The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1946-02-08
CHAPTER VIZ

peration: Didn't the doctor know
who he WASP Holdom must have
had letters, labels In his clothes,
something. A doctor that will keep
an unconscious man for three days
without trying to find out who he Is
and let his people know, needs look
ing into, Natl"
''Holdom told his Office he'd had
a snash-up," Cumberland volun-
teered.
''Smash-up! Smash-upl" Tope re-
peated exssperatedly. 'That's lie,
Natl He and Ledforge started up
here together, with Kell driving.
Ledforge came back to his Office
Monday morning with no word Of
a smash-up! KeI came home with
no word Of a smash-upl The car
showed no signs Of smash-upl It
doesn't make sense, Mat"
''Holdom told his Office he'd be
there tomorrow" said Cumberland.
Tope looked at him. eff he was
unconscious in this doctors hospital,
he didn't telephone from New York
VII 0dtuEudyp ue SdIu.
"Telephone?" Cumberland echoed.
''Some one telephonedl" Tope re-
minded him irritably. "Telephoned
the police at Ridgcomb, and said he
was Holdom and that his coupe had
been stolenl"
"Holdom must know something!"
Cumberland said. 'I'n send for
him, get him up here, as soon as
he Is able"
Tope nodded. "Of course. I guess
you'd better send Dane" he decid-
ed. Dane, as soon as Holdom can
travel, bring him up here. He's a
material witness, anyway. Make
him come"
Dane protested: mo need Of my
going. Any policeman"
But Tope urged: Needs a re-
sponsible man with a head on his
shoulders, son." He hesitated.
''Mat," he apologized, ''I'ma speak
ing out Of turn. After all, this is your
show"
''That's all right" Cumberland in
sisted. "Joe, you do what Tope
says"
Dane insisted stubbornly: II ought
70 be here. Keep in touch with
things."
Tope touched his arm. "We want
70 know more about this doctor down
there, son." he declared. maybe
Me's one of the gang. You look him
over, ask him few questions, size
him up, see what you think Of him."
So Dane was fattered into con-
aenting. "Well, that's So" he
agreed. "I'd better do that. ri
check up on him, and bring Holdom
back. I'll see what can get out Of
Boldom on the way"
But Tope objected to this, and
with some violence. "Don't you,
Daniel" he commanded. Don't you
ask Holdom anything. Just tell him
you've got orders to bring him up
here. Let him stew in his own
Juice till we're ready to talk to him.
Il he's been unconscious since Sat
urday, there's lot he doesn't know.
By the time you get him back here,
maybe wen know more than we do
now, be able to ask him some ques-
lions he can't answer"
And he added, remembering: 'By
The way, Joe, want you to find out
eome things for me: Ask Medford
about gas from the exhaust, and
whether it could get into the rumble
seat, and whether this dead man
had breathed any Of 1t, and whether
he was drugged. And see II you
can find out where Mrs. KEEL and
Ledforge went last weekend.
Joe and Cumberland turned to-
ward the door; but there they met
Bee Dewain. The girls face was
white and strained; she would have
spoken. Tope, with a sudden VIC
lence Of words, urged Dane and
Cumberland toward the car; and
only when they were gone did he
turn to Bee.
''Now, Miss Dewain," he said
gravely, II judge you've got bad
news?"
She nodded. 81 telephoned Ed
Priests camps" she said unhappi-
". "Mr. Eberly's not there. They
don't expect him. They haven't
heard from him."
Tope whistled softly. "That's
where he planned to GOT"
eyes, that's where he always
goes. That's where he said he was
yeing."
Tope wagged his head. Child"
he said gently, ~ hadn't ought TO
have asked you to telephone up
there. IT'S just a bad habit of mine.
working on q business like this,
whenever anyone tells me anything.
b check up and see If it's SO. I've
70 notion that Mr.. Eberly has any
thing to do with this. AS far as
wondering where he is" He chuc-
lied, touched her arm. Don't ever
slender about q fisherman" he
srged. "You can't rely on them
hlw more than you can on trout In