Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-03-03

cialist. ever attend Mrs. Close at her
home. In her room?" asked Craig.
Yes. once. twice he call, but he dc
! no good" she said. with her French
1 accent.
Did Mrs. Close have other caliersT
But, 'sier. every one in society has
many. What does m'sieur mean?"
Frequent Callers Mr.. Lawrence
| for instance?'
"Oh, yes Mr.. Lawrence frequently"
| when Mr.. Close was at home"
Yes. on business and on business
! too, when he was not at home. He is
the attorney, m'sieur"
| How did Mrs. Clos. receive him?'
repeated. persistently.
J And he. did he always call on busi-
ness?
'Oh. yes. always on business. but
we'll, madame, she was very beauti-
full woman. Perhaps he like beautiful
the DR.. Gregory treated madame
After the doctor treated madame
Msieur Lawrence do not call SO often
Are you thoroughly devoted to Mrs
Closer Would you do a favor foi
herr" asked Craig. point blank.
"Sir, I would give my life. almost
for madame. She was always 80 good
to me-"
for her. Marie" said Craig. but you
great service"
! II will do It,"
I Tonight" said Craig. IT want you to
sleep in Mrs. Closes room. You car
| do so. for know that Mr.. Close is liv-
! wife returns from the sanatorium. To.
| morrow morning come to my labora
| tory"-Craig handed her his card
| and l will tell you what to do next
! BY the way, don't say anything to
any one In the house about II. am
| any OF the servants who may go into
well. said Craig. there is moth
] ing more to be done Immediately.
We had once more regained the
street and were walking uptown;
! something you can do. after ali,
| Walter. 1 would like you to look
/ up Gregory and Close and Lawrence
already I know something ans n,,t about ood
heal with your newspaper connec-
| lions. / would like to have every
bit Of scandal that has ever been
| connected with them. or with Mrs
loss. Or" he added significantly
| accessory to say that not a breath
Of it must be published--yet."
! found 4 good deal Of gossip. but
| very little OF 1t. indeed. seemed to
| me at the time to be Of Importance.
/. Dropping in at the st. Francis Club,
: where 1 had some friends, 1 casually
mentioned the troubles of the Hunt
ngton Closes. l was surprised to
| learn that Close spent little OF his
| time at the club. none at home. and
.nly dropped into the hospital to
make formal inquiries as to his
| me to drop into the ONCE Of Society
.quibs. whose editor had long
| anown. The editor told me. with
| hat nameless look Of the cynical
! scandalmonger. that if 1 wanted to
! earn anything about Huntington
{ lose I had best watch Mrs. Frances
| Huntington. a very wealthy western
| ;ivorcee about whom the smart set
| we're much excited, particularly those
! whose wealth made it difficult to stand
! the pace of society as it was going at
| present.
and before the tragedy" said the
editor with another nameless look.
as IL he were imparting a most vaiu-
tble piece of gossip, 1T was the talk
! Of the town, the attention that Closes
awyer was paying to Mrs. Close.
But to her credit let me say that
! she never gave US q chance to hint
! It anything, and-well. you know us;
! We don't need much to make snappy
society news"
The editor then waxed even more
confidential, for il I am anything at
III I am a good listener. and I have
! found that often by sitting tight and
listening I can get more than If 1
we're too eager a QueStfoner.
1T really was a shame the way
hat man Lawrence played his game" "
he went on. Il understand that it
vas he who introduced Close to Mrs.
T. They were both his clients,
he courts when she sued old Tulk-
:ngton for divorce, and a handsome
| settlement he got for her. too. They
| say his fee ran UP into the hun
bred misunderstanding you
know. I don't know what his game
was"-here he lowered his voice to
a whisper-"but they say Close owes
him a 1cod deal OF money. You can
! figure it out for yourself as you
like. Now. I've told you all I know.
ONE in again. Jameson. when you
want some more mo s,s sca hnx. d ana r re-
The following day the maid visited
Kennedy at his laboratory while !
| was reporting to him on the result
of my Investigations.
She looked worn and hagss,d: shs
| that Kennedy would not ask her to
repeat the experiment.
II can promise you, Marie" he said
| that you will rest better tonight.
But you must spend one more night
in Mrs. Closes room. BY the way.
can you arrange for me to, go through
the room this morning when You go
back?"
Marie said she could. and an hour
| or SO later Craig and quietly slipped
into the Close residence under her
guidance. He was carrying some
thing that looked like q miniature
barrel. and I had another package
which he had given me. both care
fully wrapped up. The butler eyed
US suspicfously, but Marie spoke a
few words. to him and ! think showed
him Mrs. Closes note. Anyhow he
said nothing.
Within the room that the unfortu-
nate woman had occupied Kennedy
took the coverings of the packages.
| 1t was nothing but portable electric
vacuum cleaner. which he quickly at
tached and set running. Up and down
the floor. around and under the bed
he pushed the cleaner. He used the
! various attachments to clean the cur
| tains, the walls, and even the furni-
/ ture. Particularly did he pay atten-
ton to the base board on the wall
back of the bed. Then he carefully
removed the dust from the cleaner
and sealed it up in a loaded box.
He was about to detach and pack
up the cleaner when another idea
seemed to occur to him: Might q