Evening star., 1934-09-28

i sorts Of tricks for killing peo-
pie. Mattresses that. when
person slept on them, killed them be
cause the heat of their bodies lib
Grated a poisonous gas. That puzzle
has something to do with the death
of Scooter and the condition OF the
other man"
"Klein." Inspector Dowell barked
once more and when the detective
came to the door, the doctor wants
TO take part of that puzzle away with
him" Then to the doctor. BE care
ful. Doc. We don't want to lose you"
Through the door Terry watched
the doctor slide some pieces OF the
puzzle onto a newspaper. Then he
took a bIotter and scraped onto the
paper some fine white dust that
looked like wood powder.
BE as quick as you can" the In
spector called after the doctor
May go now?" Terry asked
Go Where?'
I'm supposed to report the game
for my paper"
Il guess you'll have to miss the
game, young fellow"
Okay." Terry moved to the phone.
What's on your naind?" Dowel
asked.
My job"
Nothing doing"
But why can't I send out Wlre?"
Terry objected.
because there is nothing to send"
Gosh, inspector! It's great news
for my paper. A famous player is
found dead, the cause unknown!
Don't you see how it hooks up with
these other murders? Craven,
newspaper man, is stricken by the
same malady in the room with the
dead man. It's tremendous newspaper
stuff"
yeah, I know, and it's damned
queer how you just happen to be
around each time it happens"
will you do something for me?"
Terry asked.
"What?"
Wire Detective Kelly at Centre
street, New York, and ask him II 1t Is
advisable to hold me- Kelly is the
man who has had me under sus-
picion."
What does he know about you?"
He has had me covered ever since
Dirkin was killed"
L might, at THAI" the inspector said
reluctantly.
Give me break, won't you?" Terry
pleaded.
"All right. Ill do it"
viii you let me go out to the game?
Send a man with me, if you like. You
can get the press box If you want me
before the game is over.
Mix You stay here until I hear
from New York"
Terry watched Dowell and Klein
as they began a systematic inspection
of the room. They went over it COM
pletely and thoroughly.
The manager was still standing
about uneasily. Finally he coughed.
DoWell paused What do you know
about Scotter?"
Nothing really. He was good
and steady guest here at the hotel. 4"
ANY peculiarities, noticeable oneS?"
He was very quiet man. He spent
a great deal of time in his room. He
liked to do jigsaW puzzles; you have
had a sample of that. He did not frat
ernize with the rest of the men as
most players do. 1t was not snob-
bishness, rather certain aloofneSs.
He was amiable, but liked to be alone.
He was woman shy and was sometimes
rude to women who tried to get his
autograph"
None Of the general things, then,
that you are apt to find about single
men"
"Oh, no." the manager hastened to
say. He was confirmed bachelor
and while he was polite to the maids
there was never any complaint about
= i
guest in many ways"
You may CO. I'd like to have a
talk with the maid who takes care
of this room. Will you see that she
comes up at once?"
The manager nodded and backed
from the room. The maid soon came
She was a tall, thin, pale yellow
Negress, who walked up brazenly to
the inspector and said, L don't know
nothing about anything! I knocked
on the door about $50 and Mr.. Scot
ter said he wouldn't be going out until
noon"
Were you in here last night?"
"Yes, sir. came in about $50 and
turned his bed down the same as do
every night"
Was there a jigsaw puzzle on the
table them" The inspector turned
toward the table near the window.
Yes, sir"
Was it that one?"
She walked across and looked at
ehat was left of the puzzle. mo, sir"
You are sure?"
The one last night was nearly fin
bhed. There were just few pieces
left to be put in"
You are positive of that?"
Yes. sir. Mr.. Scooter was very
particular about his puzzles. knocked
one off one day when I was cleaning
and he was powerful mad about it and
one time he came in unexpected and
found me putting in some pieces and
he gave me my instructions to leave
his puzzles alone. Very touchy he
was about them"
Did you ever see that one before?"
Not that I remember but when he
Is here he has so many of them 1
wouldn't say"
He always has lot of them in the
room?"
Yes. sir. He keeps them stacked
up on his dresser. He rented them
from the bookshop. They would send
them over three or four at time"
When the maid left, Dowell said to
bis men, Look through that batch and
see If there is bill or anything to tell
which shop rented him the puzzles"
There was bill in one Of the boxes
for three puzzles. There were three
boxes of puzzles on the dresser and
the empty box that had contained the
puzzle sprawled out on the table.
That one isn't part of this lot" the
man explained
Are you sure of that?" the inspector
asked.