Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-08

she said. Cecilia would have wanted me
near her. And it's the last and only
thing can do"
The idea of her spending another
night at GreyhouSe in the vicinity of a
man like Francis Ballion seemed to me
outrageous, and even Carl looked grave,
but Morse apparently was unconcerned.
You'll be perfectly safe" he de-
clared. I'm leaving Redsby in the
house, and therell be several men
stationed outside. You need feel no
anxiety. And now I'll be getting back
to town"
my cars in the garage" said. I'll
drive you back"
"And T." remarked Carl Ballion, will
call at your Office little later, If you
don't mind
"As you please"
Having bid good.by to Eleanor
confess with more feeling on my part
than I had any reason to indulge-we
were on the point of leaving when the
library doors opened and Francis Bal
lion appeared.
He had regained something of his
former manner, that is, with regard to
pride of bearing; but softened now by a
cordially I have never seen surpassed
ct could not let you co." he said to
Morse, without once more extending
at least gentle eXecuttoner. I trust we
shall meet again tomorrow, and I trust
you may have good fortune with your
problem "
Morse had suite in one of the
municipal buildings bedroom, Com
sulting-room, library, and laboratory.
Hitherto, we had met at the club or
elsewhere, and it was the first time
had visited him here. It was Sunday,
and an officially leisure day for him,
: so that, as we waited, he showed me
about the place.
I have always held that the analysis
of a persons character is to be found
in the books he surrounds himself with.
His education, personal interests, range,
and habits appear more closely reflected
here than anywhere else. was
peculiarly struck by the variety of
Norse's reading, for the volumes on his
shelves looked worn and intimate, and
were not there for show. Outside Of
law books and works on crininology,
which might have been expected to form
the professional part of his collection,
he seemed, at one time or another, to
have gained some familiarity with most
fields of knowledge. There were works
on medicine, chemistry, and mathe-
mates; on history and art; but was,
above all, impressed by the number Of
volumes dealing with philosophy, folk
lore, and psychology. All these were
in addition to reference encyclopedias
and the usual classics. noticed, more
over, books in French, German, italian,
and Spanish.
Where" exclaimed, "do you find
time"
II DON'T" he interrupted; 81 take It,
That's the only way to get anything
done"
lit x,N~Isf 0V. f1ncf aV1n an 70 On
South Sea Islands or Nietzche's Also
Sprach zarathustra' has any bearing on
your profession"
THAT" he answered depends on
what you think my profession is" He
lit his pipe, rare indulgence with him,
for he was light smoker, and, tossing
aside the match, added: eff it were
simply a matter of catching crooks
I'd have resigned long ago. The
catchpoll business depends on luck, and
I've been reasonably lucky-but either
you do or you don't. What interests me
really, what is of direct social impor-
lance, are the causes underlying crime,
and crime is merely an abnormal mani
festation of life with all its foibles,
aspirations and necessities. This leads
one anywhere-to NietzcheS Superman
or the primitive conceptions of religion.
But it isn't as theoretical as It
sounds. For example, there was Bal
lions fear regarding door he had built
for himself in his own library: That
door was taboo to him. AS far as my
studies go, you might call them practical
criminology; for I've read notnlng Lnas
hasn't at one time or another helped
me In police investigation; and every
investigation In turn throws light on
some department of social science. The
value of reading Is that 1t adds new
facets to the mind for the reflection OF