The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-23
6y s. s. VAR DINE

friend; that's just where I stand
absolutely"
He swung heavily about and faced
Markham. I'm a good fellow, y
understand, but I've kept my mouth
shut long enough. That side
door wasn't locked Monday night.
And I know who sneaked out of it
five minutes to tWelve!"
Ca marched" murmered Vance,
reseating himself and calmly light
ing e. cigaret.
Markham was too aStoniShed to
speak at once; and Heath sat stock
still, his cigar halfway to his mouth.
At length Markham leaned back
and folded his arms.
I think you'd better tell us the
whole story, Mr. ManniX." His voice
held a quality which made the re-
quest an imperative.
ManniX, too, settled back in his
chair.
ooh, I'm going to tell it-believe
me. I'm going to tell it.-You had
the right idea I spent the evening
with Miss Frisbee. No harm in
that, though"
What time did you go there?"
"After office hours-half past
five, quarter to six. Came up in
the subway, got off at Seventy-Sec-
ond, and walked over"
And you entered the house
through the front dOOr?"
mo. I walked down the alley
way and went in the side door
like 1 generally do. It's nobody's
business who I call on, and what
the telephone operator in the front
hall don't know won't hurt him."
That's all right so far" observed
Heath. THE janitor didn't bolt the
side door until after six"
And did you stay the entire
evening, Mr.. Mannix?" asked Mark
ham.
"Sure-till just before midnight
Miss Frisbee cooked the dinner, and
I'd brought along a bottle of wine.
Social little party-just the two
of us.
And I didn't go outside the
apartment, understand, until five
minutes to twelve. You can get the
lady down here and ask her. I'll
call her up now and tell her to
explain the exact situation about
Monday night. I'm not asking you
to take my word for it-positively
not"
Markham made a gesture dismiss
ing the suggestion.
what took place at five minutes
to tWelve?"
Mannix hesitated, as if 10th to
come to the point.
I'm good fellow, y understand.
And a friends friend. Butt ask
you-is that any reason why I
should get in wrong for something
I didn't have absolutely nothing to
do with?"
He waited for an answer, but re-
ceiving none, continued.
Sure, I'm right.-Anyway, here's
what happened. AS I said, was
calling on the lady. But I had an
other date for later that night; so
a few minutes before midnight I
said good-by and started to go.
Just as I opened the door saw
some one sneaking away from the
Canary's apartment down the little
back hall to the side door.
There was light in the hall, and
the door or Apartment 2 faces that
side door. I saw the fellow as plain
as I see you-positively as plain"
who was it?"
We'll, if you got to know, it was
Pop Cleayer."
Markham's head jerked slightly.
What did you do then?"
Nothing, Mr.. Merchandising
at all. I didn't think much about
it, y understand
II knew Pop was chasing after
the Canary, and I just supposed he'd
been calling on her. But I didn't
want Pop to see me-none of his
business where spend my time. So
I waited quietly till he went out"
by the side door?"
"Sure-then I went out the same
way. 1 was going to leave by the
front door, because I knew the side
door was always locked >at night.
But when I saw Pop go out that
way, I said to myself I'd do the
same.
mo sense giving your business
away to a telephone operator if
you haven't got to-no sense at all.