Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-14
8 1IUULHEH4U % Ut UT = WN0WO
Copyright by Street & Smith Corp.

wore. "My rooms right above his, :"
she explained.
"A few moments ago l jumped out
of bed, thinking I'd heard a sound. I"
"A sound, eh?. This town is chock-
full of them things" Pinto leveled
an uneasy glance at the door in the
rear. What kind of sound was 1t
you thought you heard?"
What kind OF sound. You amt
paid for asking fool questions, officer
Pinto. All day long l felt in my
bones that something awful was 60
ing to happen, and when that noise
woke me up l was scared stiff.
grabbed a few clothes and ran down
here, but the door to Mr.. Cages
room was bolted on the inside. He
always shoots the bolt before he
goes to bed. / knocked. but not a
sound came from the inside. Then
shouted loud enough to raise the
dead, but"
Your boss is hard of hearing,
amt he?"
"A little. Say, why don't you do
something"
Pinto walked to the outer door.
shooed away a knot of curious spec
tators. then sauntered back to where
the woman stood. There was a SIT
percilious grin on his lips, but deep
in his eyes lurked an uneasy CLEAN.
80 you've been feeling in your
bones that something awful was go
ing TO happen" he gibingly OBJ
served Then YOU hear a noise, and
right away YOU yell murder. You've
got some imagination, you have. /
amt going to break in on a sleeping
man just because your bones feel
funny. Mine do, too, once In
while, but | don't make any fuss
about it. No. stree! You might as
well trot back to bed
The woman pulled at the folds of
her robe. II haven't told you all
yet" She spoke fast and low, gaZ-
ing fixedly at the door in the rear,
Yesterday afternoon Mr.. Gage got
a letter from-from a party he's got
good reason to be scared of. He
hadn't heard from him in years. and
he's been hoping he was rid of him
for good. Well, l was watching him
while he read the letter, and | saw
him turn white as a sheet. Later,
while he was out to lunch, / went
to his desk and read the letter. /
was just that curious. 1t told Mr..
Gage that the writer would call on
him inside As hours"
WAS that all?"
"All but the name at the bottom
and the name was the main thing"
"Eh?"
ut was the name of the man Mr..
Gage has been afraid of all these
years. When / saw that name at
the bottom Of the note I felt chill
all over. Say" raising her voice, why
don't you break in that door,"
Pinto stroked his chin as if strong
ly impressed by what the woman had
told him. Another group of spec
tators had gathered at the entrance,
and he gruffiy ordered them TO dis
perse. Then he faced the inner door,
turned the knob. pushed. The door
did not yield, and he looked. back
over his shoulder.
Whose name was signed to the
note?" he demanded.
A look of awe crossed the house
keepers face. She raised a bony arm
and steadied herself against the
counter. A grayish pallor had suf-
fused her shriveled features
II can't tel YOU" she whispered.
II mustn't. Hurry-for Heavens
sake!'
Something Of her excitement
to Pinto, but even now he appeared
loath to attack the door.
IF your boss was so ALFRED scared
of the guy that sent him the note,
why didn't he call up the police?" he
queried suspiciously. Then look of
comprehension dawned in his face.