Evening star., 1928-11-12
THE TULE
MARSH MURDER
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By
NANCY
BARR
MAVITY
Copyright. 1928. By Ben Syndicate, Inc

/ to get into suit that hangs together a
little better than this one."
Jimmy surveyed the hollow-eyed,
smiling figure beside him.
go home and go to bed," he growled.
II guess we can live without you for the
rest of the day. If anything breaks,
can let you know"
Peter, however, continued to lean
across the desk.
Il say, Jimmy" he pleaded, "1'd
rather follow this up. I've got hunch
about the man who wrote that letter
D'you suppose there'd be any chance OF
giving me few days, just to root
around on my own? It may not come to
anything, of course"
, when you're as old as am" Jimmy
said in his gruffest tones, you'll have
enough sense to take day off when it's
handed you on silver platter. But
there's no fool like young fool. &c
wherever you durn please.
You can turn in an expense account
for that suit, but warn you, If you GO
getting another one SlaShed up as II
you'd been the center Of Stiletto con-
test, it's your own lookout. And, If you
hang around here another minute try
ing to look bored, you're going to burst. y
But Peter, with final grin over his
shoulder. was already half way to the
door.
1t was a very different Peter who
parked BosSy on side street two hours
later and made his way along the drive
marked "tradeSmen'S entrance" to the
back door of the Ellsworth house. He
had donned a sweater in place of a coat
and buttoned its high collar close
around his chin.
A wide visored cap was pulled far
down over his eyebrows, casting his face
into deep shadow. He had even dis
carded his cigarette in favor OF short
curved pipe.
The picture thus presented before his
mirror had delighted him hugely.
1T is amt the spittin' image of Sher-
lock Holmes on a rampagel" he ad-
dressed his reflection enthusiastically
"It shouts disguise to the very house
tops. And, of course, the object of dis
guise is to look as much like disguise
as possible. If not. why go to all the
trouble?" Regretfully he abandoned the
"Ethel's favorite sleuths always smoke
pipes-I know they do. And Ethel, my
dear, you're going to have the biggest
thrill of your young life. It's too bad !
can't make it really good-wait till eve
ming and then throw pebbles at your
window. But I don't know which win
dow, and couldn't hit 1t, anyhow. Be-
sides, can't wait. You'll just have to
be satisfied with things as is"
AS finishing touch, he pinned his
police press badge under the rolled
bottom of his sweater, and then devoted
half an hour to the composition of a
note which, after several scribbled
drafts he finally copied in laborious
hand-printed capitals.
Urgent and secret" it began. eff you
would be of service to the cause of clear
Ing the innocent and bringing the guilty
to justice, come at once to the shrubbery
at the second bend of the driveway to
the left, and tell no one am the pri-
vate assistant of c., whom you left in a
certain room overlooking the back gar
den, between 10 and IL o'clock last
night. p p, Investigator
Peter surveyed this literary produc-
ton with beaming pride.
Won't she just love it, though?" he
gloated, And the funny part is that
reduced. to plain English, it's true
enough"
Having delivered his message to an
aStonished cook at the kitchen door,
Peter retraced his steps along the drive
way as far as the second bend, and half
concealed himself in the thick shrub
berry.
IF anybody with any sense comes
along, I'm SUNK" he murmured. I'D
send myself to the psychopathic ward
for investigation on sight"
The only footsteps, however, were
light ones, tip-toeing along the gravel
from the direction of the house. Peter
waited until they were almost opposite,
and then stepped forward from his place
OF concealment.
"Sh!" he Missed loudly and unneces-
sarily to the palpitating Ethel, who was
far too impressed to open her mouth.
Come behind these bushes, where no
one can see us. I have something of the
utmost Importance to communicate"
(Ta Ioa continued