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

.,c He is riSiOtV pe'tVogu unu
,g, ,nroic,is "ho had nothing to 40 ~M
,cbofs in dcro.
TIpo nn hc floor of a room lies mdn
!. crcring clothes, the front OF ichose
.n;rt is red wifh blood and pifhh
s"nck 0f his hand is a hn0o army
s,sroIrer. The table Is lad tor fno
,,;,k champagne on ice, stn an
scied. The house is empty OF human
nsiros, Mr.. Alerdndor pdrfner ~
%,'iness to the dead man, ana uncto
~ Ills icitc, appears ,sdging no mas
lscn summoned BY telephone. AIRS.
Trrrciiug appears also. Ne'ther thov
.or he servants, who later dssem6te,
y" scu throp light on the agar, AIRS:
Crcpeling insists on engaging me 0eSt
detective service. r..1
,rirato detective, the police mSpeG,'
H., assistant Suppresscs the ma,
,po Of blood stained. playing cara
md Of his search OF the rooms up
stairs, II woud be time TO mpdrt
ihat Information 10 inc prtrdtG detec-
@ nre phcn he had first laid the tdctS
before his chez. e
TN THE breakfast room they came
upon Rollins hastily removing the
dsbrIs Of the supper which had ended 80
,sgicolly and as Terhune paused to
question him McCarty slipped away
nd rcioining the group in the hall led
hnsbector Druet aside.
"The cook and butler are back, sir,
md 7 think IL you don't need me for
while III be getting on; there nre
f,v things I want to look into. You'll
a holding that valet, Frank HIP
"Of course, until he gives us some
ort of an alibi that we can establish
40 our one best bet now unless you've
70, some dope you haven't told me
bout" The inspector glanced at him
khrewdly.
McCarty's eyes twinkled.
"I'ye had no time, sir, and besides
i've nothing definite as yet, but II
kou'll be going back downtown soon
I'm come in and make my report.
When you frisk this man Hill at head
buarters If you find pair Of gloves on
i'm keep them aside till I get there
"Gloyes on warm spring night J"
Tbe inspectors own eyes narrowed.
.For n valet he must be some classy
,rssserl There were none on him when
e came to the door of the breakfast
oom" :.
You'll find them in one of his
rockets, most likely" McCarty re-
marked carelessly. See you later,
fhief."
As be turned to go the telephone in
|he study shrilled in subdued insistence
Ind Rollins appeared in the door Of
(he breakfast room, but Mt sign from
|he inspector McCarty was before him.
Crossing the study, he lifted the
bronze ornament from the telephone and
held the receiver to his ear.
Hello! Can ] speak to Mrs. Grey
Hing. please?" 1t was mans voice
cultured in its intonatons and yet with
note of inherent grossness.
"Who is it, sirT' McCarty asked
cautiously.
"Mr. Douglas Wavcrly."
MCCarty pOndered for moment and
hen spoke with his voice carefully
nOdulated.
Mrs. Creveling is indisposcd. Can
take a message, sirT'
"This isn't Rollins talking! Is he
here or Frank? My wife just telephoned
o me that some sort of an accident
bad happened to Mr.. Crcveling, and !
Eant to know If there is anything that
can do. Pense convey that message
Mrs. Crevcling."
"Nery good, sir" McCarty waited
{or brief space and then spoke into
he mouthpiece once more. Mrs.
CreycIng is sending me down in per
BON with n message, sir. 1t is most
Important and she doesn't want any
Pne here just now. Where can / find
|ou?"
"At the Bclterrc Hotel" The reply
PANE after moment of evident hcsi-
|ation. ~ expect you in about half
n hour. Who the devil are you, any
Eay; What happened to Mr.. Grey
III tell you, sir, when l come"
MCCarty hung up the receiver and
eturnlng to the hall, made his way
Ut BY the tradeSmcn'S entrance. It
vas still too early for much traffic, but
huge bus like some monstrOuS beetle
sme numbering past in the bright glare
sunlight and as MCCarty swung him
elt aboard he glanced back at the house
hich he had just left. The lower win
ows were shrouded and blank. but ri
ne ot the upper ones he caught a
mpsc of woman's white face staring
own at him. As she caught his eve she
withdrew hastily and the curtains were
rawn together.
WIo could she have been? He had
et Mrs, Crcwcling still seated in the
nroh" chair in the hall and he was
er'a'h that the face he had seen was
FOUNDER, more youthful one than the
nm GcldnIouS cOuntcnancc of the cook.
haH som" woman remained concealed
mat house despite the rigorous
Quarters? ''e" "e'"
ne felt an impulse to descend from
"e nus and return to investigate, but
second thought restrained him: Mr.
douglas Wavcry had named n half
our later for their interview and he
az stated with evident reluctance that
was at the Belterre Hotel. McCortv
ad theory of his own ns to that md
must reach his destination as ouickly
Ic,t tP0'S'ole IN order to put it to the
On 9lghting from the bus hc entered
w nnE, lonIE OF the hotel, but instead of
gP9'SDaching the desk to announce him.
a sn ne SroIIed to the newsstand, pur-
vaITa ,Hd " paper and dropped into a chair
Ine less conspicuous side entrance
The huge hostclry. Thc lobby WINS
rs SUf ,, with early risen patrons depart
eS eS upon upon the buSi ness of the day, but
bSsdp b% people entered from the street and
IroiSoiM ejv Mc' nrty regarded with swift an.
II his his rdo.o,,nd ir"m behind the screening folds
lurH ' length taxi grounded against the
ym"m "I' a stout man alightcd CARRYING
|us"G i",, " nHg which he impatiently re-
bortar S TO G"Liver into the hands Of the
East arj jNcnarty eyed him as he strode
.Nnod "mn ~ over to the desk where ho
bo ""rG oI.II across the counter and smoke 70 70
[hc Ia,,d. IG'StK IN "A hurried undertone. At
omor on aS'ler,S l shake of the head the new.
eEs,osS sr S'rawlcd his name hastily in the