Evening star., 1928-06-15


through your head?"
IAN excellent figure Of speech! 1t
expresses my mental state perfectly.
Numberless things are going through
my head But nothing remains there.
My brains a veritable Seive."
Heath projected himself into the
discussion.
MY opinion is, sir, that the Mann
helm angle Of this affair Is a washout.
We're dealing with the present, and the
bird that did this shooting Is some
where's around here right now"
You're probably right, Sergent,"
conceded Vance. "But--my word!-
1t strikes me that every angle of the
case--is hopelessly inundated"
CHAPTER xI.
A Painful Interview.
CFriday, November IL; IL AMI
Markham glanced impatiently at his
watch.
Its getting late," he complained,
"and / have an important appointment
at noon. / think I'll have 60 at Rex
Greene, and then leave matters in your
hands for the time being, Sergeant.
There's nothing much to be done here
now, and your routine work must be
gone through with"
Heath got up gloomily.
Yes: and one of the first things to
be done is to go over this house with
fine-tooth comb for that revolver.
If we could find that gun we'd be on
our way"
Il don't want to damp your ardor.
Sergeant" drawled Vance. but some
thing whispers in my ear that the wea-
pom you yearn for is going to prove
dashed elusive"
Heath looked depressed; he was OBJ
viously of Vance's opinion.
| "a hell of a case this is! Not lead
nothing to get your teeth in"
He went to the archWay and yanked
the bell cord viciously. When Sproot
appeared he almost barked his demand
that Mr. Rex Greene be produced at
once; and he stood looking truculently
after the retreating butler as if longing
for an excuse to follow UP his order
with violence.
Rex came in nervousiy, a half-smoked
! cigarette hanging from his lips His
eyes were Sunken; his cheeks sagged,
and his short splay fingers fidgeted
with the hem Of his smoking jacket,
like those Of man under the influence
of hyoScine. He gave US resentful.
half-frightened gaze, and planted him.
self aggressively before us, refusing to
take the seat Markham indicated. Sud
denly he demanded flercely:
Have you found out yet who killed
Julia and Chester?"
mo" Markham admitted "but we've
taken every precaution against any re-
"Precaution? What have you done?"
We've stationed a man front and
| rear"
A cackling laugh cut him short.
"A lot of good that'll do! The person
who's after US Greenes has a key. He
| has key, / tell you! And he can get
in whenever he wants to. and nobody
can stop him"
II think you exaggerate little," re-
| turned Markham mildly. In any case,
we hope to put our hands on him very
soon. And that's why I've asked you
here again--its quite possible that you
can help U.S."
What do I know" The mans words
we're defiant. and he took several long
inhalations on his cigarette. the ashes
| Of which fell upon his jacket unnoticed.
You we're asleep, understand, when
the shot was fired last night" went on
Markham's quiet voice: but Sergeant
Heath tells me you we're awake until
after eleven and heard noises in the
hall. Suppose you tell US just what
happened"
Nothing happenedl" Rex blurted. Il
went to bed at half past ten. but was
too nervous to sleep. Then, some time
later, the moon came out and fell
across the foot of the bed: and ! got
| UP and pulled down the shade. About
| ten minutes later ! heard a scraping
| sound in the hall, and directly after
ward a door closed softly"
Just a moment, Mr.. Greene" inter-
rupted Vance. Can you be little
more definite about that noise? What
did it sound like?"
II didn't pay any attention to it,"
| was the whining reply. 1T might have
been almost anything. 1t was like some
! one laying down a bundle, or dragging
( something across the floor: or 1t might
have been old Sproot in his bedroom
slippers. though 1t didn't sound like
him-that is, didn't associate him
with the sound when heard II"
And after that?"
After that? lay awake in bed 10
| or Is minutes longer. was restless
and-and expectant; so turned on the
| lights to see what time ii was, and
| smoked half a cigarette"
1T was rs minutes past IL, / under
stand"
| That's right. Then a few minutes
later put out the light. and must have
gone right TO sleep"
There was a pause. and Heath drew
| himself up aggreSSively.
Say, Greene; know anything about
fire-arms2" He shot the question out
brutally
Rex stiffened. His lips sagged open,
and his cigarette fell to the floor. The
muscles of his thin jowls twitched, and
he glared menacingly at the sergeant.
What do you mean?" The words
were like snarl; and noticed that his
whole body was quivering.
Know what became OF your brothers
revoiver?" pursued Heath relentlessly,
thrusting out his jaw.
Rex's mouth was working in a par
oxysm Of fury and fear. but he seemed
unable to articulate.
Where have you got 1t hidden?"
Again Heath's voice sounded harshly.
Revolver Hidden? ." At
last Rex had succeeded in formulating
his words. "You--fllthy rotterl II
you've got any idea that I have the
revolver. 60 up and tear my room apart
and look for it--and be damned to
youl" His eyes flashed, and his upper
lip lifted over his teeth. But there was
fright in his attitude as well as rage
Heath had leaned forward and was
about TO say something further, when
Vance quickly rose and laid q restrain
ing hand on the sergeant's arm. He
was too late, however, TO avoid the thing
he evidently hoped to forestall What
Heath had already said mad proven
SUFFICIENT stimulus to bring about ter
rible reaction in hts victim.
What do i care what that unspeak-
able swine says?" he shouted, nointinp
palsied finger at the sergeant, Oaths
MOVING. PACKING h STORAGE.
tcantinued.l
GIT OUR RATES FIRST AND AVOID
worry. Am.Amerlran "a. Al Transfer 4
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