Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-18
HOW MANY CARDS.?
By ISABEL OSTRANDER
bor Of Thc Island Of Tnrgu Suspense Ashes to Ashe etc.
" Robert M. q Co. ~

though Venner--!'
He. caught himself up sharply a,
though regretting the admission and
GIVE nothing more to tell you. You
can find out from Venner himself
whether or not was in bis rooms from
little before midnight until an hour
ago, ana as for that little row with
CreVeIinS-Lord We've been hayins
'em for the last fifteen years or more
over ono thing or another. II he's
been done in as you say, I'm inexpres
sibly shocked and grieved to hear It, as
the rest OF our crowd will be, for b.
was the best OF good fellows, even IL he
dld get out Of bounds occasionally, but
know no move about his death than
you do; not half as. much, ] fancy."
Just what do You mean by 'out oi
bounds Mr.. Waverlyf" McCarty
ignored the hint to go, and stood his
ground firmly.
If your informant gave you the gist
OF our conversation on the night of the
supposed quarrel you ought to be able
to. figure that out for yourself" The
thick lips. parted in an unpleasant
smile. You can't expect n leopard to
change bis spots altogether, you know.
Not that Gene wasn't genuinely fond
OF his wife, but he always had an eve
for pretty woman. I'd heard that he
was going it n bit strong over n new
case and for Mrs. Creveling's sake I
thought I'd try to pull him UP before It
came to her ears. That's how her namo
wa: dragged into the discussion -
And the lady in the case?''
Il can't tell you her name because
l don't know it, but 1 wouldn't II
did = Waverly snapped. You fellows
90 too far I'm willing to meet you
half way, and I'm anxious to do all In
M, power, OF course, to help you find
out who shot Creveling, but I'm damned
woman, especially in the case of a mere
indiscrction like this"
How. do you know It was a mere
quickly.
II knew Crevcling." The reply was
tcrse. He'd have every art dealer
and collector OF antiques searching for
months for certain Ming vase or
ancient prayer rug, and when he secured
It he scarcely gave It q second glance.
IT was the same with beautiful women :
he'd sit at their feet as long as they
wero indifferent, but IL they gave tht
Drst sign OF awakened interest-good
night /"
-" NV sure, tneu, tnaC InlS al
wife?"
".Of course it HASN'T" waverly ex.
claimed hurricdly. She has always be-
lieved in him implicitly; that's why /
wanted him to call halt now"
well, Mr.. Waverly, I won't trou-
BILE you any further If you We no OBJ
jections to my calling up Mr.. Venner
Just rs matter of form aud verifying
your statement" McCarty moved ten !.
tatiyely toward the telephone set in the
wall.
Waverly smiled again and waved to-
ward the instrument.
Go as far as YOU like" he invited
| magnaniinously. "Eenner's number is
Hudson 1852"
McCarty repeated it into the phone,
and after brief interval deep voice
growlcd at him over the wire:
Hello What is it?"
II want to speak to Mr.. Vcnner."
You re talking to him now. Who
are your"
Mr., Douglas Waverly told me that
could reach him at your rooms" Nc
Carly said cautiously.
"Well, you can't" the voice re =
sponded. Hes gone; left about an
hour ago"
,o,I he ~ was at that little party OF
Yes. Who the devil are you?"
McCarty hung Up the receiver and
turned to find Wayerly still smiling de-
risively at him us he drew cigarette
from diamond -incrusted case and then
proffered it.
smoke?" he suggested. II hope
you're satisfied now, my man. OF
course. ] don't want to be hauled into
the limclight of murder case, but for
Creveling's sake I'd be glad to help you
il could"
McCarty shook his head at the offer
Of the cigarette. An dir of preoccu-
patton seemed suddenly to have settled
upon him and he replied absently:
Eyes, sir, I'm satisfied. Sorry to
have troubled you. but in a case like
this we've got to look into every stray
bit of information that comes our way.
Good morning, SIR"
Once outside the door he made hir
way toward the elevator with dazed
sense of unreality. Could he have seen
Alright and II so was there any special
significance in what he had beheld?
0blong of gold, four down each sld,
and one in the middle, each set in
sharply defined diamond shaped inden-
tations, SO that the cigarette case It.
self bore startling resemblance TO the
nine Of diamonds; startling to McCar-
tvs mind at least because of that Other
nine Of diamonds, torn and blood
stained. which he had found in the room
where Eugene Creveling came to his
death.