The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-06-17

Avn "
The rain poured down and kept
us prisoners in the crowded seat.
And then the door across the
street suddenly swung open again,
splitting light onto the walk. Rlne-
hart came out, his coat collar up
and his hat pulled down.
Brant Eager to Begin
Trailing Automobile
At sight of him Brant leaned
forward, taut and strained. Nov,
then" he said.
Cropsy nodded and threw away
the remains of his cigar; but be-
fore starting his engine he allowed
the sedan to pull out OF sight
toward Shaker Boulevard. Then
we were off in pursuit. We were
not long in picking up Rinehart's
tail light.
Rinehart having passed the turn
he would have made if he had
been heading for his famliy's resi-
dence, thought surely he was re-
turning to his club downtown. But
we had gone only a couple OF
blocks along Carnegie when he
Veered south at the Cleveland Club
corner. He swung so suddenly
having luckily caught the traffic
light at the precise moment for a
left.hand turn-that we could not
Immediately follow.
Cropsy would have waited for
the green light to flash again, but
Brant exclaimed hoarsely: quick!
Follow him!" and there was in
that excited command of his
something that made CropSy for
get momentarily about traffic
rules. He rammed his foot down
on the accelerator and we fairly
leaped across the intersection in
the wake of Rinehart's fading tail
light. Behind us brakes screamed.
There was the sound of bumpers
clashing. Cropsy grimly smiled.
I glanced at Brant then. His
face was aShen, his eyes dilated as
though horror gripped him. And
in that same instant I realized
where Nelson Rinehart was 60
ing. He was slowing down in front
of Howard Wrenn'S studio. The
thought must have struck Cropsy
at the same moment. He said,
My God! He's going to Wrenn's
studio! Brant, did you know it?"
Il didn't know it," replied Brant
quietly. "but I expected it."
Half a block ahead of us, Rine-
hart slammed the door of his car
and hurried up the walk. If it
was Brant'S purpose to head him
off before he reached the studio
we were too late now. Unnamed
fear gripped my spine with chilly
fingers. Cropsy. grim-faced, had
pressed the accelerator down to
the floor board. Now he swung
to the curb in a sickening stop,
but Rinehart had disappeared.
Cropsy cursed. He would have
jumped out but Brant grabbed his
arm. "No," he said earnestly;
wait. Wait right here. If we
follow him. nothing can stop a
tragedy. There'n be murder sure.
The man is desperate"
He leaned forward then, and
with suddenly acquired calmneSS
he cut off the motor and turned
out the lights. Cropsy sputtered,
but before he could phrase his
protests the door of the studio
opened and Rinehart appeared,
accompanied by Wrenn.
We'll head them off at the
curb" said Brant, opening his
door and getting out. We're just
casual callers, you understand.
I'll do the talking. You two stand
ready, though"
We followed him as he Saun-
tered toward Rinehart's car.
Brant's first words, though,
were for Howard Wrenn. Going
out. Mr.. Wrenn? Too bad; we
were going to drop in"
"Oh," said Wrenn in a surprised
voice. cts Mr.. Brant." And, rec.
ognizing CropSy and me. he
smiled. "If it's very important,
I'm sure Mr.. Rinehart will ex-
cuse me-"
I'm certain he will" said
Brant pleasantly, not even look
ing at Rinehart. Mr.. Rinehart
will be glad to excuse you, be-
cause he is going to the police
station"
"oh. I am, am n" said Rine.
hart, advancing a step. And just
who are you?"
Never mind the talk. said
Cropsy authoritatively, and he
ranged closer. What he says
goes"
Not with me-" said Rinehart.
you've got to show me a"
Unanticipated Climax
AstOnishes Reporter
What followed happened so
quickly that establishment left
me frozen in my tracks. Brant
took q step forward, and as he
moved he stumbled and appar-
entity would have fallen if he had
not grabbed hold of Wrenn. The
next I knew he was encircling
Wrenn in a tight hold, pinning
the artists arms to his sides.
"Come get his gum" cried
Brant. Quick" for Wrenn, sud.
denly alive to the ruse, struggled
viciously and almost pulled free.
I'll say for Cropsy that he lost
no time. While I stood rooted and
Rinehart stared in complete. baf-
Element, the detective leaped for
the struggling pair. imprisoned
Wrenn in a Furnishing grip and
pulled forth a revolver from the
artists inside coat pocket. Wrepn
continued to struggle. Then he