Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-05
BY FRANK [. PACKARD

RunnelIs along 40 my man for the
l looks Of It. He can play at valet
ing and still enjoy himself II he
keeps out Of mischief-which will
see to it"-Captain Francis New
| combe's lips tiiinned-'that he does!
That viii account for the temporary
closing up Of this apartment here.
And you. PAUL. suppose II win be
| the Riviera for your
| The Frenchman shrugged his
shoulders.
"Ah." he said. "As to that do
| not know, but what does Il matter? 2"
He laughed good-humoredly.
| The doorbeH interrupted the
| Frenchman's words. 81
| Runnells left the room to answer
| the summons He was back in q
] tray. which he handed to the ex-
I captain Of tsrritortals.
The card tray was significant.
Captain Francis Newcombe glanced
first ut Runnslrs face, frowned-
then picked up the card. His eyes
narrowed as he read 1t. On the
card was written:
DEFECTIVE SERGEANT MULLINS
New Scotland Yard =
He handed the card coolly to Paul
Cremarre.
"show the sergeant in. Runnslls."
he said. {
A minute later Runnells ushered
in a thick-set. f,orid-faced man.
Sergeant Mullins, sir" he an
nounced. and withdrew from the
room.
The sergeant looked inquirinxly
from one to the other of the two
men. r.
I'm sorry to intrude, gentlemen"
he said. Its Captain Newcombe,
Captain Francis Newcombe waved
his hand pleasantly.
Not at all, sergeant" he said. II
am Captain Newcombe. What can
do for you?"
We'll. SIR" said the man from
Scotland Yard, I'm not saying you
can do anything, and then again
Frenchman. and coughed slightly.
Mr.. Cremarrs 10 q close friend of
mine," said Captain Francis New
combs quietly. You may speak
quite freely before him, SO far as /
am concerned"
Very good. sir" said Sergeant
Mullins. well, then, even il the
papers hadn't been full of it all day.
you'd probably know about 1t any
way, being as how you were a.
friend OF his. It's SIR Harris
Creaves, sir-Sir Harris murder"
Murder Of Sir Harris
captain Francis Newcombe, as
though instinctively. turned toward
an evening paper that lay upon the
taoie, its great headlines screaming
the murder across the front page.
Good God. sergeant-yes!" he ex-
claimed. "It,s a shocking thing,
Shocking" He jerked his head
toward the paper, and glanced at
Paul Cremarre. You've read it. OF
course. Paul?"
I've never read anything like II
before" said the trenehman grimly.
me most wanton thing i ever
heard OF! Absolutely purposeless,
Don't you be too sure about
tnat, sir" said Detective Sergeant
Mullins crisply. Things aren't done
pH nt ss ss not them
EXACTLY" agreed Captain Francis
Newcombe. Right you are, ser
seant! But you'll pardon me if l
"ppear OH curious as to why you
snou!d have come to me about il.
Well, sir" said Sergeant Mullins
that's simple enough. You ara the
| last one as had any Conversation
| dered." was NUT
Captain Francis Newcombe stared
at the Scotland Yard man in a puz-
zled way. 'oA-
I am afraid I don't quite under.
stand, sergeant" he said a little
nopelessly. According to the puh-
nshed accounts, Sir Harris was
stabbed In his bed. presumably dur
ing the early morning hours. though
no sound was heard. and the crime
wasn't discovered until his man
went to take Sir Harris his tea at
the usual hour this morning. But
| rate?"
NO. sir" said Sergeant Mullins.
as far as that goes. thev.rs as
curate enough. The doctors saw II
must have been somewhere between
and o'clock in the morning."
Quite sol" said Captain Francis
NeWcompe. That 10 what had In
mind: The last time l saw Sir
harris was yesterday evening at the
Sir Harris left the club shortly
before | did. have no exact ides
what the hour was, though fhe
doorman would probably DO able to
say, but / am quite certain II would
not have been later than half past
II. our talk just drifted along"
| Yes. SIR" said Sergeant Mullins.
And the things YOU .drifted to-
could you remember them, sir? It's
very important. sir. that you
Well, II it's important, I'll try ..
said Captain Francis NewcombA
gravely. THE shows, OF course. and
the American yacht race, horses. a
hunting lodge Sir Harris had in
scotland. and-yes, l believe that's
at that"
Detective Sergeant Mullins in
spected the bottom button OF his
waistcoat intently.
Sir Harris was a bit Of a crimi-
nologfst in his way. as PERHAPS
you've heard. sir?' he said.
Yes, l believe ! have heard 1t
saia that was hobby Of hisy nod
asd Captain Francis Newcombe.
BUT l wouldn't have known 1t from
anytning Sir Harris said last nirht.
II that's what you mean. The sub-
sect wasn't mentioned"
Nor eny crime? And particulars
any particular criminai?" prodded
the scotland Yard man. :
Captain Francis Newcombe shook
his head.
.Not word" he said.
Detective Sergeant, Mullins ioole,,
up little gioomfly from his waist
coat battong
I'm sorry for that" he said.
$50 am l. II It would. have helped
any" said the ex-captain OF terri
torials heartily. But whats the
point, sergeantf~
well. you see, sir" said q the
Scotland yard man awif1f IN AZ.