The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-01-04
The Step on the Stairs
BY Isabel 0strander

NO. I've seen enough" Barry re.
piled with a Significance which. was
lost upon the other. III you wan,
me TO trail along with YOU while you
Interview the tenants we'd better he
moving"
"All right. / get YOU" Craig led
tho way TO the door, "Ita past mid.
night now and ! guess wen start
with Miss Shaw.
The footsteps had approached very
near tho door when Craig knocked
and almost at once tho handle turned
and a young woman stood before
them. With her small. oval. eolorless
face aud pale hair clipped short she
seemed almost n girl a, first glance.
but closer inspection revealed faint
but mature llnes and certain poise
In spite OF her obvious agitation that
Indicated a woman nearer so than 20.
We're from police headquarters,
ma'am." Craig cleared his throat.
Come in" Her voice was Quiet
and controlled. but Barry observed
that a muscle in her thin check
twisted slightly. She threw the door
wide, revealing living room barely
furnished almost 20 dcSolatlon. with
cheap mating rugs upon tho uneven.
painted floor and the ugly. straight
lines OF few duh. fumed. oak mission
tables and chairs scattered about.
You are Miss shawn" asked
Craig. seating himself glngerly upon
the edge OF a chair.
Patricia Shaw. altho. I occasion.
ally sign my articles Patty" The
young woman nodded. II write for
tho magazines you know. ! have
liver here four years next October, I
am "a years old. and came origin.
ally from Omaha"
II have no relatives In New York
that I know OF. but tho editors OF
several magazines published in the
neighborhood can vouch for me. and
the agent Of this building"
you stated tina, you did no, hear
a shot fired from below" said Craig,
Are you quite SURF. Miss Shaw
Il am sure that I heard nothing
that sounded at the time like "a
shot" Her voice ,rcmbied n little,
AT least, u did not occur 20 me tina,
a shot had been fired. There were
several sharp. crashing pcais OF thun,
der before tho storm passed. After
that I heard rather loud knocking
upon some door below but did no,
think anything OF IL. and must have
! fallen into a dore when someone
raped upon my door. II wa. a DO
licernan, and hc told me wha, had
happened AT first was horror
stricken. III can scarcely rcmem
Der what I said or dldl
II am-was--ihe only woman ten
ant IN the building besides Mrs. ynne
and ] suppose must have been hys
sericai but Il camo 10 ma that sh,
might perhaps have been onl,
wounded In some accidental fashion
that shc might need tho services o
another woman. I dressed aa yo,
SEQ me now and descended 70 Tin,
The detectives there and all othe
tenants except tho old Russian zen
tlenan who has the apartment Jus
below me. and n police doctor o
some sort"
She paused and Craig promp,e.
her.
You saw the body aIso7"
Miss Shaw inclined her head an,
seemed for moment unable 20 con
tinue. When she spoke II was In
low. shaking voice scarcely above
whisper.
Yes. She'll saw az n Finnc,
somehow that il must be true, but
couldn't help going 10 her and touch
ing her hand"
With a sign 20 Sergeant Craig
Barry interviewed In a soothlngi,
sympathetic tone.
You knew Mrs. vane7a
Not In formal sense. We hat
smiled at each other and noddes
when we happened to meet on tn
stairs."
There was a HftIo catch In he
breath and then she hurried on: -
was interested enough 70 go 70 on,
or two Of the spring exhibitions which
contained specimens 81 her work.
- admired her and I was curioul
70 SEQ her studio. altho I am not /
busybody. as rule. One day abou
three weeks ago was passing he
door 1ust as Il opened and one OF he
patrons came out; tho lady who's
portrait IS there now In tho studio.
You mean the one on the easel