Evening star., 1936-09-19
TNSTALLMENT TX.

"NHERE was q lOTIuuc CciACt Ah
Huron street, 1t appeared,
around the corner He often
L came into the store for Gig
arettes. The druggist didn't know
of any other Times were still haro'
1t seemed, for fortune tellers. TnH
one had often said so.
1t was almost too easy. 1t was
quite impossible that this could be
the man. Things didn't happen that
vay. reflected Blackwood morosely.
However, somewhere one had to make
q start.
"Hara Singh" read the glass plate
In the window-no more, no less.
Blackwood paused upon the pavement
and considered the shabby premises.
The doorknob was certainly not porce-
lain. The aspect of the place was
gloomy and depressing. A lovely spot
for murder.
The building was two stories In
height, and apparently the Indian
had the first fat above a sunken
basement.
AS he gazed. the curtain stirred and
woman looked out, then vanished
as if she had been snatched away.
What" said Riley Blackwood to
himself Then, mo, I'm seeing
things"
His glimpse of her had been so brief
that for an instant he wondered II
she had been a trick of fancy. Then
he set his Jaw and mounted the steps.
His thumb pressed angrily against
the doorbell.
The door swung open and Hindu
In flowing robes was bowling In the
aperture.
Come in, please" said Hara Singh
"and tell me what I can do for you
my dear sir"
The hallway was darkly dismal, bu'
the room beyond, though shabby, wa
filled with color. There were rugs
,pon the wall as well as on the floor
and at the far end, between hang1ngs
of red velvet, crystal ball reposed OF
a pillar of what looked ike marple
The room was empty.
Blackwood turned swiftly to INT
waiting Hindu. II should like TO sex
the Young woman who was IN thu
room a moment ago." he said.
The eyes of Hara Singh pushed oper
In surprise.
Young woman?" he echoed. But
nv dear sir, there is no young woman
here. AS you see. We are quite alone,
"A moment ago." said Blackwood
"she looked out of your front window.
The Hindu shrugged. Il am sorry
but I am afraid you are in error
There has been no young woman her
this afternoon. Was that all you cam'
to ask me?"
1t was Blackwood's turn to shrug
"OHara Singh" he smiled, you looi
like an Irishman to me. But 1t ism
important-and neither is the younl
woman. Good afternoon!"
He strobe away in the Sabbath sun
light, and once again Mr.. Blackwoot
was fairly pleased with himself. Th'
Young woman was no mirage. Sns
was a creature of flesh and blood anc
appetite. And considerable thirst.
She was, in point of fact, certain
Zelda Lansing, who had only denied
all knowledge of this affair, less than
y hours before.
"Cneers!" said Riley Blackwood
"Now we're getting along"
1t was odd, he reflected, that ZELDA
also was a redhead. Percy. he re-
called. had rather chaffed her about
it. But if the circumstance were
significant, the significance Of it es-
caped him. Probably it was just
coincidence.
Miss Julie Blackwood was surprised
and pleased by her nephew's prompt
appearance at the tea table-even a
little touched. She had not really
expected him, in spite of his parting
message.
johnny" she opened criSply, 81
don't know what ridiculous notions
YOU may be harboring about this
Wingfeld murder, but there is nc
doubt whatever that there's a hussy
at the bottom of it. Give me your
cup!"
The drama critic Of the Morning
Chronicle passed up his cup.
For the first time in several weeks
Aunt julie" he answered, I'VE are
IN accord"
X
Seated loosly on his shoulderblades
as twilight deepened into dusk, Black
wood thought the problem over in it.
wild entirety. 1t was fairly muddled
Hi. several attempts to reach Zelds
Lansing on the telephone had beer
notably unsuccessful. Either she wa.
still out or she was not lifting her re.
ceiver. But he was not particularly
worried about Zelda Unless she tot
became a fugitive. he felt that she
could be found without great dificulty
1t was the new possibilities Of ths
situation that perplexed him. Zelds
was now figure in the tale-but
where exactly did she fit?
Suspicion flooded him like q darl
wave. But suspicion of whom? I
seemed obvious that Zelda and thi
lying Hindu were leagued in SOM