Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-28


mon?' DR.. Charters replied
rs it possible that you are address
POSSIBLE, and in fact. certain, since
there is nobody else in the rocm," an
swered the other.
''Then / have no option but to sup
pose you're mad" observed the doctor
colby, his piercing eyes searching these
of the newcomer and failing to daunt
them.
halter. And what filter place, or person,
for a dangerous homicidal lunatic to
come to?"
How and why did you get in here?"
asked DR.. Charters.
Through that invitingly open win
dow. a second ago, Simon.
How did you get into the grounds?
pursued the doctor.
"Over the 12-foot wall, iron spikes,
b. oxen glass and all. BY way OF the
branch OF tree, Shiny Slmon-not
rotten branch, though" and, before the
blazing look of hate in the mans eyes
as he thrust his cruel face into that OF
DR.. Charters, the latter almost qua1led.
And so you're mad, are you?" ne
temporized.
got to say it again at the right time and
In the right place"
what do you mean2 And what do
YOU want?" asked the doctor perfume
torily as he considered the man, the
past and the situation.
"Oh, lots of things. Two Tor start
asylum and an alibi.'
"Doubtless you're mad, but this is not
an asylum"
witty Simonl It's going to be an
ASYLUM for me, though, and the abb Is
going to be both physical and mental
At don't know what you're talking
about Do you?"
"Oh, yes, Simon Spider Scnltz
has get his"
If the expression on DR.. Charters in
scrutable face changed at all, IT was
in the direction of greater inscrutability
"And pray who might Spider Schlltz
be?" he asked patiently.
"Oh. come off it, Simon. Don't waste
time. Cards down and hands up. Spider
Schlitz is, or rather was, the dear OLD
pal of Half-hlIng Simon (alias Dec Sell
lar. alias Limey Doc, alias English ST.
mon, alias the Reverend, alias Soapy
Sam Symons. Also the dear old pal OF
Black Jack, Spul Hooley, Jim Grow,
Chink Dorson, Slim Spike Slmma MS
Chicago May. Frisco Fanny, Gunman
Dutch Dettinger Shorty Long, Eddie
Guerin, Billy the Kid and the rest OF
~And spider schIitz has got his, has
he? And you want an albi and
an asylum?"
you've grasped it, Simon. You've
got to prove that I've been here some-
what longer than haves and alterna-
lively you've got to prove that, in any
case, I'm much too bughouse. far too
mad to have known what I was doing,
or to De held responsible. A mental
alibi in fact"
"And how should the second arise, IL
the first one is good?" inquired the doc
tor, humoring the self-declared lunatlc.
why. now, Simon, suppose that, in
spite Of your proofs and protesta-
lions, I'd been seen at Spider Schlitz's
-identihc footprints, finger
inarks-and I was for it-that's where
the looney-dope would get me oil /.
Get me sent up instead Of strung up,
anyhow; II not acquitted"
And where should I be, If / swore
you we're here and 1t was proved you
were there?" asked the doctor.
why, wouldn't that only be a
further proof of the cunning Of the
madman? / must have slipped away
from here and done 1t. and got back
again, without peing missed If ! were
seen ana they track me down and try
to prove it on me, that IS"
"And why. exactly, did you do it,"
asked the doctor.
Nov, you're asking question $,
Eimmy," and the mailman with an ugly
leering grin, playfully shook his finger
IN the doctors face.
did you come straight here from
Witherby End?"
"Ahl Got you'll How does the
innocent DR.. Charters happen to know
that Spider Schlitz's place is the