Evening star., 1934-10-02
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H1 BY CORTLAND FlTZSlMMONS
RN CORTl AND FlTZSlMMCNS

I Clayton nodded and led the way
down to the door. The crowd fell
back.
Sherman looked at the body and
then turned to Clayton. This wasn't
his room, was it?"
mo, his was the next room"
"Who would have thought Of look
ing in there? How did you find him?"
Clayton explained the circum-
stances quickly. Its another one of
those base ball MURDERS" Sherman
said grimly. II thought they were
through with our team. Now, why
do you suppose they would want to
kill Rawlins? And how about the
girl? Any sign of her?"
No"
WED better take a look in there.
How about key?"
The night clerk brought a pass-key.
Sherman unlocked the door proper
and pushed 1t open. There was a
Mortified gasp from the people in
the hall as the hanging body swung
crazily and then fell down half in
and half out of the open door.
Inside the room Sherman opened
the closet, looked under the bed and
then opened the bath room door. He
let out startled cry. Come here.
somebody" he called.
The policeman ran into the room
and into the bath. In moment they
could be seen through the open door
carrying limp body in their arms.
1t was the maid, bound and gagged
They placed her on the bed.
Shes all right" Sherman said to
Clayton. She's just stiff and sore
Get a glass Of water" They united
her wrists and ankles and took the
gag out of her mouth.
She was dumped into the pathtub," :"
Sherman explained to the manager
as he chafed her wrists.
They gave the girl the water little
at time. you'll be all right in
a few minutes" Sherman said sooth-
ingly.
How are you feeling, Louise?" Clay
ton asked the girl.
Terrible, Mr. Clayton" she replied
after a moment. Il thought I was
just going to lay there and die"
You're all right. See If you can
stand up" Sherman helped her of
the bed.
Yeah, I can stand all right" she
said after wavering moment.
Now, Louise" Sherman said,
some things I want to ask you just
as soon as you feel able"
"I'll be all right in a minute" She
essayed a smile.
Sherman looked toward the door
that led into the connecting room.
Have you your pass keys?" he asked.
He took EN-"
who took them?"
THE man who tied me up"
What happened"
II was comm down the hall and
a man came up to me and asked me
if I'd open the door for him. He
said he had forgot his key. opened
the door and he showed me in and
put his hand over my mouth. I tried
to fight him, but he was too strong
and the next thing I knew I didn't
know nothin'. I just sort of floated
away and when 1 come to I was in
there" She turned to point toward
the bath room.
The facts that the police could
gather about Rawlins' death we're few
and meager. The murderer or mur-
derers had seized, bound and gagged
the maid; had used her pass keys to
enter Rawlins' room. They had evil
IDENTIFY been watching the nurse. 1t
was supposed that there were two of
them working together. Every effort
vas made to trace the telephone call
from outside, but there were so many
calls coming in it was difhcult to know
which one had been the call that re-
suited in the finding of the body.
| There were no finger marks, no
clues of any kind. The maid did not
remember the man. The halls we're
not brilliantly lighted and she was
slightly near-sighted.
(To be continued.)