Evening journal., 1922-01-19

fonrth' and Patricia Shaw, a magazine
writer on the sixth. deny having heard
the shot
81 wasn't thinking OF the door
Barv admitted. Il made for the
studio and found the body. You
saw it. OF course2"
Craig nodded.
yes. The Vane woman must
have been painting away at that
picture when the shot was fired, Tor
the paint Is still wet on it, but the
stool was overturned so the medical
examiner couldn't tell from the posi-
ton of the body whether she had
been sitting or standing when the
end came: the autopsy'n show that,
l suppose. from the course OF the
bullet"
what did the tenants have to say
for themselves
We'll the old crouch on the floor
above. Griswold claims to know
nothing about it and care less. He's
a widower and from what the lads
from the precinct said. / shouldn't
wonder If he's got a lot Of money: I
don't know why he's living down In
this rickety old house He swears
he doesn't know the vane woman
and never exchanged a word with
her.
The young man downstairs, Cor
don Ladd, admits he knew her
slightly but declares he hasn't seen
her in some time Then Miss Pa
tricia Shaw, the lady from the top
floor, says she and Mrs. vane have
spoken to each other once or twice.
IN neighhorly sort OF way. and
the precinct boys say she seemed all
Upset by what had happened. That'a
about all they managed to get be-
fore ! came"
III
Its facer. amt it?" Craig
asked frankly. 1T looks as though
the whole house was in on this af-
fair, except the professor. OF course.
Anything more you want to see
here. John?"
No, I've seen enough" Barry re-
piled with a significance which was
lost upon the other. IT you want
me to trail along with you while
you interview the tenants we'd bet
ter be moving"
All right. I get YOU" Craig led
The way to the door. IT'S past mid.
night now and I guess Wen star
with Miss Shaw"
The footsteps had approached
very near the door when Crail
Knocked and almost at once thl
handle turned and a young woman
stood before them. with her small
oval colorless face and pale hail
clipped short she seemed almost q
girl at first glance, but closer in.
spection revealed faint but matur,
lines and a certain poise in spite Of
her obvious agitation that indicated
a woman nearer 80 than 90.
We're from police headquarters
ma am" Craig cleared his throat.
Come in" Her voice was quiet
and controlled, but Barry observed
that a muscle in her thin cheek
twitched slightly. She threw the
door wide. revealing a living room
barely furnished almost to desola-
ton, with cheap mating rugs upon
the uneven, painted floor and the
esrT,s, straight lines OF a few dull.
fumed-oak mission tables and chairs
scattered about.
you are Miss Shaw" asked
Craig seating himself gingerly upon
the edge Of a chair
Patricia shaw although I occa-
sionally sign my articles Patsy"
The young woman nodded. II
write for the magazines. you know.
have lived here four years next
October. ] am 81 years old, and 1
came originally from Omaha"
Il have no relatives in New York
tat know of. hut the editors OF
several magazines published in the
neighborkood can vouch for me,
and the agent Of this building"
you stated that you did not hear
shot fired from below" said Craig
Are you quite sure. Miss Shaw p
Il am sure that I heard nothing
that sounded at the time like IA
shot" Her voice trembled a little
At least. It did not occur to me tina
a shot had been fred. There wer,
several sharp, crashing peals o
thunder before the storm passed
Afftr tnat j heard rather lou,
knocking upon some door below, bu
did not think anything Of IT, anS
must have fallen into a doze wheI
some one raped upon my own door
1t was a policeman. and he told M
what-what had happened. At frs
was horror-stricken. IL cal
scarcely remember what said O
did,