New Britain herald., 1925-09-08

could have made the odds a hun dred times greater,
 Mrs Ticcr Tells What She Knows
 About the Suspect
 Mrs, Ticer swung wide her door and tried hard to conceal her sur prise at the sight of the two men who stood with me on her doorstep. l murmured a nasty Introduction and she hospitably placed chairs for us, but l shook my head at her.
 we can't stay" I said. hurried ly. "Mr. Eldrdge and MT. Brown are acquaintances of Mrs, under- wood and l was wondering if you could give them lodgings for day or two"
 Why" she hesitated. 'J could if l knew what MT. Dackett was going to do. He hasn't said whether he's going to stay any longer than the week he spoke of or not. Mir. Dack- cit is gentleman lodging here temporarily" she explained to the men accompanying me, and then, with the ruling passion for quoting proverbs upon every occasion, she added, "A bird in the hand is wsrth two in the bush you know"
 That's very true" Mir. Eldridge l Tod .,l. D,,f o,,it ask him what he means to do?"
 Why! yes could if he were here" she said, but he isn't"
 Isn't hcre?' Mr. Eldridge quer- jed brusquely. Where did he go?"
 Mrs. Ticer turned to me with of- fended astonishment in her face. caught Mr. Eldridge's eyes and he | nodded.
 Better tell her." he said shortly.
 With my neighbours widening eyes upon me, I explained, with much mental discomfort, the dis covcry I had made of the dropped card. and the proof we had obtain cd from it that her lodger was in all probability a criminal involved ' in q mail robbery and murder.
 Why! we might all have been murdered in our beds." she eX- claimed, and her infection held a distinct reproach for mo.
 "Oh, am sure you were in no danger. Mrs. Ticer." I said earnest Iy and truthfully. You see. he evil denty was down here 10 hide and therefore he was very careful to live quietly. Besides, we were not sure until this morning. Then a friend of Mrs. Underwood's in the government service, who had been investigating the case, wired US these gentlemen were coming. Yes" " - as her eyes turned comprehen- eivey upon the government opera lives, they do not wish lodgings, they only wished me to say that in order to mislead Mr. Dackctt,"
 Then" Mrs. Ticcr exclaimed eX- citcdiy, that day when he was act ing like monkey gone crazy hunt ing something all over the room, It was that card he had lost and you had il all the time?"
 "Ycs, but didn't know its sig nifcance then" I said. "Besdes Mrs. Underwood had made me promise secrecy concerning it."
 Mir. Eldridgc. who had been fdg- cting, struck into the conversation ! abruptly and saved me further cx- pianation. | Sorry to interrupt you ladies. , he said in voice that indicated no shadow of regret, but I've goi to round mp this man, packett, and minutes ore precious. Have you any idea where he's gone?" He address. ed Mrs, Ticcr directly. And whcr did he go""
 lover two hours ago." - she an swcrcd the last question first
 That Chink with the sedan-' sht looked at mo for confirmation - you know the friend of tho laundry man who sometimes come! ; and tries to sell Chinese things, Hc came in about that time and show
 ed me some awful pretty embroid
 cry" - paid a swift mental tri
 butc to Ice Chows adroitnrss il thus disguising his errand at thu Tic"r's - and he and Dackett go g to chinnihg over things-you knoV
 the Chink brought him here in tn , first place -- and then l hcar' Dackctt say, I'll give you two dol | lars if sou1 take me for nic , ride"
 :. "There's his lay" The chauhicu Bill, spoke unexpectedly and crypt n culy to Mir. Eldrdgc,
 "Perhaps.' the government opcr a ati,e returned laconically. Then h ', questioned my ncighbor crisply II This Chink, now, you say h | brought him here, did he act as
 he'd ever seen him before?"
 l caught my breath. So hi
 slcuth's mind was already Nsurin
 out q possible connection betwee
 steve" and Lee Chow! l thanke ! my stars for Mrs. Ticcr's ignoranc 2 of the whole affair, when her al
 svcr came transparcntly homes
 and convincing
 NO. I'm sure he mover had, Thi
 Chmk's been around here quite
 little while He picks up few farf
 occasionally in that sedan of his - waits around the station after tn
 regular taxis have gone 10 see !! there's anybody left. Ticer's see | him and hc says hn never interfere f with the regular on"s - don't bf | lic>e he has a taxi license - bt ': he gets quite little trade on tn f sly. Fo just sfw this Dackett ths { day. Dackett asked him if he kne ;; of a good boarding place and tn [ Chink brought him here"
 Copyright. 1925. by Ncwspap' I Feature Service, Inc.