New Britain herald., 1921-08-03
Do you mind telling me where you


 Was it a private car or public taxi you used, Miss Dalton ?'' .....
 Sill she met his eyes. Tt was taxi" she answered.
 You can't tell m, what the driver looked like? It would be just as well if we could find him.
 Surely my word is enough" Alice Dalton threw her head up proudly. I'm not used to having it doubted
 Oh, l believe you,' said Peter, easily; but it's just as we'll to get two witnesses if we can, you know
 Alice Dalton's face frightened. My housekeeper was still up when we came in,' she said eagerly, and she saw MT. Rutledge with me. I'll call her.
 That's good!" exclaimed Peter. That's fine. And by the way, could you give me some paper? I'd like to write out a short statement for you and her to sign. Save lot of trouble you know"
 Miss Dalton pulled open the table drawer beside her. There's none in there. What am I thinking?" she said, and shut it quickly.
 She went over to a table by the window and took some paper from the drawer
 Wont you sit here?'' she said The lights better. And have you pen?"
 Peter drew one from his pocket Yes, thanks" he said. and Miss Dal- ton quickly left the room, closing the door behind her.
 Peter waited until he heard the soft footfall descending the stairs. Then he turned hastily back to the table beside which they had been sit ting. Quickly and noiselessly he drew open the drawer. He had caught a glimpse of something in side as Alice Dalton shut it which caused his heart to jump up against his breastbone. It was only a flash of course it might not be any thing
 In one end of the drawer was a large leather scrapbook and in the other heap of newspaper clippings. Some of the smaller ones, for safe keeping, had been lightly pasted on pieces of note-peper. From under the clipping there protruded the ob- ject which had caught his eye. He pushed the slips of paper back and dislosed long, narrow paper knife with carved ivory handle. He test ed the blade. IL was sharp at the point and on one side. Peter left the house with a written statement signed by Miss Dalton and her maid. embodying what the ac- | brought home by Mr. Rutledge. But Peter had noticed that, although | there was a bell handy, Miss Walton hut h <1 gone for her. She had had plenty of time to post her what to say. l Clancy also carried away with him the curved knife he had caught sight of in the table drawer. | Peter was late at headquarters next day; so late. in.eed, that O'Malley was fuming about the officer when he at last appeared. Peters face was flushed and his eyes were dancing as he wished O'Malley a good morning. l The older man replied with a grunt only.
 Peter went over to the door, locked l it. and, returning, sat down by the l old captain. He cleared space on i the corner of the desk and in silence took from his pocket a large wal let. From this he produced two blank half sheets of paper of a pale gray with a faint mottle of red and blue fbers. One-half sheet had been folded once in the middle. The other was crushed and crumpled, but had | been carefully smoothed out.
 By gad!' said O'Malley, softly Its the other half of the sheet that was used to enclose Pendleton's card. Where did you find it. lad ?'
 Tell you in a minute, captain" he said. Look at this first.'
 From the wallet beside him he drew a letter and a small white paper packet, closed with druggists fold. This he opened and disclosed mans linen handkerchief, mussed and faintly stained. O'Malley gazed at 1t and then at Peter, with an intent, in- quiring frown.
 In answer to the look Peter spread out the letter before his superior. The heading at the top was that of Van Dorn & Sawyer, the best analytical chemists in the city. O'Malley glanced at the name of the firm and then absorbed the body of the let ter with intense interest.
 | H-m- -m," he muttered as he fin ished, looking up at Peter. Hand | kerchief showed traces of human blood. And now. where do we go l from here?"
 Peters triumphant smile embraced the corners of his mouth He drew from his inner pocket a long, nar- row parcel and laid it on the pulled out slide of the desk. O'Malley watched him intently as he cut the strings and folded back the paper. 1 There was a momen. of eloquent si- | lence.
 That could be it, all right said the captain at last, slowly drawing a long. deep breath. Blades about the right length. sharp at the point and on one side, just as the doctors described. But it's the kind of thing you might find in almost any wealthy house. What makes you think"
 Listen and I'll tell you," inter- rupted Peter eagerly.
 For a long time the low, excited young voice went on speaking. Then there came a volley of quick, sharp 1l;