Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-17

thoroughfares and entered into maze
| of crooked, narrow and squalid streets
| where housewives and children with
dirt streaked faces viewed his impos-
| ing figure with frank curiosity. After
a glance at a corner sign he turned
east. ouickening his pace a little and
scanning the numbers over the door
| ways as he proceeded. One or the
buildings, a murky brick front WITH
funeral wreath hanging on the door
and a tobacconist's sign lettered across
the ground-fioor window, he regarded
with more than casual interest.
"Sylyanus Gage, dealer in pipes,
| tobacco and cigars" he read In pass
| ing; then. after q moments hesitation,
| he nursued his eastward course,
thoughtful pucker between his eyes:
He was trying to outline a course Oh
procedure, a matter to Wnlch htherlo
he had given scant attention. for the
phantom was the veriest tyro In the
| science of criminal investigation. IL
occurred to him that one or ms nrst
stems should be an Inspection OF the
scene of the murder.
A few blocks farther east he turned
into a once famous restaurant ana or
dered luncheon. He dallied over the
dishes, smoked cigar while ne crank
his coffee, and 1t was AFTER ciock
when he left the place and headed IN
the direction Of the tobacco store. This
time he paused in front Of the estab-
lishmcnt, looked through the window
and finding the interior deserted, reso.
lutely rang the bell. Some time passed
before the side door was opened by
fat.chested woman with sharp 1ea-
lures and unkempt gray hair.
"What do you want?" she demand
ed sulkily, regarding the caller with
oddly piercing eyes. Cant you see
the stores closed?"
The Phantom lifted his hat ana
smiled urbanely. Sorry TO lnIruue,
he murmured. "You are Mrs. Triple,
I believer"
well, suppose l am
",The late Mr.. Cages housekeeper?'
whats that to your
at am Mr.. Adair of Boston,, ex-
planned the Phantom, unruffled by her
churlish demeanor He and the woman
had met once or twice during MS
stormy interviews with Gage. but he
felt sure she did not recognize hlln.
"You may have heard of me as an
amateur investigator OF crime, ne
went on easily. II have established
a modest reputation in that line. rms
morning I happened to read an &C,
count of Mr.. Cages tragic deatn, anu
some of the circumstances impressed
me as interesting. Could l trouble
YOU to show me the room In Whlcn
the crime was committed?"
His hand was in the act or extrl-
eating a bank note from his pocket,
but ne checked 1t in time. a sixth
sense warning him that Mrs. Trlppe
might resent an attempt to grease her
palm. 80.
II don't see what you want to poster
me for" she muttered sullenly, hiking
him with a look of obvious suspicion.
1.-THE police have almost worried the
life out of me with their fool ques-,
tons and carryings-on. The case is
settled and there's nothing more TO
investigate" -,
"Sure of that. Mrs. Trippe?" He
had detected a faint hesitancy In her
speech and manner, and he was quick
to take advantage of 1t. incidentally
he noticed that she had aged a great
deal since he last saw her. and he
doubted whether he should have rec
ognized her If they had met by chance.
What about the murderer's manner
of escape?" he added. Il understand
that hasn't been explained yet"
"Well, he escaped. didn't he! l
don't see that 1t makes any difference
how he did it. The Gray Phantom
always did things his own way. But,
after a few moments wavering, you
can come in and look around"
Her abrupt acquiescence surprised
him, and he guessed it was not wholly
due to a desire to be obliging. He
wondered, as he followed her through