The Washington times., 1934-02-19

the dirty liar! What kind Of q
fool does he take me for2 Com
ing UP there with that song and
dance and trying to pull the
wool over my eye! Applesauce!"
whats the trouble, Captain
Andy?" I asked soothingly.
who's done what and why?"
Anderson stared at me for a
moment in silence and a certain
grim humor crept into his flash
ing eyes.
IT mean Robert Cleveland, p"
he answered. "You heard that
conversation up there at the
house a few minutes ago, didn't
you? Heard him say he had just
met Mrs. Phelps, didn't you,
once about six weeks ago. and
that he would hardly know her
again?'"
Like q Terrier
He shook out the words Bit
ingly as a terrier worries a rat.
"Well?" said Carroll innocent
ly. "He didn't know her, did
hep"
"Know her? He'll" exploded
Anderson. 1--WE had Mrs. Phelps
followed every minute since I
first learned that she was the
last person to see Mrs. Paige be-
fore she was murdered. Particu'
larly since found those ciga-
rette butts with woman's lip
stick smeared on them. And here
look at this-this is the Of.
ficial report on Mrs. Phelps
morning Of this very day. Just
read it, will you, and tell me
what do you think of it?"
He handed us the envelope
which he had received from the
plain clothes man in the library
a few minutes earlier. It was
an official police sheet and Car
roll and I read it, overcome with
curiosity.
It stated an amazing fact-a
fact that in the light Of Robert
CleVeland'S visit and the state
ments which he had made was
absolute incomprehensible!
MRS. PHELPS HAD LEFT
HER HOME AT 9 O'CLOCK
THAT VERY MORNING, HAD
GONE TO ROBERT CLEVE-
LANDS PRIVATE OFFICE.
AND SHE HAD BEEN ALONE
WITH HIM IN CON SUI
TATION FOR EXACTLY ONE
HOUR AND TEN MINUTES
PRIOR TO CLEVELAND'S
CALL AT THE PAIGE HOUSE!
But I don't understand" 7
began stumblingly. "Why on
earth should Mr.. Robert Cleve-
land, Of all people in the
world, have denied knowing
Mrs. Phelps? And have said
that he had met her only once
about six weeks ago? Why did
he say anything about it? Or
come up and calmly offer you
his assistance?"
Anderson's Rage
"Assistance!' 'snorted Ander-
son. "Kay, you get dumber
every minute! Cleveland came
to see me for exactly one rea-
son and one only-and that
was to sound me and find out
how much I knew! Mrs. Phelps
went to him with some infor-
nation and he had to find out
quickly whether we were on the
right trail or not. That lady
and maybe Cleveland him
self-are guilty and I'm going
to prove it to you in quick
order!"
The car now came to a stop
in front of a low rambling villa
overrun with ivy-a charming
home even in the driving gale.
Anderson flung open the door
without waiting for his chauf-
feur's assistance and dashed
up the few steps leading to the
tiny entrance porch. He put
one hand on the bell and kept
it there while with the other
he vainly tried to open the
door. The Inspector was in a
towering rage, stung to the
quick that q public official Of
Cleveland's prominence should
have attempted to hoodwink
him.
Pretty Girl
The ring was answered very
promptly by q young, pretty
maid in uniform.
She looked alarmed at the
sight Of us and her eyes trav-
elled to the car with it's driver
in police garb in the chauf-
feur'S seat.
Anderson scarcely gave her
O glance.
Inform Mrs. Phelps that
Inspector Anderson is here and
wishes to see her Immediately.
Immediately, do you UNDER
stand? And tell her that in
tend to tolerate no delay!"
It was evidently on the tip
Of the servants tongue to state
that her mistress was out as
she had doubtless been in
structed TO do, but something
in AnderSon'S tone convinced
%HaA& -;