Evening star., 1924-01-04
ABOVE SUSPICION
By Robert Orr Chipper6eld.
Auhov Of -Ths Second 8uu.s" sUnsssn Hnd..
"TAs Trigger u Coincidence" ETC.
Copyright BY o.

dress was all that he wanted. Un-
doubtedly he might have obtained
1t there for the asking. but not for
worlds would he have given an ink
ling of his business to the two back
there.
He found the newspaper office The
files We're courteously placed at his
disposal. and in the issue of the pre-
vious Friday he discovered what he
however, before he succeeded in ex-
Treating himself from the maze of
the subway. Then he proceeded
along wide avenue far uptown
where very new, very f1imsy looking
apartment houses stretched in un-
broken lines. save for the cross
streets which intersected them. Be-
fore an older. less pretentious build
ing of plain red brick, dingy. but
preserving sort OF dignity Of it's
own. he paused hesitant. At that
moment a man came down the steps
and strode off without a glance at
him. He was a man verging on mid
die age. with a smartly clipped gray
mustache; his clothes seemed too new
and stylish for him to have become
accustomed to them, and his hands
were big and red.
Geoff gave one quick glance at the
departing figure, and then ducked
into the vestibule. What did Ma
honey, the private detective whom
Newbury had provided for Mrs. Cay
ley. want with the murdered mans
secretary, William Dunn?
CHAPTER XVIII.
William Dunn Speaks.
Geoff found the name he sought on
a card inserted in brass plate above
wall of the vestibule. and pressed the
button. Almost Immediately the door
clicked, and he entered the dark, mar
row entrance hall. cropping his way to
the stairs. All at once. voice called
down to him emphatically through
the gloom:
IF you have come back to attempt
any further argument 1t is useless.
I am through for all time with the
people you represent:
tones have emanated from the lips Of
the meek, self f-effacing secretary?
Geoff called back in reassuring re-
sponse:
from Sunny Beach. Could l see you
for d minute?'
There came a momentary pause.
an audible gasp of surprise, and then
William Dunn replied in some con-
fusion:
"Geoffrey? Why, Of course! Come
right up! II mistook you for some
one who was just here"
Geoff ascended, and near the top
Of the second fight Of stairs he saw
the familiar, slender. stoop-shoulder-
ed figure, peering over the balustrade,
Outlined against the sunset glow,
which came through the opened door
of an apartment behind him, the sec
When he turned toward the light.
in offering his hand to his guest, the
other saw that years seemed to have
been added to his prematurely aged
face during the two days which had
elapsed since they last talked to-
gether at the side of the brook.
81 hope you'll excuse me for landin
in on you like this" Geoff apologized
as they shook hands. Il amt got no
business to. specially as you amt
down there and likely want to forgit
bout the hull affair but KNOWN l
was goin' to run up to town today.
Doc Hood asked me to try to see
YOU
Pm glad you came, Godfrey" I'm
mistakable sincerity sounded in the
nervously eager tone. as his host led
the way into the tiny apartment.
The entrance door opened directly into
a living room. the the windows tSn ,,vor OF
and the setting sun. and Geon paused
in involuntary surprise at the lux
urious furnishings and appointments
about him. Not even Mrs. Cayley her
summer residents who had gradually
settled along the shore of the sleepy
little village, and in whose homes he
had been called to make occasional
repairs, could boast of such elegance.
In the midst of his household gods
the shrunken little man seemed to
take on a sudden dignity and poise,
as il gaining confidence from his
Put your hat here
and take that chair over there; you'll
a few Of the things I saved from the
wreck At the time of my failure, and
they are not in keeping
with this apartment In which. live,
II should think you would" Geotf
simply. They're grand.
f1ner'n anythin' I ever see. l reckon.
though / don't know much bout sech
Mr.. Dunn. there's q lot been
down to Sunny Beach since
you've been gone. For one thing, L
got discharged. go
He made the announcement with
out rancor, and Dunn raised his eye
D Spischarged? But Mrs. Cayley was
with the work you were
doing, and she told me that you had
been Of great help to her when the
tragedy was first discovered.
she hadn't no fault to md win
Hoods 1ust because he SEQ the doc
and me taikin' together, and he kind
er thought 1 was pryin' into the
family affairs and gossiptn' too much,
so he advised Mis- Cayley to git rid
"I--see.' Dunn's tone was nom
committai and his guest went on
Cant blame him none. He don't
know that the docs been my best
friend since I first growed up and it's
material for him to talk over his
cases with me now that he's medical
examiner. That's how come to have
time to tend to q little business in
the city afore start on a new Job
that's waitin' for me-"
IT there is anything that can
do for DR.. Hood, shall be glad to
oblige him: in fact, should consider
it q moral duty" remarked Dunn.
You said that he asked you to come
to me?'
Yes. You see, the district attor-
ney O. our county amt waited for his
full report but went ahead and made
an arrest for the murder"
Arrest" Dunn started forward
There has not been hint in the pa
pers. Who"
He paused. as If unable to continue,
ana Geof replied to the unfinished
'Its young Rupert Ashe. the boy
ny thing. amt 1t, that Mr.. Lane'li be
one O. the chief witnesses agin him II