Evening capital. [volume] (Annapolis, Md.) 1922-1981, 1923-01-24

Detective EIerlcrt R2lston sat at his
desk IN unwelcome idleness. II was
he hottest day OF the summer and
the dullest Petty crime had forsak-
en- the big city and conferred itself al
fashionable resorts, affording Ralston
no opportunity for the exercise OF his
peculiar activities.
Were I to leave town for only a
week a crime OF more than usual i'm
portance would be sure to take
place." he told himself lazily "Joye.
| wish il would. A few more weeks
of this idleness and won't be fit to
put on case
At that moment the telephone rang
shrilly. 1t might be an answer to his
PRAYER for actions. His Chiefs voice
came to him across the wire.
Have a case for you, Ralston. Old
Miss Alden was murdered last night
Folks say her shrieks woke the
noighborhood. Don't know the details
yet, but you'll hear them from JEFF
fries He's over there now. Get
busy"
Ralston reached for his bat, all the
discomfort OF minute before forgot
ten He had reputation to sustain
since his solution of the battling Thor
bridge mystery had advanced him to
star position on the force.
The drive uptown was short, and
twenty minutes after the Chiefs mes
sage Ralston FASTENED up the steps
OF one OF the large brownstone houses
that faced well-known and popular
square. A policeman stood guard al
the door, but at sight of the detec-
tive he stepped aside respectfully.
Morning Tucker. Is Mr.. Jeffrie'
still here?"
"Yes, sir. He came about a half
hour ago and is expecting you" re
piled the officer Then, with a moo
in the direction of the stairs, he add
ed: First floor, second door TO your
right sir
The indicated door stood half
open, and from the room came the
sound of mems voices. Two mon, on,
of whom was DR.. Scott from Head
quarters. were bending over the bod,
of woman which lay on the uncar
peted floor Despite the fact that tn,
windows were open there was an un
pleasant acrid odor about the place
With that all-comprising glance tina
seems Sc natural to a man Of his pro
fession, Ralston took in the room
which. though large was plain an,
bare OF furniture. The walls were
lined with long shelves upon which
were placed cups, saucers. plates anS
other pieces of china in all stages o
decorations. 1t was evident that Mis-!
Alden had been interested in art ant
that this was the apartment she hat
used for studio. The room, will
/, its three large, uncurtained windows
was admirably suited to such a pur
pose. In front of a window, placed
so as TO catch the various angles o
light, was a work table covered will
paints, brushes and pieces of china
The dead woman lay but a few fee
from this table.
One of the men examining the body
rose from his knees. thus allowing the
newcomer closer view. RalstoI
leaned forward, then recoiled in hor.
ror The face was so terribly burn
ed that the features were unrecog
nizable. The woman, whose age
might have been anywhere from for
ty-flve to fifty. lay with her head or
one side, her hair falling about The
shoulders. That she had struggled
valiantly before her, death was evi.
dent by the marks. of disorder in hei
apparel.
"Burns!" Ralston muttered.
Right you are, Herb.o answered Q
man standing near the table. Burn.
ed by hydrofiuoric acid. Don't YOU
notice the odor? Lord. how she must
have suffered"
How long has she been dead?'
Since about midnight, the doctor
says. Her screams awokc the neigh
borhood at that hour. However. no
Dne was certain from which house
thtF Cdine.-
Come into the hail. Ralston in
corrupted. You can tell me the de-
tails there. The doctors will soon
in:sh their examination and then we
can get to work"
Who lived in the house beside
Miss Alden?" continued the detective
when the door had closed behind
them.
There is Miss Marshall. her COM
panion. but she was not home last
night. As for the servants, they come
by the day"
is Miss Marshall here yet?'
Yes, but the news of the death
came as such a shock that she retired
70 her room. decided to question
her later. You can't get much from
IN historical woman. you know
You have been here a half-hour.
Have you discovered anything that
could have direct bearing on the
case?"
Roy Jeffries hesitated a moment.
II think l have. Herb. in fact I
shouldn't be surprised If this mys-
terious death was not merely the ra-