Evening star., 1932-05-15
By Katherine N. Satterlee


breathed a sigh Of relief.
I'm inclined to think that he both entered
and left by the window though he might have
gone out the back way" he went on. "The win
dow was found open and the hre-escape would
have been an easy stairway up or down for
him"
\A/E both looked out. Ferris apartment had
w light in It, From it he could easily see
into Blackor's room, provided the shades were
up and time the right moment for his descent
I remembered something else and marveled
at the way the evidence was piling up against
Ferris. He could come down the fre-escape and
in the window because he had done IL! A couple
Of months before when he was still ON good
terms with Blackor, he and another man had
climbed down and entered Blackor's room dis
guised as thugs They had frightened him
badly, and had thoroughly enjoyed the prank
laughter as he had described it to Lindley and
me. Lindley would certainly remember it.
''wel, If can't be doing anything more for
you, Mr.. Wade, I'll be going" said, and
moved toward the livingroom
We stood there chatting for q minute or so.
Suddenly my blood ran cold, and my words al
most died ON my lips. On the little table which
stood beside the chair had been sitting In the
night before was letter. letter which had
evidently fallen out of my brief case. 1t bore
my name and was postmarked, was sure, April
IA, for had received it on the afternoon Of
that day. I was longing to pick it up and claim
it as mine, but some instinct warned me that
to 90 so would be to call attention to it which
would be fatal. And the postmark on 1t was
shrieking out that all that had told Wade was
lie! II had been there last on Saturday
night, how could q letter mailed on Monday
morning come to be lying on my partners
table?
The cross-eyed elevator boy was in the hall
when went down. Was 1t my imagination, or
did he leer at me?
I suppose a reader of this narrative-as I
hope there never viii be q reader-win wonder
why did not tell Wade about Ferris and his
pistol Let him put himself in my shoes for a
moment I was not guilty Of the crime but I
had only my word to say was not. Any jury
in the world would convict q man who had
entered the victims apartment with q latch
key, spent over an hour there in company with
q still warm body and pistol and had left
secretly. Twas determined to 60 to Lindley
in the morning. state my suspicious Of Ferris,
and have him back me up, as knew he would.
The evidence was damning against Ferris. He
and Blackor had been on bad terms for weeks,
he had openly insulted Blackor In Lindleys
and my presence, and had threatened him. his
pistol had been found in Blackor's apartment,
and he had once before entered by way of the
fire escape and window.
I could readily understand q man Of Ferris
temperament committing murder. horrible as ~
might seem. He was hot-tempered and vindic-
tive. and he took himself very seriously Blackor
had been very angry with him that night when
they had had q quarrel at Lindleys. and had
seen the light of insane rage burning In Ferris
eyes.
went home that afternoon would to
heaven that had gone TO Lindley then but
was utterly spent The sight OF that letter had
unnerved me. It was with difdculty I made
myself eatssome dinner and finally 60 to bed.
Later, lying in the dark, sleepless, resolved It
might never be needed for the poor evidence 1t
might furnish Of my innocence. it would at
least be q safety-valve for my troubled
thoughts.
The morning came, and knew that sense
or no sense to it must 60 to Blackors apart
ment and try to get possession Of that letter
before went to Lindley with my tale. A sleepy
looking policeman was on guard upstairs. I
explained who was and stated that had
dropped my brief case the day before. Could I
have left it there? He shock his head but gave
me permission to hunt for 1t. did 30, looking
at the little table first. The letter was not
there. A slight sound from the officer made
me recollect that was supposed to be looking
for the brief case. I stopped down and
searched under the desk, glancing into the
waste-paper basket as did SO. No letter any
where.
I made as good an exit as I could, devoutly
hoping that the man had noticed nothing in
my actions felt utterly depressed.
As it was yet early. I decided to walk the
few blocks to the hotel where Lindley had his
rooms. I asked for him at the desk.
'Mr Lindley?" the clerk answered my ques-
ton. "Mr. Lindley sailed for England last
night. It was very sudden. Some friends
called him up early in the morning and he
decided to 60. He'll be away three months"
I left the hotel feeling criously numb. II
I'd only gone to him yesterday afternoon-but
it was too late now for regrets. I went into
the park and sat down ON a bench IN order to-
collect my thoughts.