Evening star., 1923-12-29
ABOVE SUSPICION
by robert Urr ChlDDornclO,
S"'f Author Of "The Second Buues" "Unsesn Hards.
tsi. "The Trigger Of Conscience" Etc.
81 by N , Go.

seen you again, Geonrey, be1ore
left. Good-by."
He held out his hand almost timid-
ly, and Geoff, after wiping his greasy
one on the newspaper grasped 1t
heartily. There was a look in the
eyes of this shadow of a man which
touched his simple, kindly heart, and
the thought came to him that this
was a sorry sort OF leave-taking af-
ter years of faithful, If possibly mis-
guided service, to hard master.
Good by. Mr.. Dunn. and good luck.
When you git over this mebbe you'll
find your plans workin' out fine!
Hope you'll be COMM out this way
Dunn shook his head. but the ghost
of smile fllckered over his tired
face and fingered as he turned away
and started for the house.
Geoff threw his last crumbs to
catbird that hovered near, and then
lighted his pipe. 1t was a day of
departures, and no one remained now
except Mrs. Cayley, her daughter and
the servants. He wished old Henry
would get well and leave his room
before his own work was completed:
there was a question he wanted to
ask him. but he could invent no eX-
cuse for venturing unbidden into the
house. Sergt; Elliot seemed to nave
taken himself off, but that private
detective must be hanging around
somewhere. What could he be up to?
For the rest of the day he puttered
about the terrace, seeing no one, put
at nightfall when ae returned to his
own little cottage he found a note
thrust half out 81 sight beneath
flower-pot on tbs steps. Ignoring
for once the eXcit@ welcome of his
canine companions, he unfoided the
iously the message scrawled IN evil
dent haste on its back.
Dear Geoff:
Man we met last night wants TO see
You.
Evans HOOD.
So Lyons had lost no time in get
ting on the trail, Had he hit the nail
on the head regarding this Zoey wo-
man? She'd make almighty
fools of senator's and ENJOYS and am
bassadors, and Joseph Bensara; ad
small fry after such big fish: but her
name had been connected with his by
a chosen few in Wall street, and old
Robbins had appeared to know what
he was talking about.
Geoff fed the dogs and watered the
mare whom he left where he had
tethered her that morning in the ad-
joining meadow. After hastily max
ing his toilet with the aid of tin
cold bite and struck off across the
shortcut to the village and the doc
tors home on Main street
The latter admitted him and fairly
dragged him into the little parlor and
office, combined, where he found De-
tective Lyons pacing impatiently up
and down.
Look here, Peters. Idon't know
where you got your information but
1t was on the level as far as 1t went,
fr oSk
ing out anything on u.s., the head
quarters man began abruptly. Doc
tor Hood says you've helped him lot
on another case or two out here but
you only did it in your own way.
Sunny Beach was village then, but
its part Of New York city now. and
that is a different matter You needn't
be afraid to speak because OF get
even a special deputy and We'll keep
you out of il. but if you're keeping
back any dope that may be useful
to us now, come across with 1t.
asserted with dignity. u amt
dep'ty, as you say yourself, but car.
penter and mason. and | got hull
lot more work on my hands now than
business, which / amt been a-doin'.
There wasn't no call for me to tell
Doc Hood in the first place what the
cook had said bout the quarrel be-
tween Lane ana BenkdTQ IL Hdul1 L
a-wanted to, but he's an old friend of
mine and ] didn't take to the brow
beatin' airs o. that feller from the
District Attorneys office. I'm willin'
and glad to help, but 1 amt namin'
no names unless I've a-mind to-.
"Nobody's asking you to, Geoff,"
The fat little doctor backed him into
a chair. I'VE just want you to tell
us all you know in your own way, and
what put you on the right track"
We'll" Geoff deposited his cap on
the floor beside him. II heard tell
o old gentleman who had friends
kinder liked to CAB bout what he
picked up from them. and it come to
me there was one thing mebbe in
Benkard's life nobuddy.d thought to
look into-wimmen. There amt no
man SO wrapped up in money maxim
and gittin' along in< the world but
what he's liable to let himself be side
tracked by some feemale critter or
mother, and when they git to Ben
kards age without ever philanderin'
round they generally fall the hardest
when 1T comes. Look at Lane! Look
at that senator and them foreign go
last night yourself, mister Now, I
amt heard tell O. Bernhard ever bein'
married or even keepin' steady COM
pany 'mongst the society folks, so IL
stood to reason IL he had a-been in
love with somebuddy it'd be the kind
o. lady he'd keep quiet bout. and the
quieter he kept the more whispers
thered be. That's the way / fggered
1t out, anyhow"
Go on, Peters" the detective urged
as he paused.