The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-17
p/ LORIDAg' exclaimed Philip:
y The official. instead Of

y
they drove off.
s.Ttss all right, Mr.. Mortistcnt.
said the G. 1. .. man with
smile. ssyou are not wanted. :
.fhink YOU will find this to your
advantage. as the lawyers Say.
i've something at Bow street ZOE
YOU to zee. and in the meantime
TN tell YOU shortly what We
know about, that dead man. we
know q good deal.
aye was killed knitted In the
ckthree days ago IN an a NE
OF stamford street, Borough. Inc
murderer. whoever he was. is
stiIi ~ large. He got away, but
had 4 narrow escape, for the con.
atable on the beat heard running
fnnfsfens and shortly afterwards
found this man lying dead.
vvaa a daring and determined
crime. whoever did It; obviously
an. act of revenge.
.sThere was nothing to show the
dead mans identity. but we soon
traced him. 1T happens tha1
some weeks ago the SOuthamp-
ton police were given notlce py
the Red Funnel Company OF p oe-
eerter from their liner Livadia.
This mans name was Miguel
Casas, he had shipped as fre-
man on the Livadia at Key West.
AS the Red Funnel people don't
take stokers for single voyage,
the man signed on for the voyage
and return-but evidently what
he wanted was Just TO ger 70
England, for he skipped the snip
ct Southampton. That sort q
thing often happens; It's trlvlaI
Offense. But there It was, ne was
on the police books. ana from ms
description we soon had the dead
man traced as Miguel Casas, 1ire-
man pro tenn, from Florida, Y.
8. A."
The detective laid . finger on
Philips sleeve.
II fancy you've thought rather
small potatoes Of the police lately,
Mr.. Mottisfont, but note this
on the same voyage that the late
Miguel Casas shipped as fireman,
Eenorita De Castro, also OF Flor
ida, and now Lady TallbOis OF
Knayth was on the Livadia's list
Is passenger, with her mother.
2But tflfs IL amazing!" cried
Philip eagerly, ...hpW have you
MANAGED to connect this dead
man with Lady Ta1Ibois?
"Ah. that" said the detective"
81 win now make clear to you.
Here we are at Bow street, and
have one or two things to show
you, Mr.. Mottisfont. that VIII IN
terest you intensely.
They entered the building. and
were both received by Philips
friend, the senior official whom
ne had consulted in the matter
OF VailIe. He shook hands with
Philip heartily, and the three
were cIoseted together in one or
the upper rooms Tor half ana
hour.
Mottisfont presently emerged
alone. his eyes shing with ex-
citement and went to Endsleigh
Buildings as fast az q taxi would
carry him. Bringing back with
him some papers, he was again
in consultation with the two
officials for over an hour.
When he came out, his friend
accompanied him to the stairs,
and gripped his hand heartily.
''It's dark business vet. Mot
tisfont." he said, "but hope
from my soul that this will help
you and Mrs. Mottisforlt. he
lieve now. that you may win!
All aid that we can give You
IL yours"
"Y cannot thank you enough!
have S.1n handed this spiendidly9
and at the eleventh hour. dark
though it may be, I see the
light breaking through"
"And yet" the official said,
eft is a slender thread we have
given you. Success or failure
depends on yourself, and how
you strengthen that thread at
the New Bailey"
Tomorrow" said Philip. II
pledge myself that thread shall
be unbreakable. And now to
work.
It. was. long past eleven: for
hours Philip had been toiling
without ceasing at his desk in
the third floor fiat, his brain
swift and busy, papers Uttered
all about him. All this amazing
new material that had come ID
him, he was shaping and pre-
pairing for the morrow. At last
the task was finished and he
rose, his head swimming with
fatigue, but his heart triumphant.
1T have II set" he said. Joan,
my dear one-little wife waiting
in that accused cell. viii lift
the shadow from you! With this
new weapon to my hand. ] will
fight for you" He clenched his
grimiy, there will be panic in
the camp Of the enemy! The
guilt shall go where the guilt
belongs"
He gathered the briefs and
papers together.
Nearly twelve o'clock! Sd
late? But McColl must see these
tonight-we have got to have
our last consultation"
Suddenly he felt curiouslv faint.
The room seemed insufferably
hot, although the gas stove was
not lit. For little while past
he had been conscious of a faint
roaring In his ears-he thought
n was imagination. due to over
fatigue. And he thought he
heard some one shouting in the
street. Philip had been TOO
wrapped up in his work to pay
any attention to anything out
side it.
He looked up from the papers
ne was gathering, glanced round
him and drew a Sharp breath
his throat stung and tingled.
There was smoke in the room,
though the door was tight shut.