The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-05-22
CHAPTER Gil

Instinctively Douglas hunched,
the square chin thrust out.
Meager's eyes glinted coldly; Now,
wouldn't advise that, Mr.. Keith.
We're not trying to pin anything on
you. We're giving you chance tn
get clear on this. Come clean on
the proposition and youth be all
right. But you can't fight this down
and you can't lie put of 1t.
You were in this room last Mon.
day night. A man died here. Either
he was murdered or he committee
suicide. If he committed suicide
there is certainly no reason for your
silence. You should be willing to
explain your presence here
Douglas stared before him, teeth
sunk together.
Meager went on quietly: Come
over here, Mr.. Keith. Do YOU see
this red stain? Someone's blood
the woman's blood She crept from
here. from the corner, right along
here to the door"
He pointed with the long. bleak
finger; Right along here-left her
finger prints-dozens of times on the
floor. She reached the door. She
had hard time turning that knob. "
Douglas swept his hand over his
hair. A quick. dizzy beating of his
heart Right along there Sandy
crept--went creeping and moaning
getting to her knees, fumbling at the
door And Ramon sprawled lifeless
just there-behind him
The room clouded, swayed round
with him. He stopped and looked
at the blood marks. Good God, 3"
he thought, filled with panic, I'm
getting faint. What do they know?
What can they know? Elevator
operators word against mine"
He could visualize Ramon's body
hulked inertly on the floor. And it
now affected him as monstrous-in-
credible and monstrous, that he.
Douglas Keith, should be here, stiff
ling, fighting guiltily-bullied and
insulted as though he had actually
murdered a man.
Meager's voice drummed against
him in an indistinct humble. You
carried the girl away, Mr.. Keith.
Where have you hidden her? You
see we know what happened"
Douglas Strengthened himself an.
grily: Then why ask me. I've
told you | know nothing. | never
met the man"
And tell you we've got YOU
cold! And we know just what hap.
pened and you better come through.
You better sit down here and make
a clean breast of It,"
He moved a chair slowly, calcu.
latingly plopped it down directly
over the area where Ramons body
had lain
Douglas shuddered. His Jaws felt
stiff like cement. He stared at a
window above Ramon's desk-a win
dow that looked on a court. Queer
he hasn't noticed this window be-
fore. The shade was up. lie could
see into other offices. Directly oppo-
site, but on the floor above a man
was standing.
A startling thing happened The
man lit a cigaret. puffed lazily. Sud
denly he glanced across. And he
bowed
Immediately Douglas recognized
hin1-Avery Middleton. They were
in the same year at college. A smart
Alec-Douglas always thought him
a smarty-regular Jimmie Freshie--
Did Middleton know why he was
in this office? Did he know that a
man had died here and he, arrogant
young Douglas Keith was under
suspicion; brought here to be I'M
nerved and cross examined?
He had a hot, reckless notion to
swing out his fists. bolt from the
room. It appeared sinister that Mid
dleton should stand there bowling to
him-vicious and sinister.
You didn't notice that window
before, Mr.. Keith"
II never saw that window before"
Didn't happen to notice whether
the shades were up or down last
Monday night?"