Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-15
THIRTEENTH INSTALLNENT.


me for several minutes stretched
out on the dry turf, where found
4 myself, was not even stunned, but
1t seemed to me that should be;
and hated to move arm or leg for fear
of finding them broken. The machine
had crashed on beyond, and was dinnly
aware Of 1t twenty feet on.
AT last I gathered myself and my
THOUGHTS. together and, testing every
in dazed way looking about, I saw q
I'D lover himself from the ennbank-
merit and come down as fast as the
slope allowed. He was Roose Of the
metropolitan police.
"Dr. Ames!'' he cried Thought
recognized YOU. Well, sir, believe me,
that was close call. Skidded, didn't
you?"' e
mo-" answered shakily. "the steer
1ng-gear broke"
"What!'' His voice expressed wonder
and doubt. ut was a new car, wasn't
it? Let's have look at it. But you're
all right, aren't you? Nothing broken?
Mighty good work you could swing free"
The machine had turned turtle, and
was now a heap of twisted iron and
wood. Roose set about examining the
Steering knuckles-a task of no difficulty
Because of the position of the car.
~You'd a-been mashed flat," he OBJ
served. I'D like now TO see what was
wrong. It looks queer to me. Look at
that" he pointed-"can you beat III"
SUooping next to him.. I followed the
movement of his finger and saw. what
he meant. A clean, thin cut showed
through the knuckle up to the last
fraction of its diameter.
"That's the work of a file."' he NUT
tered There wasn't any accident about
1.-THE shot was aimed at you" felt
. nervous tremor pass through me.
The man that planned that, ponoer-
ed. Roose. was winner--an ace, I'd
call him. But it's mighty serious for:
YOU. ~:
seriousness of it; but, with laymans.
impatience, I couldn't help suggesting
that the police might find remedy.
Roose shrugged his shoulders.
Whats to be done?" he retorted.
1--WE can't go arresting people at
random. The captain feels that there
was something that wasn't cleared up
in the Ballion crin1e-and this. auto
mobile wreck of yours would seem to
prove it, But that's the queer part in
the business. We're pulling against
crystal-clear evidence, and we've moth
ing but suspicion to act on. Don't you.
understand? OF course, Well look for
the fellow who tempered with your
car. butt, he added gloomily, I'VE
won't find him. There's one thing clear,
though, that whoever we're after is
more than one or two people-it looks
like a gang. Norsell be interested in
this" ...
I thought he might well be. but the
term failed to express my own attitude.
To be stalked for ones life by invisible
purSuers whose motives were unknown
seemed to me absorbing. ::
IF were you. docUor," continued
Roose: I'D arrange to leave town for
. SPELL" ...
The suggestion angered me. A fine
police protection this, when the only
deliverance for a threatened man was
70 run awayl He ought to know be-
sides that stat consultants at large
hospitals can't leave for a. SpelP' When
ever the notion takes them-let alone
that, in this case, there existed an
element of pride. And that reminded
me of Anne Roderick at Greyhouse.
If you people" l told him, cant
legitimate work, I suppose I'll have to
see it through by myself. At all events,
Til have to be getting on"
"You don't think you'd better go
home for tonight?" he asked signlfi-
But I answered mo" with more
courage than felt; and in silence we
climbed the hill and regained the
road. In silence also, he accompanied
me to the gates Of Greyhouse.
What brought you out here2" in |
quired before parting with him.
oh" he returned blandly, some
business along the road. I happened
to be passing. Good night; doctor.
And, by the way, have you got o gun?
No? Well, then, take mine" He thrust |
an automatic into my hand. Good |
night" 49,. * :.
was left to trudge along the cedar
lined avenue to the house. But 1t ap.
entered, a shadowy. corridor Of the
mind. For, as in a, dream one lags |
unfortunately with ieaden footsteps, |
SO tonight the way seemed long; felt |
confused, oppressed. The air hung |
warm and scented between the cedars. |
walked in kind of torpor-then, OF a |
sudden, there flashed upon me. I'M
really vivid, the entrance lights, and I
saw that had reached the door.
This evening differed totally from the |
last. In fact, I never again dined alone |
during that period I spent at Grey |
house. Carl Balloon had arrived for |
dinner, and found him and Eleanor |
waiting for me in the hall. To their |
queries and ordinations returned .
brief account Of the accident, but
withheld the discovery Of the filed
caution had been instilled to make me
discreet, particularly in the vicinity of
Hasta. So, treating the matter as
lightly as I could, I went upstairs, |
visited Anne Roderick, whose condi- |
ton seemed a trifle improved, and
came down again, after had changed. |
It was this evening that first noticed
. difference in Eleanor Graham.
Whether it was a reaction from the
recent strain, or whether she was
nervously excited, or whether Carl
Balloons personality acted :. as
Stimulant, could not tell; she laughed
and converSed with unusual gayety, and,
through dressed in mourning, seemed
to have forgotten the cause Of Ii. And
yet gradually became conscious OF
another mood that appeared submerged
q certain start that caught an, ex-
preston of her eyes SO haggard, so
desolate, as to remind me strangely
of Celia Balloon; and one saw her
hand trernble as she raised her glass.
But these were momentary shadows;
they disappeared in new. Hash OF
spirits. 49, -.
place, so recently associated with other
sof their death. Now, upon looking
hack. il seems to me utterly unreal:
carl in the chair Of Francis, whose
noiy had been recovered only that
morning; Eleanor, in appearance at
least, forgetful of Celia's tragedy; my
self but now escaped from death--the
three Of us chatting together a. II Moth
0ng had happened.
"Francis had taste in wine;" Carl
Observed, cas- in; most things. TINS
Barbera, for example. he held DIS