Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-02

searchingly ut the covering butler boz
fore addressing the trucuient work
man.
There's no mistake; but the work
can't be done now. What's it worth
to you to go away and come back Just
after the noon hour to do the jb?"
"tMho is your boss? Where is his
shop?"
"Bill Kenny. sir" The generous tip
which Tithcrcdge had added to the
sum demanded had evidently had a
modifying effect His place Is over
on Eighth Avende. near Fifteenth.
Thank you. sir. Well be back right
after noon"
They touched their caps and started
down the hall toward the servants
staircase which led to the bridesmaids
entrance. and the attorney turned to
speak to Peters, but that willy In
dividual had disappeared. and after a
moment Titheredge opened the door
and started thoughtfully down the
steps. He had caught the butler In
two deliberate lies within the space
OF an hour, but he gave the matter
little thought. All the way downtown
to police headquarters his mind was
busted with one problem. Who had
telephoned from that house TO the
shop on tho previous day? Who had
known that the picture was going to
fall?
The police commissioner had not
yet reached his office. but a brief in
terview with his secretary put one of
the smaller examination rooms at his
disposal, where the attorney was
Joined shortly by brisk, smiling
young man whose cIcan-cut features
and almost boyishness of manner
gave no hint OF the police DEPART
incnt. His forehead was broad. with
Just the hint OF a scar above one
eyebrow: and the merry blue cyeu
themselves as we'll as the high check
! bones beneath betokcned his anccstry
as much as his name proclaimed IL.
Good morning. Mr.. TItheredgc. Did
you want to see me?'
II do. sergeant: you are the onl,
man who can help me out. More
over, know that tho case I've go,
for you-if 1t is case at au-wil,
be one after your own heart"
They shook hands; and as the at.
torncy seated himself Sergeant Barry
Odell asked. with a canny twinkle in
his eye:
"a matter for the homicide bureau
and you're not sure whether II is a
case or not? No trace of the body
| thcn?"
CT HE bodies were there all right
Titheredge responded. grimly
But there was no thought OF foul
play until last night. You see. have
IL client In whose family two deaths
have occurred within the past month
but they were thought TO have beer
| the result OF acknowledgements &C
cidents of widely different nature
Now we have reason to believe thai
they were brought about In som,
mysterious manner by an unknown
off tho entire family. These peopi,
have been friends or mine for year!
As well as clients; and az far as
know they haven't an enemy In tn
world. We haven't sign OF proc
and no clue except some pieces o
clipped wire. Could go TO any other
man In the department but you witt
such story and not be a laughing
stock?'
odeil smiled. but his face grew
serious as he replied:
81 don't know. but I've been won
derinG myself why we hadn't seen Mr.
Lorne down here before this"
"You!" Titheredges imperturba
bility deserted him, and he stared
What on earth do you know abou
it?"
only what I've read in the papers
but when ! saw about that Young fel
low cutting his throat by accident ant
just in the place where 1t would d,
he was n son OF the lady who'd dice
not a month before from needl
thrust in her hand. l thought there wa
something mighty queer about 1t ALL
Odell shrugged. However,, NOTHING
came TO the bureau about II; and IT.
not UP to us to go out looking 70
trouble. Tell me about II from tn
beginning. Mr.. Titheredge."
There's little to tell about the tw
cases IL you remember the newspape
accounts; and would rather hav
you get the details from the member
of the families themselves: but II
tell you a little about them before W
start" The attorney settled forwar
in his chair. Mrs. Lorne was tn
widow OF Halsey Chalmers, the ric
broker. when she married Richar
Lorne five years ago. She had fv
children, all virtually grown up eS
cept the youngest boy, hunchbach
Her spinster sister. Miss Eflie Meade
two or three years her senior, ha
always lived with her since her frs
marriage; and that composed tn
family up to n month ago. Then Mr.!
Lornc died; and last week her oldes
son. Julian. was taken off. as 70
know.
81 don't mind telling you. sergean
. that / had some quick work then
, keep a suspicion OF suicide out OF tn
, press: for Julian had been pretty vii
and had caused his stepfather and IN
lot of trouble about money matter
-squaring up for scrapes he had &C
into, and that sort Of thing. His ow
n father. Halsey Chalmers, had left a
ipdonaplont forfnne each of TIL