Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-14
INSTALLMENT III.

firmly
Thanks" said the other family. II
shall be all right in minute. It's
these COMPOUNDED cigars, you know.
Mullins told me smoked too many OF
EN-"
He pressed hand to his side.
Presently he Strengthened himself and
slared at the servant. who held a
single liuuer glass on silver tray that
trembled viSibly.
Take some yourself, Jarrett" he rec
commended, land pull yourself together.
You've nothing to be alarmed about:
Mr.. Corlitt was packing up a flask OF
chemical to send away for analysis. APP
parently he has had an accident"
Jarrett's agitation seemed to increase
as his masters composure returned.
But it's murder, Sir-blue murder!
You couldn't mistake that, II you saw
him. The window was wide open and
there was papers all over the room"
Taverner eyed him coldly.
Rubbish" he retorted. You've never
seen a murder committed in your life
How do you know" He glanced at
Dightcn. II told him to be particularly
careful about that flask. I suppose he
dropped it or something-and the thing
exploded"
Jarrett gulped.
There was no explosion, sir. I
could stake my life on that"
Taverner seized his shoulders and
shook him until his teeth chartered.
Don't be so confoundedly obstinate.
Jarrett. You smelt the chemical-and
you have my word for 1t that an acct
dent occurred. Now get some OF that
stuff down you and go and explain
things to the cook. You'd better give
her some. too. Come along, Alan"
Leaving the servant limp and dazed.
staring helplessly after thsn1, they made
for closed door at the far end of the
broad corridor.
The whole atmosphere of the place
exuded comfort and good taste. The
crimson carpet, cleaning white enamel,
powerful electric bulbs that shed a
diffused radiance through bowls of Eng
lish alabaster set at regular intervals
along lofty. primrose tinted ceiling
spelled security in letters a yard long.
A solid second-fioor wing of solid
town mansion. converted into flats by
reason Of altered circumstances!
At point where narrow passage
tutted off to what he imagined to be
the servants quarters. Taverner paused
and pushed open q door.
& A strong. acrid7 odors assailed Digh-
II
ice-co!d air, hinwing through the open
window, chilled him to the marrow.
His companions coughed.
'You got that. Alan" he whispered
back. "Beastly. isn't it,"
The electric light was still on. Heavy
curtains at the far end. that stretched
almost from ceiling to floor tapped
spasmodically against an I. overturned
table.
Taverner closed the door behind
them and extended an eloquent hand
toward scene of indescribable chaos.
1t was long room. long and rather
narrow. with a fireplace on the left, a
second door and small green safe on
q stand. The walls were paneled in
dark oak. hung with hunting pictures
and a few cirios Dighton noticed a
shield bearing coat of arms over the
fnantelshelf. three-tier rack of pipes
and a modern roll-top desk on the
right.
And then the CHASTITY relic that oc-
cupied the middle of the floor caught
his attention and held 1t riveted. It
was the sprawling figure of a man. a
heap of bones and shrunken flesh held
together by clothes eaten In great holes.
apparently by the swift action Of some
powerful corrosive fluid. It lay In a
patch of violent blue that ran diago-
flally across the carpet. narrowing al
most to point by the second floor, and
widening like ray until 1t blistered
the paneling over an area feet wide
"Gad!" said Taverner at his elbow
sim glad had that brandy"
Dighton nodded grimly.
"Cood thing Miss Have wasn't here T"
"Eh-Oh. yes-jolly good thing. We
- A. 49, fA,a Iatf
He reached behind him and turned
the kew softly.
Pull down that window, Alan, IL you
don't mind. You can leave 1t open a
little at the top. Just to let some Of
these fumes get away. Don't tread on
that blue stuff. If you can help it,"
Halfway across the floor, Dighton
turned.
you don't think it better to leave
things just as they are? The police.
] mean-"
Taverner smiled.
'You are inclined to agree with
Jarrett?"
well, yes"
"You thought my story of the ex-
ploded flask sounded a bit thin?"
Dighton shook his head.
"It was perfectly obvious you in
vented that warn to keep the servants
quiet Nobody coming into this room
would iunlo tn the conclusion that II
was an accident Besides. II there
we're flask. you would expect to see
pieces of it somewhere"
Taverner was standing with his back
tn the fire. with his hands clasped be-
hind nim, raising and lowering himself
on the toes of his patent boots.
You may close that window. Alan
lfcid
take IL from me that the intruder did
not Use 1t either to enter here or to &C
out. Probably he threw it open before
leaving to allow the smell to get away
Try that door as you pass. It's open
isn't it?"
Dighton tried the handle. 1t opened
quite easily, revealing the first few
rungs Of a spiral staircase, incased m
narrow shaft of masonry.
He shot look of inquiry at Tav.
erner
"a sort of emergency staircase" the
other explained I'VE made an ar
rangement to have it bricked in wher
We came. 1t mas its uses. People come
here from time to time who don't wan
to attract attention. The bell push or
the outside controls buzzers both II
this room and in Corlitt's bedroom.
4 Dighton closed it and joined the othel
at the fire.
You admit now that it was muir
der?"
Taverner clipped off the end Of :
fresh cigar. Taking spill from ja
on the mantelpiece he stopped dow
and held 1t to the fame.
Blue murder chi" he murmured
nl1oing something Jarrett had said II
tn hall Rather apt that-what?"
He pulled thoughtfully for some sec
on6s.
You were talking of the police Jus
now. / imagine that at the back o
searching for f1ngerprints maxim
measurements and all that sort .
thing" Observation-Disclosures.