Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-06


families were as eager 10 conceal the
truth as Gutter; that's where he played
safe. The worst part Of il is that he
is a reol 0ristocrat, IL there is such q
thing in this country; his family is
one Of the Oldest and he has always
kept his social position impregnable.
though ] understand he inherited moth :
ing but the house and some rotten an :
cestor's gambling instinct! People
don't dare squeal on him, for he has
clients and victims among the connec-
tions Of every prominent family in the
country. He thought I wouldn't dare.
either, but I've got nothing TO lose
now"
Il wonder he didn't take that into
consideration" McCsrty remarked.
You say he refused TO let you have
a loan to tide you over when he knew
10 meant ruin to you"
Ford colored painfully.
There was q personal matter In
volved and it warped his judgment, /
guess he mumbled. my wife. you
know"
II see." McCarty strove to make his
voice sympathetic. but he was filed
with loathipg for the unprincipled weak :
IL he could, from a man who had in
suited his wife and If he couldn't. sell
him outl The ex- -roundsman's foot
tingled to administer kick to the COW =
ardly sneak, but he must learn more.
If Mrs. Waverly and Mrs. Creveling
played just because they were bored and
Mrs. Ford because you wanted her to,
why did Mrs. Kip and-and Mrs.
. 'Rourke sit in the game?'
oh. Connie. Kip is born adven-
turess; professional gambler in a
way, like Cutter replied Ford care
lessly. Shes too shrewd to jeopardize
the social position she has wormed her =
self into by any indiscreet Irritation. but
and could swear I've caught her cheat
ing more than once; though II Cutter
knows it he doesn't mind her counting
herself in on his graft for she's popular
and useful to him as steerer. 1t is
through her that he gets his clutches on
the young asses in society with more
money than brains"
WAS she at Cutters on Thursday
EVENING"" asked McCarty suddenly.
mo, only the O'Rourkes. We ex-
pected Creveling, but he phoned that
he couldn't make it, SO we had fve-
handed game tame enough, too, with
They were the plungers and helping
along Cutters fleeing Of O'Rourke. I
suspect. I might have warned him,
suppose, but 7 had my own fish to fry
in trying to win my money back from
them or get loan, and then misery
loves company, you know -
But Mrs. O'Rourke?" persisted
McCarty. What possessed her to
For the same reason that her hus-
band did: a sheer love Of the game.
responded Ford with an odd note OF
respectful admiration in his tone.
McCarty rose. He felt suddenly stifed
and, as though his breakfast had not
agreed with him. This cheap renegade
might be useful to him in the future,
and his native caution warned him to
go before he expressed himself openly.
Not for the life Of him could he listen
to another word concerning the Lady
Peggy. even in praise, from such lips.
Thank you, sir. | guess you We told
me all 1 need TO know to work on now
and l won't poster you any longer. I
won't give you away, but there'll be no
more fleeing Of Mr.. O'Rourke nor any
one else, can promise you that"
II don't give Il damn about that, I'm
done :" Ford followed him to the door.
McCarty breathed deeply when he
reached the street once more, as though
to clear his lungs from fetid at
mosphere, but he felt that he had nc
at any time since he had undertaken the
case.
He was on the inside now. looking
out, and although he had learned moth
ing which pointed to the actual solu-
ton of the crime there w0s O chance
that the right thread was in his hands
at last.
During his interview with the bank
rupt broker an idea had come 10 him
which completely revolutionized his
earlier plan Of procedure. and he lost
no time in finding telephone booth
and calling up headquarters.
Inspector Druet was already at his
desk and informed him that Yost re-
ported no trace Of the missing Hildreth
woman, and Martin, when he was re-
lieved at the Creyeling house, said that
Hill had betrayed neither protest nor
surprise at finding himself under guard,
nor had he made the least move to
escape espionage. The report Of the
chief medical examiner on the autopsy
bad come in also, and he had reversed
the opinion of his assistant; Creveling
could not have killed himself. II had
been murder.
Perhaps its just az well. sir" Nc.
Carty's tone was humble. "l-Ive
changed my mind, thinking over the
dope you've got against Hill, and more
over I've dug up Il few things this
morning that look like they might make
the case complete.
II thought so !" the inspector laughed
jubilanty. Good old Mac! You're not
afraid to admit you've made mistake,
are your ,,c.
mot being regularly connected with the
force any longer. promotion don't
bother me and there's nothing to hold
me back when I'm in the wrong from
saying so, and starting over. I've been
thinking that as long as you'y got the
dragnet out after that Hildreth woman
and the stations and ferries and roads
watched 40 that she cant make her
getaway from the city, we're bound to
land her in time and there's no use In
waiting for her TO try to get in touch
with Hill before we run him ia again.
think I've got way TO make him talk
after day or two in the Tombs, but
I'd like to make the arrest myself
Go 10 it," the Inspector said
heartily. Your mind was so set on it
that he wasn't guilty, thought I'd give
you few days to find out that you
were barking up the wrong tree, but
the Hildreth woman is too clever by half
to give hersef away by trying 10 com.
municate with him. Come down here
and III have warrant ready for you" |
"Couldn't you send IL up 10 Inc at |
the Creveling house," McCarty asked. |
81 m on my way there now, sir, and | |
don't want to lose any time,