Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-24

AS he might have expected. If hi
brain had been functioning properly
he found the police ahead Of him.
uniformed patrolman was lounginS
down in the hall; he gave Peter a queer
look when Axel, the night elevator man
called him by name. Axel looked very
sick, Peter thought, and very glad II
see him. Servants had always beer
crazy about Tack; about Martha, too
for that matter.
1t was no longer quite dark wher
Peter stepped out on the fiat roof. Fol
one thing. every light in the pent house
was on, and in the glare from the win.
dows he saw more policemen. He
started to go in, but a plain clothes
man stopped him.
Just minute. brother, Just q min.
ute" he said. Who'll you be?"
I'm friend of Mr.. and Mrs
Thayer's," he said. My name Il
Wayne. Mrs. Thayer called me up-I'n
the one who notified you people. You're
policeman, suppoSe?"
Yeah" said the man. I'm a DO.
hceman, all right"
We'll, want to see Mrs. Thayer-'
Plenty Of time for that. She's busy
right now. Better have O cigarette
nrotner' and calm down. Pretty much
Peter stared at him. Then he
laughed. That was due TO sheer nerv.
business, OF course, but he saw. at once
That 1t must sound bad The cigarette
was good idea though: he needed one
Inc TACT that he wasn't smoking al.
ready was another index of his mood
He lighted one cigarette from anothe,
all day long, as a rule, but he hadn'i
50 much as thought of smoking since
Martha had called him up. He won
oered, later, If that didn't mean tina,
ne must. from the first, have had some
premonltlon OF what was coming. Ever
then, though he had no conscious ap-
prehenSion F
But II was obvious, ANYWAY. that he
must resign himself to waiting. So he
saI oown on the parapet that ran
aoout knee high, around the roof. He
was TOO nervous to sit still, though and
al at once, the idea of Martha, inside
along with Tack, and. as he supposed
more poncemen, was too much for him
LOOK herel" he said, setting no,
why can't go IMP Who's in charge
hereF Ia like to see him. And some
one one Sne knows ought to be with Mrs.
Plenty Of time. plenty of time" the
detective said again Calm down
brother. Take it easy. The little
Peter was disposed to argue the
point but just then another plain
clothes man came out of the pent
mouse. He was smoking a cigar and
wore derby hat tilted sideways and
pushed far back on his head. He
stared at Peter.
tective. Here's wayne-the eoIy that
'phoned the squeal."
Yean?' said Charley. He went over
slowly toward Peter, still staring as
ae moved his jaw thrust out He was
big square-Shouldered brute. with
small, keen eyes and cruel, tight-lip-
ped mouth. For second he didn't
speak again, but only stared Peter
could see that this man was irving
to confuse him; that he was using a
sort OF hypnotic power he evidently
thought he had.
Look here Peter said again, indie-
nantly
sit down, you!" said Charley, alb
ruptly, In a sharp, peremptory voice
that reminded Peter of an old-fash-
Toned army non-com. He was 30 taken
aoack by voice and manner that he
obeyed the order, instinctively: he
knew later that that had been q mat
ter OF refiexes Now, fella, come
NAC"iI' INV YOU COIHc 10 call mead
quarters? Where were your"
Home" said Peter. IT live in East
Ninth street. Mrs. Thayer called me
up and asked me TO notify the police"
He was standing over Peter and his
eyes were like snakes Peter Won
dered If he had any eyelids, so fixed
and unwinking was his stare.
She told me her husband had been
| killed-She'd found him
Hold on. want to know what she
| said--not your idea Of what she meant
| to tell yoU-get me?"
Peter made an effort to remember
Martha's precise words. And 1t WASH I
hard; one doesn't, after all, receive
many such messages in an ordinary
| lifetime.
"Yeahr well-that wasn't what you
! said first. Told you some one had
killed Thayer, did She--not that shed
come in and found his b0dy. Watch
| your step, feila." His voice altered
Who'd she say had killed him?"
He flung the question at Peter, and
| 1t was Peters turn, now, to stare.
She didn't sayp Peter cried
"Why-good God-do you mean she
I knows?"
I'm asRn' the questions Just now
fella. DidhA say, eh2 Sure Of that
Well--what else did she say?"
why" Peter was confused BIZ
now; the routine was working. Moth.