Evening star., 1921-08-16
from Yesterdays Starry

again. 90,
with his finger on the button!" Den
mis- made as if to rise, but McCarty
laid a heavy hand on his knee.
! "Sit still and let your head fall over
as If you were asleep" ordered.
1.-The fellows got to pass US to get
out front. Don't move till say the
word"
| The two relaxed figures apparently
| lost in slumber were not calculated
| to arrest the eye of fellow passen-
ger making for the exit, and Frank
them as he descended from the car.
| AS 1t started again Dennis straightS
ened and looked quickly out of the
| window.
"He didn't cross the tracks; he's
heading west" he observed. After
coming all this way are we going to
ride on-?
| But McCarty had risen and sounded
| the buzzer in his turn and when the
car halted again at the next corner
they literally flung themselves of
Frank Hill was nowhere In sight, ana
the avenue itself seemed utterly de-
serted.
"There, you see" exclaimed Dem
mis- disgustedly as they hurried back
to the street at which the valet had
alighted. Il told you we'd lose him!
If you'd have listened to me-there's
no one at all in the side street either
way"
For answer McCarty stopped alb
ruptly at the corner and pointed
Through the glass show window OF
of which were the only GASES in the
desert of darkness about them. Hill
| was standing at the cigar counter, en-
gagged in conversation with the weary
eyed clerk, and it was evident that
they were old acquaintances.
1 rtv time
to withdraw into a neighboring door
way when Hill reappeared and. round
ling the corner, started brfskly west
ward. The others followed just In
time to see him almost collide with
second figure which had been lurking
in the deeper shadows of high
stoop. Both sidestepped instantly and
Hill continued his way. but though
he walked faster even than before his
shoulders hunched forward despond-
emily. almost furtively,. and certain
elasticity seemed gone from his stride.
Martin" McCarty swore beneath
his breath as the figure approached
them sheepishly. so twas you pulled
that bonehead play! You're dis
grace to the force!"
However in the world did you get
here?" Dennis demanded. adding with
sly satisfaction: you've scared off
our bird. all right! Any one could
tell mile off, Martin, that you were
on the job"
II rode down on the same car with
you, on the fender at the back" Mar
tin responded, chagrined. How was
I to know he'd run into me like that?
It's just the luck Of the game. Shall
trail him, Mac? Maybe that clerk in
the drug store is kind ofka go-be-
tween In whatever business>brought
him out and he's finished what he
came for. He's certainly walking as
though he was through in this neigh
borhood."
And good reasonI' Mccarty COM
mented However. tits no good pal
lavering over. Trail him, Martin. but
a taxi he'll be on his way back to the
3Creveling house with nothing more
doing tonight as far as he is con-
cerned, so you come back here. I'm
going to see what that clerk knows
about him."
| The abashed Martin hurried off
]upon his task and Dennis and Nc
tCarty retraced their steps to the drug
store, where, the latter purchased
three of the most expensive cigars in
lighted one:
Thought I saw fellow in here
that I know just now as we were
passing; tall. thin fellow. dark. with
a smooth face
"Oh, you mean Mr.. Hildreth?' the
his wife live just around the corner
and they trade here lot"
McCarty removed his foot hastily
from the agonizing pressure Of Den
mis- big brogar and nodded.
That's my friend. all right, but
he can't have lived IN the neighbor-
hood long. They used to have fiat
up on the West Side. Mrs. Hildreth
is mighty fine looking woman big
and blonde-F - ,r
1.-The clerk interrupted again. his tired
face lighting up with smile.
They've only lived around in Lana
HANS apartment little more than a
month, but it's easy to tell. She
don't come in often herself, but she's
Ichildren," he added irrelevantly. Il
Host INV own wife a year ago"
though luck" McCarty said sym
pathetically. I'll drop in on the Hill
dreths one of these evenings. Which
apartment house is Lanahan's?"
Fifth from the corner. got a cracked
iyellow lamp over the vestibule; you
can't miss it,
Thanks. I'll look in on you again
when I'm down this way. Good night"
Carly and Dennis made their way to the
Ihouse indicated without delay and halted
lin the vestibule while the former scru-
tinized the cards in the bell plate:
Here they are Ssth F1nrth fooT % ,hs ne 3, GOe
think she is. she'll not be answering
a ring at this time Of night"
"There'll be no need. for some ones
left the door unlatched." Dennis pushed
it open as he spoke. You can make
some excuse to get her to let us in.
Come on"
In silence they mounted the creaking
stairs, through an atmosphere redolent
of stale cooking, to the fourth floor, and
paused before the rear door, upon which
name "F. Hildreth," written in a small,
neat hand.
IT guess the front fiat is>empty, for
there's no card up and there was none
in that space over the bell downstairs -
Dennis whispered. "What are you go
ing to do, Mac? Take a chance and
break the door DOWN."
mot If I can get in peaceable," Nc
Carly replied in a whisper: I'm going
to be real sick, Dennis. Hold me up!''
Emitting a loud and realistic groan,
he leaned Imply against his friend with
such suddenness that the surprised Den
mis- was almost borne to the floor, but
he recovered himself in time. Another
groan welled from McCarty's throat and
a third before finally there came the
sound Of footsteps within, the door was
opened cautiously and woman peered
out She was tall and JunoesQue In
form, with q thick braid Of fair hair
falling over either shoulder and great,
prehension and concern. Her loose. dark
robe fell in almost classical lines about
her and the light of the farihg gas Jet
in the hall cleaned softly on her
creamy throat.
Dennis gasped with astonishment and