Evening star., 1933-07-08
CHAPTER XIV.
A VISITOR COMES.
ND wanted first of all law
l. l.. <.slA q

n yer; I felt rather cold as l sud
II denly recalled that in France
1 \ there is no writ of habeas cor
pus. 1t is true that I was an
American citizen. a fact clearly set
forth in my passport, but this had not
appeared to relieve the situation In tlie
least.
1t didn't seem at all legal that they
should simply throw me into jail ano
keep me there. but everything 1 mao
ever heard about the remarkable free
dom of the French police in such mat
tiers returned to my memory and be-
gan to feel a degree Of anxiety winch
I was to discover, was quite Justiflable
Night comes early in the Winter al
Armene. and the room was quite dark
and no one had appeared to light IL
and 1 was smoking my last cigarette
and wishing 1 had the pompous OLD
commissaire by the beard when I heard
footsteps and voices and a key turning
in the lock. The cold. dark little room
was flooded with light. and visitor, a
man. was ushered in to see me.
1 got to my feet and was blinking IN
the unexpected light as he insinuateu
something that ratified gently into the
hand of the man who had opened the
door. Then my visitor turned, and
saw the man who had arrived at the
hotel during the afternoon.
He said briSkly:
I'm sorry to see you here, M. Sun
dean. NY name is Lorn-David Lorn. u
He paused and then added: Miss Tally
asked me to see you"
His words were neither promising
nor exactly explanatory; still. things
looked suddenly better. I was not
after all. entirely without friend.
Sit DOWN"
He drew up the small straight chair
and I sat down on the cot. He put his
hat on the floor. opened his coat. ano
drew out a folded paper. While his
chin was no larger than it had been IN
the afternoon. I'm bound to admit that
the sight of his countenance was very
welcome. He handed me the paper
and it was a note from Sue Tally. II
was brief but nice.
She had written:
"Your being thrust into Jail is alb
surd and intolerable This is Mr.. Lorn
He knows the whole affair and think,
he can do something about it."
She had written hurriedly and.
thought. agitatedly. and her signature
was a spirited S. Tally.
Miss Tally is very good" said.
put the note in my pocket.
He cleared his throat and looked al
the floor by my feet
"She thinks you didn't do this"
She's right" I said with some heat
"In fact" he went on rather eau
tiously, after hearing her story OF th'
whole affair I am inclined to agree
with her At least" he continued be-
fore I could speak. there appear to be
a number of rather interesting points
Of which she has told me which may
mind. I only say may-prove to be evil
dence"
"Evidence?"
Evidence in your favor. mean tc
say. However. you-er-" I thought
he looked directly at me and he saio
unexpectedly: Its just as well to start
with a clean slate. however. I take II
YOU really didn't murder the man."
You're damned right. I didn't nun
der him. I never even saw him be-
"Never mind, never mind I didn't
think so. Sit down, Mr.. Sundean, sit
down." He looked at me doubtfuliy
There now. that's better, Mr.. Sun
dean. Let's be calm about this. First
however. do YOU feel like-er-accept-
ing my help?"
Am I in a position to refuse help?'
He smiled family
NO" he said as if I had expected 6
reply. Mice that you can keep youl
spirits up. You aren't in very nice
position. you know"
I said more graciously:
Its very good of you to offer tt
help. I need help. But what exactly
is there to do?"
First, Mr.. Sundean. you told the po'
fyyn
last night while you were in the cour1
with some person whom you did no
see?"
Eyes. five"
Hmm. Then may be right in my
surmise. It's possibility at least
What is a possibility"
"That the other revolver shot, thu
SIXTH"
But there was no sixth; there wer'
He fred twice at your f1ashlight
three times over your head. You still
remained in the courtyard-.
Il couldn't get away" I said.
Exactly. Therefore it is reasonable
to suppose that if the sixth snot nae
still remained in his revolver ne wouie
have again tried to-er-shoot you:
IT don't see," I said, that that ha!
anything to do with getting me out O
here. The man was murdered BY
stabbing. Look here, perhaps you car
tell me just why I'm here. What's thi
new evidence LoXschiem was so afraie
he'd tell me about?"
Hmm. Well, it's rather bad. MIR
Sundean. But still not at all con
vincing. There's the matter of th'
clock sword being from your room
they are divided in opinion at the mo-
ment regarding your seemingly franz
bringing the thing to their attention
At the moment I fear the weight O.
opinion is that it was only a clever rust
on your part"
How do you know that"
"I.re been talking to the officer y.