Evening star., 1921-08-02
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Starr

Continued from Yesterdays Star.)
"All by yourself, Mr.. waverly? You
were alone from the time you left
your house"
quite alone I took q taxi direct
ly from the theater up to Venner's
apartment on Riverside Drive"
who else was in the party there?"
been speaking more and more slowly,
as though choosing his words with
care, and now he raised his eyes half
| defiantly to those of McCarty.
Isn't it enough for you If Venner
oher %y who woa
find themselves in just as awkward
position as I should be If the thing
came out"
"The ladies or the gentlemen" Nc
Iadies'S waverly leersd. "They
were showgirls from the 'Bye-bye
Baby, company: imagine they
wouldn't object to a little free press
agent stuff. though Venner-'
He caught himself up sharply as
though regretting the admission, and
rose.
1--WE nothing more to tell you. You
can find out from Venner himself
whether or not l was in his rooms
from a little before midnight until
an hour ago: and as for that e little
been having 'em for the last fifteen
years or more over one thing or an
other. If he's been done in as you
say, I'm inexpressibly shocked and
grieved to hear it, as the rest Of our
crowd will be, for he was the best
| out of bounds occasionally, but l
know no more about his death than
you do; not half as much. fancy"
Just what do you mean by out of
bounds Mr. Waverly" McGarty
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
rnpeasan, nhs sms thick Rs eanf
pect leopard to. change his spots
Gene wasn't genuinely fond of his
wife, but he always had an eye for
a pretty woman. I'd heard that he
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
name was dragged into the discus
sion"
"And the lady in the case?"
II can't tell you her name because
did" Waverly snapped. You fell
lows go too far! I'm willing to meet
you half way, and I'm anxious to do
all in my power, of course, to help
you find out who shot Creveling. but
I'm damned If l would drag in the
name of any woman. especially in
the case Of a mere indiscretion like
this
How do you know it was a mere
| indiscretion?" McCarty demanded
quickly.
terse. He'd have every art dealer
and collector of antiques searching
for months for a certain Ming vase
or ancient prayer rug, and when he
ond glance. 1t was the same with
beautiful women; he'd sit at their
feet as long as they were Indifferent.
but If they gave the first sign Of
awakened interest-good night"
You are sure. then. that this af-
wife?"
"of course IT hasn't Waverly ex-
believed in him implicitly: that's why
wanted him to call a halt ncw."
Well, Mr.. Waverly. 1 won't trou-
jections to my calling up Mr.. Venner
just as a matter Of form and verify
ing your statement" McCarty moved
tentatively toward the telephone set
in the wall.
waverly smiled again and waved
toward the instrument.
Go as far az you like" he invited
|magnanimously. "Venner's number is
Hudson 1852"
McCarty repeated it into the phone,
and after brief interval a deep voice
growled at him over the wire:
Hello! What is it?'
II want to speak to Mr.. Venner."
You're talking to him now. Who
"Mr: Douglas waverly told me that
I could reach him at your rooms"
McCarty said cautiously.
We'll, you can't" the voice re-
sponded. Hes gone; left about an
hour ago."
HE was at that little party of
yours last night?'
"Yes. Who the devil are you?"
McCarty hung up the receiver and
turned to find Waverly still smiling
derisively at him as he drew a Gig
arctic from a diamond-incrusted case
and then proffered it.
Smoker" he suggested. Il hope
course. I don't want to be hauled
into the limelight 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 air Of preoccu-
pdClOH ScchCu SuuuSuAy " nav
settled upon him, and he replied abb
sently:
"Yes, sir, I'm satisfied. Sorry to
have troubled you, but in 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 his
way toward the elevator with a dazed
sense of unreality. Could he have
seen Alright. and, If so. was there any
special significance in what he had
beheld? There had been nine jewels
in that fiat oblong Of gold, four down
each side and one in the middle. eacp
set in sharply defined diamond-shaped
indentations, so that the cigarette
case itself bore startling resem-
blance to the nine of diamonds; start
ling to McCarty's mind at least be-
cause of that other nine of diamonds.
torn and blood-stained, which he had
found in the room where Eugene
Creveling came to his death.
CHAPTER VII.
The Shadow on the Stairs.
Dennis Riordan, dragging in chair
oFtnr him onerped- from the ono}0e