The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-08
THE MYSTERY GIRL
 DEFECTIVE STORY
 By by ndicatef for Age-I
A DEFECTIVE STORY
 0Annr Nr~- Nxyrrr Q

You had Nogi but short time ?"
 "Only a few days"
 "He came well recommended"
 ''He had very fine written recom- mendations, but from people I did not know, and too far away to in- quire of took him on trial''
 He seemed honest and faithful:"
 He seemed so-but he was silent and moody-a man one could scarce ly understand"
 Can you imagine his killing his master-granting the opportunity?"
 Mrs. Peyton considered. "I can imagine it,'' she said. but I shouldn't like to say I would suspect him of it. He was soft ft-footed, and went about with sort of stealthy man ner, but I'm not prepared to say re was wrong in any way"
 Gail in Ito, the other one"
 Ito came. and stood stolidly by. His impassive demeanor was not un- like that of Gordon Lockwood. War ing had sometimes remarked this in a chaffing way to his secretary.
 You knew this Nogi?" asked Nor ton.
 "Only since he came here" an swered the butler in perfect English.
 You liked him?"
 Neither yes or no. He knew lit- tie of his duties. but he was willing to learn. He was respectful to me, and friendly enough. l had no req son to dislike him."
 Morton didn't seem to get anywhere with this man.
 Well, what do you think of his character?" he said. Would you say he was capable of killing his em- pioyer?"
 All men are capable of crime,' said the Jap, in low, even voice, s4t-.. 1y nr NJ No irle and go away leaving the study locked on the inside"
 Why did he go away, then?"
 That I do not know. It may be he tired of the place here"
 But there was money due him"
 Yes; that makes 1t hard to un- derstand"
 Morton had an uncomfortable feel ing that the Japanese was scornful of him, and. worse still, that the other listeners were also.
 You may go" he told Ito' and a little belligerently, Who is in charge here? To whom do I make my report?
 The question was like bombshell. All were silent until Mrs. Bates said: T suppose I am what might be called in charge. You may report to me-
 "To6 you, ma'am?" Morton was clearly surprised.
 Yes; as pr. Warnings affianced wife, and as, his heir, l feel l am in authority. And also. wish all re- ports made to me, as I am the one most deeply interested in learning the identity of the murderer"
 If he was murdered" supplement- ed Mrs. Bates. And Mrs. Peyton broke in. You needn't think, MT. Morton, that there's such thing as a secret en- trance or secret passage in. this house. for know there is not"
 Yet there are other theories. other possibilities" the detective said. his air little less important than 1t had been. Suppose, now, that Nogi had robbed and murdered his maste: when he carried in the water tray. Just suppose that. and suppose that with his Japanese cunning he had devised a way to back the door be- hind minor, say he had gone out that behind him,
 How" cried Pinckney, his eyes wide with excitement.
 Say he had previously removed a pane of glass-they are not large panes. Say he reached through, ioeked the door inside--the French window, I mean-and then had put in the pane, reputtied 1t, and gone away" ,,,, bei
 "Of course, it could. and there are other ways 1t might have been ac- compiished. Now. we don't say. that did happen, but what I want to know is who is at the head of this inves- tigation?" :. Mrs. Peyton said, little suilenly. She was not married yet, and. there- fore, as resident housekeeper, fesl rather in authority myself. |
 But you say you are the heir, Mrs' Bates?, the detective inquired.
 Perhaps I ought not to have told that" Emily Bates spoke. regretfully: "But Dr. Waring's lawyer will tell you it Is true am the principal heir. It Is so designated in his will, which you will find in secret drawer in his desk"
 You know where this drawer is"
 T do.''
 Later on I will ask you to show us. If you are the heir, there is no further question of your authority here"
 And Detective Morton left the room.
 Twcnty-four hours later Cray, the