, sir?'
| "Here"' Sarah threw up her hands
And her rooms not in order. and me
| wit oil Haf 1hG
the caterers to clean up!-Let me
pass! Police or no. I've got my work
to do. 1 don't know anything about
! what happened to poor Mr.. Creveling,
and you needn be afraid I'll run away.
You'll find me heree when you want
me"
McCarty opened his lips as if to
speak. then thought better of it and
obediently stepped aside. but he gazed
with quizzical look in his twinkling
eyes. When she had disappeared he
turned once more to the butler.
How long have you and your
wife been employed here?"
Three years." Rollins replied Tive
never worked for a nicer family-in
when they entertained and 1 could
ave 'ad a second footman any time
| be a bad job for US. getting mixed
up in scandal at our time of life and
we, We've ,;tgsy always beer, been so particular about
live Roliins?" McCarty cut short the
dow Of lamentation.
Just across the park. sir. in West
94th street, a door or two from
Columbus 9Snni" avenue. "I.n write the
hands fumbled shakily in his pockets.
| Her name is Mrs William Carroll
and she can tell you that both Sarah
and me were with her all night"
McCarty smiled to himself He
would have surer proof than that, for
the engine and hose company which
his particular crony, Dennis Riordan,
adorned with his presence was To-
%oad IN bays the tba best precinct penny
| knowing II there had been a fire at
that morning.
"'Tis just a matter of FORM" Nc
Carly remarked. Now, Rollins. come
your place is all right. but you are
In a position to know the truth and
I want it. You've heard all the family
conversation at table whether you
wanted to listen or not: did you ever
he hated or who hated him? Was
there any one who would be glad to get
him out of the way?"
Hill had followed the cook kitchen
his questioner to the shadowed turn
in the hall and he hesitated. Finally
he spoke.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Creveling was
too 'ighly bred to discuss their af-
fairs before any of the 'oushold, sir.
| E was very forceful man and I've
no doubt made enemies. but none that
could ave wished i'm out of the way,
though there was one that e had Ugh
words with one night not q fortnight
ago."
"who was that?" Mccarty, demand
1,