The Washington times., 1932-04-23

strobe to the head of the iron
staircase. There l encountered
Lieutenant Fallon.
The Greeting
IT saw the doctor go in" was
Fallon's greeting, "but the chief
sent word that everything was
oke and told me not to stir from
here until was relieved. What
is happening in there?"
When I enlightened Fallon,
the look of demoralized astonish-
ment on that honest Irish face
was beyond all art.
BY God! It couldn't have
been done by anybody getting
into the ROOM" he blurted. NO
body could get by me or these
boys Of mine, and there's no
such thing as secret doorwayS
in this joint. There is some.
thing awful funny about all
this, Mr.. Abbott! Tell the chief
I'll report back to him in five
minutes"
Down the iron staircase I
raced, and through the dim cor
ridor to the lift, thence down to
the deserted lobby. I found
that Lowell Courtleigh which
was actually the name Of the
sleepy elevator operator, was in
sole charge of the premises I'M
til morning. Here was chance
to do a little Sleuthing on my
own account.
Did you see Miss Quires go
out tonight?" I asked, after re-
laying Colts orders to him.
mo, I come on at IL o'clock
but I seen her come I'M"
you saw what?"
The shocking impact of the
elevator boys unexpected an
nouncement nearly made me
gasp the words. Christine
Quires had come home! When?
Where was she now?
A hundred questions crowded
to my tongue, clamoring for an
answer. But I had to pretend
only a casual interest in this
astounding information.
"You are positive you saw
Miss Quires come IMP" I re-
peated.
YEAH saw her come in"
About what timer"
Around IS minutes after
12-Soon after the New Year
whistles blew"
The Homecoming
Christine had come home be-
fore we had even reached the
penthouse? But that was i'm.
possible!
My heart was still in my
mouth but I managed a COM
posed countenance, as I asked:
"Alone?"
"a guy brought her to the
door and he wanted to come
up, but she wouldn't let him.
Said she didn't feel so good.
So I took her up alone"
Did she say anything to you
on the way up?"
''No-say, what do you think
you are, District Attorney or
something's"
mo, I'm only a policeman" I
told him, with such dignity as
I could muster. He gave me a
look and said:
Yeah? And I'm a Congress-
man"
Take me upstairs again." I
told him after several more
questions. Maybe the Police
Commissioner will want to talk
to you in a little while"
"All right, I'll be glad to talk
to him." he emphasized.
Chung admitted me with a
decorouS bow.
During my absence the spa
cious living room had been
taken over as a chamber of in
QUESTION. AS I had expected,
Thatcher Colt was already
started on his quest for the
truth about the death of Lola
Carewee. DR.. Baldwin had been
exlled to an ignoble solitude in
the maids room. The Police
Commissioner and the District
Attorney had closed off the
living room, ready for the exam
1nation of witnesses, and hav-
ing admitted me, Chung was
sent to request the immediate
presence of Mrs. Carewe. Mean
while, Colt and Dougherty were
listening to an indignant re-
port from Lieutenant Fallon.
All Is Searched
Mr.. Commissioner" the de-
tectiVe recited, my men have
been strictly on the job every
minute Of the time. The only
person who entered this apart.
ment was DR.. Baldwin"
Have you checked"
Here I burst in excitedly to
explain what I had learned.
Fallon stared at me as if 1
had told him a ghost story.
Dougherty heaved an incredu-
lous groan.
But we have searched this
place. room by rOsRs." saaA