Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-19
THE RAGGED
PRINCESS
By
Edgar
Wallace
Copyright, 1925. by Chicago Daily Ne,os

Is possible that there could be such a.
what is the expression? 'Fiend In hu-
man shape Is popular-who would muir
der his way out OF all his difficulties?
WHY not? Commit one murder and find
no cause for remorse and all the others
are not only simple but q natural con-
sequence. I have met many murder
erS-"
you have met them?" said Dick In
credulously.
The man nodded.
Yves: I was a convict for many years.
That rather startles you, but 1t Is.
nevertheless. true. My name Is Torring-
ton. I had a life sentence, but was
pardoned for saving the lives OF two
children-the children Of the high COM
missioner of the cape. That Is why
am allowed a passport In a false name.
I am, in fact"-his quick smile came
and went-"one Of the privileged class
es! am interested in Malpas: I was
much more interested in the late Mr..
Marshall, but that is point 1 need
not labor Criminals interest me, just
as a train that has jumped the rails
interests one While it keeps TO the
rails and carries on its humdrum busi-
ness it is hardly worth while noticing
unless you are railway engineer, but
when 1t has jumped the rails and be-
comes a hopeless wreck, or plunges
along some track Of its own making to
destruction, then 1t becomes fascinat-
ing object"
"You did not like Mr. Marshalt?" said
Dick, cycling him keenly.
Brown smiled
ST did not"-a long pause-"like him.
| That is true. De mortuis nil nisi bo-
num- is stupid tag. Why shouldn't
you speak Ill Of the dead? For II they
die their acts still circle out on the
pool of fate. You want TO be careful.
Capt. Shannon" His hard, bright eyes
transfixed the detective.
Careful about"
about Malpas. One killing more or
| less isn't going to bother him, and he
has an especial reason for getting at
you Remember, he Is a genius with
deplorable sense of the theatrical"
His eyes did not leave Dicks face. If
1 we're you, should leave him alone"
Shannon laughed in spite OF his irri-
tation.
That's fine advice to give to an ex-
: ecutive police officer" he said.
| 1T is good advice" said the other,
| but did not pursue the topic. Where
uo you think they have taken the body
| OF Marshalt?"
| Dick shook his head.
ut is in the house somewhere. But
I don't know why should give you
my theories"
IT don't think 1t is in the house at
ALL" said Brown. Il have an Idea
| however. have said too much already.
! And now you're coming around to my
hotel for nightcap. captain"
Shannon declined laughingly.
We'll. at any rate, you'll come along
| and escort me?" said the other with
his tremulous smile. 1T am a feeble
Dick sent him down to the street
while he telephoned to discover that no
| further trace of Malpas had been seen.
When he joined his companion he
! found him in his accustomed place on
| the edge of the curb looking up and
| down the Haymarket with bright. quick,
birdlike jerks of his head.
"Are you expecting somebody"
| 81 am" said the other, but did not
| trouble to explain whom.
There was one curious fact that Dick
noted on the way to the hotel, and that
| ives that Mr. Torrington's limp was
not so pronounced sometimes as 1t was
at others. 1t was almost as though he
had lapses Of memory and forgot to
drag his foot. Shannon remarked upon
1t just before they reached their des-
tination.
At think a great deal of 1t is habit IS
said Torrington Without embarrassment.
1--WE been SO used to dragging my leg
that it has almost become second ma
| ture"
He looked past Dick with the same
strange intentness that he had shown
before.
'"You still expect to see somebody"
! Torrinptor nodded
at am looking for the shadow" he
said: ''he hasn't let up once today, so
far as I can discover"
Shannon chuckled.
"You don't like being shadowed-it
was smart of you to detect him"
Torrington stared at him.
You mean the policeman who has
been following me? That is he on the
corner. I know all about him. No. I
was talking of the man who has been
trailing you"
"Me?" asked the commissioner, and
Torrington's eyebrows rose.
Didn't you know" he asked tnr1o-
Gently. BLESS my SOUL thought you
knew everything!"
| rz-k,.,,.l