New Britain herald., 1921-08-01
CHAPTER III. You Never Can Tell"

CHAPTER III.
 ''You Never Can Ten.'' Capt. O'Malley! Capt. O'Malley! yo're wanted below!" The voice of Murphy, muffled by distance, came floating up through the silence. He was nearer, just below on the stairs, when he spoke again. Its himself'' D he called softly, as O'Malley appeared at the door. T just let him in through the basement
 Fix things up, here, and come down, Pete," said the captain, turn ing hurriedly back. "Rutledge has turned up at last. You'll want to hear what he has to say,'' and O'Mal- ley followed the policeman down to the main floor.
 The man who awaited him was standing still in the middle of the library. He had the dazed look of one awakened suddenly from pain full dream, the horror of which he had not been able to shake off. He was very tall and well set up, with a comparatively short body and un-
 usually long arms and legs.
 ''I knew nothing until I saw it here" Rutledge's voice was deep and
 troubled as he spread out the after
 noon paper he had been holding clenched in his left hand. O'Malley related, in as few words as possible, the events of the morn ing, emitting, however, any mention
 of the clews that had been discov- cred.
 we tried to reach you. at every place the servants could suggest" he concluded. The maid seemed to think that you went out to Tuxedo yesterday"
 Some friends called me up just as I was leaving and asked me to dine with them. It was late when the rarty broke up and II was not expected here, so I spent the night at the Wilmont.''
 Just for forms sake" said O'Mal- ley, smoothly, wed like to know the names of your friends" The hesitation this time was more apparent. At last Rutledge spoke: There were Wallace Campbell of Campbell & Fitzgerald, two ladies and r."
 T think it. would be advisable for you to tell us the names of at least one of the ladies. In all probability 1 it will not be necessary to publish it, so it can do her no harm" Rutledge seemed relieved by the old mans friendly tone. T see no harm, then, in telling you that Irene Claimont was one of the party" The actress?"
 "Yes."
 After a few more pertinent ques- tions, O'Malley, referring to his notes, ,,fh I ,.& Pendleton who dined and went out with Mrs. Rutledge last night was an old friend of the family, wasn't he?'' "Pendleton came here often," said Rutledge, in a controlled voice. " ou might call him that, yes.'' What kind of a man is he?' "A sort of tame cat" Rutledge answered, striving to speak quietly. It's q common species
 And the girl Nora?" O'Malley asked. I've only seen her about here for a few months" Rutledge answered. ! She's a quiet, soft-spoken little Irish girl and as you have probably noticed, of exceptional beauty. Mrs. Rutledge I-' he did not speak of her as my wife, seemed to like her very 1 much"
 He paused a moment in thought. Then he said: Tn fact, there was something a little queer in the way Mrs. Rutledge seemed to take to her. And now I remember an odd thing that hap pened one day, not so very long ago. l I had come home early and was on my way up to my room, when, in pa ssine the open door of Mrs Rut ledse's boudoir, I chanced to see something in the room that attract 1 ed my attention and stopped to look at it." He did not mention what the ohiect was that arrested him. hut +b e expression of anger which flashed across his face brought suddenly to