Evening star., 1932-01-31
There's Bit of Gtuesome Mystery That
WiH Keep You Guessing Until You
Reach the Rich Rezvatd at the End of
This Yarn, Which Is One Of a Series Of
Short Stories First Published in The
ShyNnga2lne-Anothv Fust-Rm
Story nil APpem in the Naga2iNe
Next Sunday.

and guessed more of the worries in the Clancy
household So he undertook the assignment.
The return of Pat Clancy would smooth out
many things for Kate and her mother.
Reggie did not know that Mrs Clancy, when
she was Catherine FTeyvogel was the blond
belle of Heidelberg Heights, the Little Ger
many" of the town. He did not know Of the
many swains who had cOurted her. At the
wedding with Pat Clancy, wise ones had
wagged their heads wondering why the blond
beauty had chosen the black Irishman in pref
erence to slim Fritz Solkild the most
ardent of her sutors Fritz not only came of
good family. with the likelihood of inheriting
money he had other prospects But before
Clancy vanished in South America, Fritz had
disappeared. broken hearted they said. The
bane that often goes with beauty was early
evident in the life of Catherine FTeyvogel and
had persisted followed her through the years.
Reggies cnly preliminary to get pint
of prescription whisky. Nowadays this can be
used more readily and effectively a bribe
than money. 1t loosens the tongue and
waggng jaw is what a reporter seeks on an
assignment. Although this was a private
search it the less an assignment to
Reggie. BY trolley, Planeport was an hours
run to the east, and it dark when Reggie
reached the end of the line. Familiar with
the place, he started for police headquarters
to find his friend, Dick SloSser, the chief.
From him he might get a valuable tip.
AS he crossed a side street coming up from
the waste land along the river, man who
looked violently ILL., lurched against a tele-
phone pole at the curb and hung there. He
was a thin. trembling with protrudng
eyes that gave him ludicrous appearance of
being in deadly fear. shabby man, who evil
IDENTIFY not drunk.
Something wrong here" thought the re-
porter, starting toward him.
Can help you?" And the trained eyes
of the investigator travelled over the figure, he
unused to himself that it looked like case of
shock The derelict shook his head and seemed
more afraid than ever.
Take a good swallow of this" The re-
porter profered his bottle. It'll brace you up
old BY Jinks, you look as if a ghost had
chased you" The man shivered violently again
and greediy took large helping of the liquor
Think you can make it noW?"
The sick man Strengthened up, mumbled some
words of thanks and shuf1ed off toward the
end of the carine. Reggie watched him dis
appear, thoughtfully. In some dim. faraway
memory, this man had stirred recollection in
Reggie's mind but it would not come to the
surface. There had been a German ring to
the mumbled words but that gave no clue AS
he slowly turned to reach the police station
Reggie whispered, Funny and shook his head,
puzzled.
SIosser was glad to see his friend and said
there no story in Planeport that he knew
Of When Reggie explained much as he
chose about his trip the chief frightened.
There's a tough old bird called Clancy
watchman on the bridge. Seems to be well
known to all the steelmen, but he amt a top
man any more. Don't climb. Been hurt
think"
He did not recognize the photograph as the
watchman.
You'll find him at the bridge, now. It's
desoate road out there and you'd better take
this fashlight. I'll be here when you get
back"
1t was dreary between the railroad and the
river, with only a rough path cluttered with
much debris, and the torch was real assist
ance The bridge was big job and the tenn
porary store house, where Slosser said the
watchman loafed between his rounds, tending
fires in cranes and travellers, was tWo-story
affair. There were lights on both floors, as
It, No answer came to his knock when he
reached the house, and he supposed the
custodian was on the bridge, making his round.
After discreet interval he went inside. There
were the usual crude tables and desks, with
drafting boards, chairs, large stove, coils OF
rope and great canvases, evidently used as
covers Nobody was in sight.
"Ahoy! Watchman, visitors!' hailed Reggie,
but no answer was returned. Thinking the
man might be asleep he stepped toward the
boarded-in stairway that led upward.
"Ahoy! :" and the cry died away in his