Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-19
INsTALLMENT XIV

~ ETER waited until Manuel had
taken Martha out by the service
door. through the Kitchen; then
as the bell pealed again, tmpa-
tiently, opened the front door
himself, Charley was standing there;
behind him was the detective who had
first stopped him on the roof, tmme-
diately after Tack's body had been
found.
There was nothing friendly about
ChArley's look now he was again the
brutal, harsh voiced man of Peters tlrst
meeting with him. He thrust q big loot
inside the door, and put his shoulder
tentatively against the door itself.
TIN wantin' to have a look INSIDE,
Mr.. Wayne" he said, aggresSlvely.
"Brooks-you stay here in the hall, and
don't move. Keep your eye on this door
and stop any one who comes out. Get
meP"
Fright, sarge" said the other. Char
lev came In: the moment the door had
closed behind him he grinned.
GOT her here2" he said.
"On the service landing"
"Get her in-quick. We got to get a
break once in a while; and we sure got
one when the boss sent me down to give
your place the once overl You and your
sister worked it slick, I'll say. The man
downstairs SweaES Mrs. wentworth came
in with YOU and went out again about
10 minutes later-Brooks heard me
sweatin' him and gettin' it out of him
Peter had turned already to the other
door; he opened it and called, ano
Martha and Manuel came in. Martina
smiled, pluckily, when she recognized
Charley, and he, with a gesture OF re-
spect rare for him, swept off his derby
coed mornin', Mrs. Thayer,' he said
BE easy, now-things is comm along
fine, and you're safe here for spell.
He chuckled. I'm say you've got this
town torn wide open!"
I'm worried about Mrs. Wentworth >
said Martha. st don't want her to gel
into trouble on my account
"Trouble2 That lady?" Charley chuc-
kled again. "She must have it regular
with her meals. I amt had such 9
laugh since Tony Pastors closed. The
boss took me along to make the pinch
Very high and mighty and naughty
Mrs. wentworth was-pullin' the me
good man stuff on us. Shed ought tc
be on the stage, Pete-she don't give
herself away, the way you do.
Surprised when she found the
madam here wasn't in her room? In
telIin' YOU she was! An, Well, she says
she must have gone out, Inspector. I've
been out myself. don't know anything
about it. The boss was hoppin' mad
but what could he do? I ask you'll He
couldn't prove thing, and, anyway
the madam here wasn't under arrest
and he couldn't hold any one for lettin
her get away or helpin' her to, even
He'd had his men downstairs right
along, an If they was so dumb they lei
her slip out that was their bad luck
an hist He kept his temper pretty vel
I'll say that for him"
whats he doing?" asked Peter.
sEverythin' he can-and I'll say Il
amt much, when you add it upl IT,
Just like said-he can't afford to ad'
NIT he's let the madam here get away
There's still alarm out, but believe
me it's still, and how! The stations i
all be watched, and the ferries, and al
that. An he did have the brains tx
think she might be here-he hoped or
that idea quick" Charley's laugh wasn't
o chuckle, this time, but the real thing
"Only-he picked me to draw thi:
covert" He grew sober for a moment
"Gawd help me If he ever gets wise tc
what been doin'l"
ct don't see why you're doing so much
for me-" said Martha.
That's all right, lady. got my owL
reasons. Pete here'n tell you that. I'm
tryin' to put somethin' over on my owr
account. Well-guess I've had tinC
to look the joint over. I'll get along
I'm goin' to leave Brooks downstairs
but he won't bother you up here again
his Jobs to see that you don't get in
Pete you be at the Biltmore at
o'clock and wait till turn UP, even 1
It's midnight. Get me2"
And, assuming o ferocious look hG
turned TO the door. Peter let him out