Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-20

"Anythin' new, Kaufman" said
Charley, and the other policeman shook
Nav" he said. Pretty soft for me.
at that. I'll take all the jobs like this
they want to hand me-"
sure, I want to have q look round,
kaufman. This guys with me-wtt-
will you? Beat 1t down to the corner
and get me some cigars" He took bill
from his pocket. ANY good two-for "a
quarter smoke they've got--not too
dark. Get four. Smoke one yourself
when you get back"
sure, sarge--sure. I'll do that little
thing for you"
The patrolman picked UP his cap and
went out.
Nov then, Peter-get busyi Open up
that fireplaceI Quickl Remember what
the madam told you?"
Eyes" said Peter and dropped to one
knee. The fourth tile from the left
the third from the floor, Martha had
Said-and you pushed it in. He old,
and as the spring was released the
whole side of the fireplace swung open.
revealing a small safe. Charley pushed
him aside, unceremoniously, and grunted
with relief as the safe door opened to
his pull.
Had to take q chance it wasn't
locked-didn't think 1t would be,
thought" he said. 'well-there's the
gat, all right. Now-let's seel Close up
after me- Pete"
Peter obeyed. When he rose and
turned, Charley, holding the pistol
gingerly, by the very end OF It's short,
blunt barrel, was busting II with 2
light powder. He: stared at 1t. turning
1t this way and that. 49,
"Wiped clean!" he said. mot q
fngerprint on 1t. thought 50. You're
q wise guy, Benny-but you amt the
He dropped the pistol in his pocket.
(Which was Thayer's room? ne
Peter pointed it out, and was treated.
for 10 minutes, to the spectacle OF .
real search. Kaufman came back,
with the cigars, and looked on curious
": Charley, evidently, had wanted TO
be rid Of him only while he examined
the safe and the gun.
seen anythin' Of a thin watch and
a chain round, Kaufman" asked
Charley.
II know-Im lookin' at that right
now. mean regular watch, with q
chain. like o guy wears in his vest
pocket"
NO, I amt seen nothin' Ike that
| sarge"
But Charley wasn't satisfied until he
| had hunted through the whole apart
ment
IAN right-guess it amt here. Come
on, Pete"
They went downstairs, and again
Charley gave the cab driver an order
Peter didn't hear.
"That watch and chain, now-worth
some jack, was they?"
"I imagine So" said Peter. "Tack's
mother gave them to him when he was
graduated. remember his telling me
that, once"
Garry anythin' else in the way Of
| jewelry?"
Il don't think so. No. I'm sure he
%. K. Watch might have cost-how
much? A grand?"
"A thousand? I suppose SOL don't
know much about that sort Of thing"
20. K. Don't matter much"
Where are we going now, Charley"
Ross"
''RosS'l"
Nowhere else butt Once more
Charley's savage grin barred his teeth.
II got what I've been after since last
night know what Ross told Barclay
and the boss!"
what? For Heavens sake-what?"
"A1l in good time, fella. You'll know
1t won't be long now"
They stopped outside the house in
which Ross lived. This time Charley
nodded to Peter, who paid the driver.
He looked around for Charley, who was
talking to an inconspicuous looking by
Stander-but one whom Peter, with his
new knowledge, had no difficulty In
Identifying as plain clothes man.
All right, come on" sold Charley.
Hes upstairs"
Ross apartment" said Charley to
the elevator man, and, when he l1esi-
tated, showed his shield.
Now, once more, Peter saw the
Charley Of his earliest memory of him
IN action. He rang the bell; stood wait
ing, obscuring Peter with his vast bulk,
his jaw thrust out pugnaciously.
you Ross2" he said, when the door
was opened-by Evan Ross himself. as
Peter saw. Sure you are. / know you
and you're goin' to know me before
I'm through with you" He showed his
shield again. Detective Sergt Mitchell,
from headquarters. On the Thayer
case"
"wellP" said Ross. He recognized
Peter. "Oh. hello, Wayne! Come on
in. III be with you as soon as I get
rid Of this detective"
Maybe yes-maybe no." said Char.
ley: That's up to me, fella."
What do you want?" said Ross. al
most truculently. 1--WE seen Inspector
Connolly and Mr.. Barclay, the assistant
district attorney, today-and they told
me wouldn't be bothered again"
"Yeah?" They were inside, by now,
and in the big room that, with q bath
and small alcove, made UP Ross whole
apartment "You don't want tn believe
everythin' you hear, fella. Chew that
over I'm here to bother you"
Ross stared at him. Peter hadn't
seen him before since he and Martha
had come into Sanborn's on the night
of the murder. Ross looked bad. There
were dark circles under his eyes.
Thought you'd pulled fast one
huh? Thought you'd got away with
murder-because the chief and the
D. A. acted like they was swallowin'
the line you was handin' out?"
Peter caught his breath, sharply.
Il don't know what you mean, ser
enough. But his eyes were wandering |
about the room; he couldn't face that
hypnotic stare Of Charley's. |
THE hell you don't! Tn wise. |
fella-I'm wise" His hand went, with |
a sudden movement, to his pocket; he |
drew out the automatic pistol he had
found in the pent house. Ever see this
before?"
mol"
'That's what you say Suppose I told |
you it had had your fingerprints all
over it?"
ia say it was a damned lie!"
Peter was puzzled. Ross was regain |
you would, would vm,2 All rigl,t |