Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-29
Hnother Sparkling Story From the Pen
Of Master Of Mystery Fiction-The
7aleb Complete in This Issue of1He Stars
Sunday Magazine and Mr. Reede1, the
Quaint Detective Who Has FIGURED
Largely TN Mr.. Wallace' s Recent Stories,
Has a Strange Ad0enture.

She flushed little at his surprise and then
laughed.
You didn't realize that I was a woman Of
property?" she bantered him. ct receive $50 a
month; my father left me a little house prop
erty when he died. sold the cottages two years
ago for 5000 and found a wonderful invest
ment"
Mr.. Reeder made q rapid calculation.
You are drawing something like 1917 DER
cent" he said. THAT is indeed q wonderful
investment What Is the name of the COM
pany?"
She hesitated
I'm afraid can't tell you that. You see
well, it's rather secret. 1t is to do with a
South American syndicate that supplies arms
to-what do you call Acknowledgements!
We are pledged-the shareholders, mean
not to divulge our connection with the COM
pany," she said. That is one of the agree
ments had to sign. And the money comes
regularly have had nearly fifteen hundred
OF my five thousand back in dividends already"
"Humph!" said Mr.. Reeder wise enough not
to press his question. There another day
tomorrow.
But the opportunity to which he looked for
ward on the following morning was denied to
him. Somebody played grim Joke on him
the kind Of joke to which he was accustomed,
for there were men who had good reason to
hate him, and never a year passed but one or
the other sought to repay him for his unkindly
attentions
"Your name is Reeder, amt it?"
Mr.. Reeder, tightly graSping his umbrella
with both hands, looked over his spectacles at
the shabby man who stood at the bottom of
the steps. He was on the point of leaving his
house for his Office
You're the fellow who got Ike Walker, amt
you?"
Mr. Reeder knew Ike Walker very well indeed
He was a clever, a too clever, forger of bills of
exchange, and was at that precise moment al
most permanently employed as an orderly at
Sing Sing.
Eyes, I was instrumental in arresting Ike
Walker" said Mr.. Reeder, almost gently.
The man put his hand in his pocket and
brought out a crumpled packet incloSed in
green oiled silk. Mr.. Reeder unfolded the COW
ering and found a soed and crumpled en-
velope.
That's from Ike" said the man. HE sent
1t out Of stir by gent who was discharged yes
terday."
Mr.. Reeder opened the envelope, keeping his
eyes on the mans face, took out the crumpled
sheet and read the five or six lines Of writing.
Dear Reeder:
Here is bit Of riddle for you.
What other people have got, you can have.
I haven't got 1t. but it is coming to you. It's
red-hot when you get it, but you're cold when
1t goes away Your loving friend,
IKE WALKER.
(doing twelve stretch because you went on the
witness stand and told q lot Of lieS).
Mr.. Reeder looked up and their eyes met.
Your friend is a little mad, one thinks?" he
asked politely.
He amt friend of mine gent asked
me to bring it." said the messenger.
ION the contrary" said Mr. Reeder pleasant
ly "he gave it to you in Sing Sing yesterday.
Your name Is Mills; you have eight convictions
for burglary, and will have your ninth before
the year Is out You were released two days
ago."
THE man was for the moment alarmed and
in two minds to bolt. Mr.. Reeder glanced
along the street, saw slim figure, that was
standing at the corner, cross to q waiting street
car, and seeing his opportunity vanish, read
justed his time table.
Come inside, Mr.. Mills"
The messenger followed meekly, wiped his
boots with great vigor on the mat and tiptoed
up the carpeted stairs TO the big study where
Mr. Reeder did most Of his thinking.
"Sit down, Mills"
With his own hands Mr.. Reeder placed q
chair for his uncomfortable visitor and then,
pulling up another to his big writing table, he
spread the letter before him, adjusted his
glasses, read, his lips moving, and then leaned
back in his chair.
"I give it up" he said. Read me this riddle"
AS he handed the letter across the table, the
man betrayed himself, for he rose and pushed
back his chair with q startled, Mortified express
sion that told Mr.. Reeder quite lot. He laid
the letter down on his desk, took a large tum-
the scrawled paper Then: