The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-08-19

ters looking to him for strength,
Phil himself was stronger. His
grandmother had come downstairs;
they were all in the living-room.
Phil explained what the Inspector
wished to do, suggested they stay
where they were. Inspector Hays
and Sergeant Kane went toward the,
kitchen. Regain had remained out.
side. Inspector Irons and Phil went
upstairs.
Phil suggested, ''If there's any
thing special you're looking for, /
might help you."
Irons hesitated. II don't want to
put anything over on you," he
said gently. 81 told Mr.. Hare I
wouldn't ask you any questions UNI
less he was here"
Phil colored. "We've nothing to
hide!" he protested.
"Sure, know" the Inspector
agreed. "But I'll just look around.
want to see everything. Whose
room is this?"
'Mine," said Phil. The Inspector
nodded; he opened the drawers Of
the chiffonier, the desk, the closet.
the recess under the window seat
where Phil kept rods and fishing
gear.
Phil, looking over the others
shoulder, saw something there; a
iapanned metal box with a combi-
nation lock. And the cover Of the
box had somehow been forced openl
His thoughts went racing In
the summer after his Freshman
year, at a dude ranch in New Mex
leo, one of the cowboys had given
him an old single-action .45 revolver,
with cartridge belt and holster; had
told him that the weapon had been
taken off the body Of man killed
in a gun battle, years before. Phil
brought it home; but because Mrs.
Sentry was afraid of firearms, he
never showed it to his mother or
his sisters, kept it here in this locked
box. Only, he had showed it to his
father. His father had known it was
Irons picked up the box, now emp
ty, and he held it to his face and
shifted at it. The old holster had
been heavy with grease and oil. Phil
remembered the rich smell. He
heard himself now, saying hurried
": "That's my old tackle box. Used
to keep a couple of reels in it, in
leather cases." The Inspector did
not turn. 81 forgot the combination,
had to break it open with "a" He
tried to think what tool his father
might have used. with chisel,"
he said, and repeated: couple Of
reels, and some bass plugs"
'Must have been hard on the CHS
ell" the Inspector commented, and
turned, the box in his hands, and
looked at Phil. Phil saw sympathy
and understanding in the older
mans eyes, and was sick with fear.
Then Sergeant Kane said from the
doorway, in an intent tone: "Hays
wants you, Inspector. Down Gel
lar"
Irons nodded. Fright" he said.
With the broken box under his arm,
he followed Kane.
Fiji lOllOWCO tAICAAAe 4AOAlS UIIC0
looked back, as though to bid him
stay behind; but he did not speak.
In the cellar, Inspector Hays stood
by the furnace. The furnace door
was open. The fall had been warm,
these last few days unseasonably
so: and there had been here no re-
cent fire.
Irons went toward the other In
spector. Hays said quietly, "See il
YOU see what see."
He turned flashlights beam into
the fire box of the furnace. Irons
stopped to look in. After moment
he stood up.
"Close the door easy" he said
crisply then. "Close the draughts.
Any air might make the ashes crum-
BILE or muss them up. I'll get Pc
tiers and Knobble right out here.
They can handle it."
Phil touched his arm. 'What Is
it, Inspector" he asked.
! (TO BE CONTINUED)