Evening star., 1921-07-26

payne on ice and on the floor cfga-
rette holder. Inspector Druet arrives
on the scene.
Druet recognizes the youth Nc
Carly had in custody as having done
time before. They inspect the dead
body and leave the pistol almost
touching the fingers, as 1t was found.
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES
81 know little of my late partners
habits" he replied stiffly. ''In our
banking business we deal with many
foreign powers, among the represent
atives Of which we each have our own
| especial clients. and not until all the
preliminary negotiations have been con-
| cluded do we have q general conference.
Mr. Creveling and I are known to have
confidential nature-you know how
such affairs creep out through the un.
derground channels of diplomacy-and
| 1t is quite probable that he may have
! brought a prospective client here to-
| night rather than to a restaurant or
club in order to insure privacy. Is it
not at least probable also that after the
departure Of his guest he may have been
attacked by burglars? You gentlemen
of the police know that many an army
pistol is now in the hands of a member
Of what 1 believe you term the under
| world -
The inspector shrugged. 1.-The medical
| examiner who has just been here aff1rms
| that Mr.. Creveling shot himself" he OBJ
served. 'Mr. Alexander. you said that
Mr.. Creveling had no troubles Of any sort.
This may seem like an impertinent
question. but we must know the truth,
and it is bound to come out in the
| end. Was he in no domestic difficulty?
He and his wife seem to have been
virtually living apart and the house
l. loft IN 10 ha nd nf
Nothing Of the sort" the banker
interrupted Indignantly. II am Of an
older generation, an older school than
| was Eugene, and their friends were
and 1 should have been the first to
know of any discord. To my mind they
were a model, modern couple. independ-
ent in thought and action. but mutually
considerate. and l can assure you that
a very real affection existed between
them. My partner was a mans man,
caring little for society. although his
wife reveled in it. This was perfectly
understood by their friends. and the
house here was frequently left in the
spring and autumn. when my niece
Mrs. Creveling-made a round of coun-
try house visits and Eugene preferred
his club to an empty house. natu-
rally llyo, SOW thar t,and. usr. mt
yours, that they moved in a different
set." the inspector interposed. "You
must, however, have heard your part
ner and his niece mention from time to
time those with whom they were most
intimate
Mr.. Alexander's lips closed in a tight
line.
Mrs Creveling was twenty at the
time of their marriage and ceasedtto be
and I seldom discussed anything but
business"
How long have you and Mr.. Creve-
ling been in partnershipr'
Mr.. Alexander stroked his beard for
a moment in evident hesitation before
"since about the time of his mar
riage to my niece, although his fam
lily and ours have known each other
for generations"
actively in any financial pursuits
prior to that?" Inspector Druet con-
tinued.
Il cannot say that he had, beyond
speculating now and then on the
market" the banker answered with
yet more obvious reluctance. But
really do not comprehend the sig
nificance of these questions at such
time as this. Mr. Creveling was
very rich man. but naturally the
prospect of marriage made him am
billions to become Something more
And Broadway spender?" broke in
McCarty irrepressibly.
Mr.. Alexander's eyes shifted.
Il presume you refer to the unfor-
tunate sobriquet of Mr.. Creveling's s
college days. and which erroneously
reached maturity" he said. TIRE
sponsible youth and the possession Of
too much money have formed a dan
gerous Seombination bLfore now. but
my partner has been unknown in the
bright light district, save at an oc-
casional theater party with his wife
and their friends, for several years"
"Mr. Alexander" the inspector
bent forward suddenly. when 1 asked
you just now II you knew who Mr..
and Mrs. Creveling's intimates were
you evaded the question; in the face
Of this tragedy they are bound to be
discovered and fully investigated.
You said also that you seldom dis
cussed anything but business with
your partner and that your guardian
ship of his wife ended year after
their marriage. Does that mean, too,
that your. social relationship with
there was any estrangement between
you and them?"
Most assuredly not" The banker
squared his somewhat narrow shoul-
ders. my niece made her home with
me prior to her marriage. and the
greatest possible affection has always
existed between us. AS their only
relative have been q frequent visitor
here, but I have already told you
that their friends are in a different
As he spoke ta. SLOW measured
side told Of the temporary departure
Of Eugene Crevelfng from his home.
before his final return for the brief
scene in which he would be the prin-
cipal but silent actor, and involun-
tarily his late partner paused, shud-
dering again.
The remaining detective from bor-
ough headquarters appeared in the
doorway. with Clancy behind him, and
both stood awaiting further orders.
There's nothing more for either of
announced. Sam, have your report
sent in to me downtown; Clancy,
make your own to the Old Man and I'll
look it over later. If that young
crook tries to get hold of shyster
lawyer. ask the commissioner to stall
pack to Center street myself"
AS the two men turned to go, NC
Carly went to the door.
you'll not be needing me now for a
question asked with the ingratiation
which only the ex-roundsman could
command. "I'H have another look over
the ground"
Go as far as you like, Mac" In
spector Druet responded heartily, then
turned once more to Mr.. Alexander.
'Who were the Crevelings' intimate
friends. as far as you know? This Mrs.
Douglas Waverly, for instance. whom
Mrs. Creveling is visiting; do you know
anything about her?"
The banker smiled slightly in a
somewhat relieved fashion.
''She was born a Preston of WASH
ington." He spoke as though that was