Evening star., 1933-06-30
by Mienon G. Ebcrhdrt

wind was rafting and shrieking in the
court just outsioe. I couldn't find
match in my pockets, and although in
hunting for the light switch my fingers
encountered the keyboard | couldn't, of
course. tell which key was 10.
I don't know just how long it was
several moments. at least-when I fin
ally encountered the switch. Touch
ing it threw the little lobby into light
that locked bright but probably wasn't.
And even after tina, it took a moment
or two to convince myself that not one
Of the keys hanging SO trustingly on
the board on the wall bore the num-
Der 1o
I finally snapped out the light The
switch was near the door into the court
yard, and I glanced through the glass.
The court was still back with flying
shadows, but there was light-it was
from the door Of my own room. The
door was open. The light streaned out.
And at that very instant dark figure
cited for a f1eetirg moment against 1t
of a dark figure, but I was sure it was
Sue Tally's.
The door of the lobby was locked,
but the key was in it. and I had un-
locked and opened the door and was
running across the courtyard. The
wind took the breath out OF my lungs.
and my heart was pounding by the time
1 had reached the little winding stair
way.
One step more to the door. I could
see no one against the light streaming
from the still open door into my room.
1 took the step. There was some
tl,i,,c ~, thu lon et11rohIiyC
I vas pluneing down upon it. 1 was
confused with it and couldn't eXtri-
cate myself
My hands were pushing against 1t
and I was kneeling. I brought my
hands up and tried to see them through
the dim half light. They we're wet.
and I could barely see that they were
darkly stained.
The next few moments are not very
clear in my memory. l managed some
how to get the door open and the limp
thing dragged through it and into the
corridor. and then I could see it In
the light from my own room.
It was man. I did not know who
he was. He was dead. I knew that at
once. And it was a very ugly death.
for he'd been stabbed I remember
caying to myself: Don't touch any,
thing. this is murder. Don't touch
anything"
Then I was In my room. No one
was there. Sue was gone. was press
ing the bell with my thumb, 1 finally
released the button, noted that my
thumb had stained the white button
in perfect and gruesome thumb mark.
and hurried to the bathroom. where
back to the bell and washed it. too, with
a corner of the towel. and rang again.
I was still pushing the bell and wish
ing the dead man wouldn't stare SO, and
in the same moment curslng myself for
being so shaken. when hIard tbs door
awav down at the beginning of the
north corridor open. I stepped ot:t into
the hail. avoiding a hand which had
fallen slowly outward.
Lovschiem himself, fully dressed.
wevered out of the gloom.
He didn't ask mc anything for
moment. He had just fell on his fat
Then he felt for a pulse and touched
his face and leaned further ever to
see if there was any breath at all in
that sprawled body. I stood watching
him. Finally he leaned back and faced
me. And if ever mans face showed
stark. livid terror it was Lovschiem's at
that moment.
Did you kill him?" Lovschiem asked.
MY God. no."
He stared at me. dark eyes glittering
from the sagging. livid mask that was
his face.
kill himself
Il found him. There on the landing.
I dragged him into the corridor and
saw he WIS dead and rang"
He looked at me dkbelievingly.
Finally he lowered his eyes. He reach
ed out hand to the small ornamental
hilt of the knife, Grew his hand back
as if it shrunk from touching the wet
ness about it, and tten stretched it cut
again. The Jewels Winked evilly at
me. said:
You'd better Leave II alone. hadn't
you? 1t seems to be murder. And the
police won't want things touched"
His hand fell back. and his face,
turned up to me, looked family green.
ruined. l am ruined! There's no need
to call the police. 1 can't have gen.
darmes nosing about. /" He re-
called that he was speaking aloud and
to me and checked himself with quick
sidelong look at me.
It's murder I said. You'll have
to call the police"
His narrowed gaze measured me,
tried to plumb my own eyes. Finally
he said:
Il was thinking of the hotel. ANY,
thing like this is very bad for the place.
Do you know the NAM"
Il never saw him before"
II don't know him either. I never
saw him before. He certainly had no
business in the hotel"