AM
W44
rur.DrnKi a. stokm cptrAsr
tnT. nt. ltifc t
STREET ft SMITH
X1"
. -v. j
K ti 1 1 1 v of such a crime.' Between yon Ami gave notice to the maid t (hanga the.
me." looking at his vistor l arplv out of loom.
the corner of his eve. "1 should not tie "Fact I.' the porter ad. led. "I've been
nt All surprised If It turned out that May- bothered so much since jrsterday shout
nurd had bctn killed hv Home one else,
after Fletcher hail Irfl him at th F.arls
wood hotel."
'Hut they never went to the hotel "
that rat) that I haven t hud time to think
about murh else."
"What rah was that?"
"Whv, thla here cab No. 1). It w aa
"Indeed! Mow do ou know that? That around here that night' and the gont that
Is a very Important piece of evldrnre tf waa with It muni have been the guy that
v on ran prove II." waa killed, or the one that did It."
This time Hartley turned scarlet. "The "Couldn't you recognise the man'.' '
fact la." he stammered, thing hard and "Yea, 1 gue!a 1 could. Although It was
faat. and getting redder. If that Were poa- pretty dark and I didn't pay much aUrn-
ClfAPTER XII Continued. both client and suspect, and whichever haa their own cuatody, safely locked up In A hards ring. Didn't know he wore a ring." wished the man would not look at him so ible, everv second "the fact la I was a tlott to him. Helng new her I dent know
the most money they akin. Very often police station. Then after a pause, looking furtively at hard, aa If he knew he waa lying. Hartley lul" worried about the rooketbook being the. customers at this hotel yet. you know.
Mr. Hartley simply drummed on the desk they akin them both." It appeared that thla driver of cah No. Douglas: "Hut you don't mean to aay that wondered how he would feel If one of empty, and aa t couldn't get Maynard -on What I'm sorry for waa that 1 ifldn t no-
and pulled harder at his cigar. This little piece of gratuitous advice made 1144 had been thrown out of a saloon about you think" those keen-eyed fellows were to come and the 'phone In tha morning. I went up to uoe tne, driver. As soon as I handed It
"The only connection we could trace him Hartley wince. While the Judge was gone 2 o'clock on the night of the murder, dead "Course 1 mean II. That's why there waa Ask him soma questions about Fletcher the F.arlswood. thinking he might still be ,n tnMt j;0 was waiting; around here
to was a pretty Stunning-looking girl. Her to the telephone, he wondered what had drunk, and had been taken to the nearest no money In that pockethook. That's why and Maynard. there." that night the fly cops come up by the
we marked down, and its lucky we did, prompted the giving of It. Johnson was a station house. It wns not until he had there was blood on It. That fellow Fletcher The detective turned hla hat round In his "Indeed!" diawled the doctor. "And osen and pumped me dry. And ail the
air. heraus. that's our chance now to private detective! slept off the effects of his spree that he not only robbed him; he killed him. And hands, and seemed not to know exactly where Is the hotel? I never hcArd of It ..nl..,.. .... h ,.r.. m.. i f,, Hivl
some of m took my picture. Today they
was after me hot and heavy, and seemed
more anxious to know If the man had a
ring on hla finger or not. 1 didn't see no
ring. As to the driver, all t noticed about
him waa that he was most too polite for a
cabby. Touched hla hat a bit too mm It.
Kngllsh style, jtui know."
pick up the trail again. All these chaps A few minutes passed, and the judge re- waa able to tell about the loss of hla cnb. threw him In the river. That's what!'' what to aay. He muttered something about before.'
have some woman on the string, and no turned. Instead of being Allowed to go free, as he "Oh, nonaense! You Are crasy. What making A report. In order to relieve the Thla waa a poser. Hartley had not the
matter where they hide, they always con- "Very sorry, old man,'' he said, "but it had espected, he was astonished to hearths Fletcher? .Impossible! And yet " The tension of the situation, Mr. Hartley pulled slightest Idea where the hotel was He
net sooner or later write her a letter, or appears the whole force Is out on a mur- magistrate commit him to prison as a ma- truth of what Johnson had told him buret out a roll of bills and offered the man $.1). stammered something, about having drivrn
come to sen her, or something. Now this der esse, trying to find who drove a cer- terlal witness, If not something more upon him like a flash; but he tried to keep telling him he was sorry there wa nothing there In a cih and not noticing partlcu'arly
girl s a stunner, sir, and If he don't write tain cab last night. It seems they found closely connected with the murder. up his appearance of Incredulity, "What for him to report. Everything was all right and so, forth, and then, beginning to feel
her a letter, or get to see her before long, a bloody cab at daylight thla morning, To an experienced criminologist, the cab- makes you think It's Maynard's ring?" he now. decidedly uncomfortable, he concluded to
he's more'n human. The Ardmore gang's somewhere on the river front. Very In- man's Innocence would have been evident asked. In another minute he was alone again, take hla leave.
famous for getting fine looking women In terestlng case, they tell me, and Ha all In from his manner, and from the straight- "Why, didn't he ahow It to us at Green's wishing that Johnson could be disposed As he went down the steps he eongtatu-
tow to puHh their goods. We've a flr.it rate the afternoon papers. Here, boy, get u forward way In which he told his story, that night? Didn't he explain the design of as easily.
man on our list that's Just for these Jobs, two of the latest afternoon editions you All he knew, he said, was that when the to us?" .
Sir. He's expensive, of course; but It pays." can find. Any of the picture papers will cab had disappeared he had gone to the "Don't remember. I think you're a little ( lltl'TKR AVI.
"What Jobs do you mean?" do." saloon to telephone. Aa It waa a cold night, off thla morning, Douglas."
"Why, to get acquainted with the girl. The two men sat down to enjoy their and his fare had given him $5, he had "No! That's so! You hadn't come yet. After pacing up and clown his office for
sir. He's' a handsome fellow, and has the cigars and five minutes later both were proceeded to get warm by Imbibing hot Y'ou didn't notice It. H was Juxt after din- half an hour, without coming to anv ton-
gift of the blarney to beat the band. No looking at a picture of a cab, with the door whiskies. In his opinion, the drinks that ner. 1 think I was the one that asked elusion about anything except lo keep his
'Wasn't the nun In tho mil a buck! of
la.ed himself that he had kept his secret hotp,? ,,.,,,, in0 ro ftn.
about Johnson. It was some satisfaction
to think that he had found out all that
the doctor knew without telling anything
himself. It might Imve hurt his pride
somewhat had he known that the doctor
also had his little secret. There was one
little Incident whlrh the doctor had not
mentioned to his visitor, probably because
he did not think It necessary. Thla was
that as aoon as the false number of lbs
cab was discovered, and the owner n lined,
the doctor went round to sec the man.
Having hired cabs from that stable man
thing 7"
"Can't fay as to that. The fly cops n.-ked
me ail thai. He went Into the hotel and
whs Inside half an hour, I suppose When
he came out he went over to have a talk
to the cabby. That's when 1 remember toll.
Inn him his cab was No. 11. That's the
last I seen of him. I suppose the guy that
Was killed was lnslih the cab all the lime,
already cut up, nun be "
Johnson went into the louiiin$ loom
and lit a -cigar. After picking out a c oin
fortable chair he fat down und began to
in his mind various
times and helmi a good customer, the doc
.. . .... in to Id.io- thai ai.ihle owner think, turning y. ci
Into hla confidence and telling him that possibilities some or vviil.h were very im-
oi.bou.h the i-.limnn was unable to rc-ol- procaine. Anions inrse was uie possibility
but he was Insistent on tho Importance of 1(1(,t tne house trom which the cab had that Mr. Walton might have, been the
matter how swell she may be, he can get open, the cushions lying on the ground he had taken earlier In the evening were about It. He took it off and handed It to mouth shut, Hartley suddenly determined
introduced, and after that, trust him. lies beside It, and a mob of curious people stronger than he Imagined. There was no us to look at. The marks on It had some t scnd for his carriage and drive up to
a fine dresser, and the girl that can stand standing round, Just far enough from the other way to account for his being knocked Dutch name. The moment ( saw It hi jjr. Ramie's. If Douglas went to F.urope,
him off, or keep a secret from him, after vehicle to give the photographer room. out so quickly. He dapended on the saloon the paper I recognized it." He stood up he and the doctor would be the only ones
he gets his arm round her waist, ain't It appeared that the cab, with the horse keeper to prove an alibi, so far as his and wiped his forehead again. "What 1 left. They should have an understanding,
born, sir. JJut he's expensive." ' Mill in tho shafts, had been found at the possible presence at the dock was con- want to know now Is: Who is that fcllo The doctor took Hartley Into hla private
"What do you mean to do, then?" end of a lonely dork, close to the river's cernod. Fortunately for him. having been Fletcher, and where Is he? " room and locked the door. Y'es. he had
"Well, sir. If you want us to follow this edge, at daylight. There was no driver with gathered up from the sidewalk by the po- "I thought you were the one that was p.n th papers ami hail recognlzrd the
thing up, and get track of your man again, it, and nothing in the cab itself; but the lice, he was able to trace the aaloon In belting they couldn't find him," remarked ring. He did not seem as much excited
It will coBt about L""0 to get Frank Doremus cushions were slashed here and there, ana which he had passed the time. Where the Hartley dryly, thinking hard at the tame about the matter as Hartley had expected,
started on the Job." the whole cab was soaked with blood, some house to which he had taken his fare was time.
"That your handsome man Wltn tne oi no iwn run gui uwu uuun " ' jocaiea no couiu noi remenioer. ii was m. inaii an roi ami naiiarii.se now. their keeping quiet. r..n . r hn.l been stolen the fact -was man with the cab. He got up and Went
blarney, eh?" and trosen on the stop and on the ground, either a block above or below the saloon, Wove got to find him and shut his mouth i)r. runile explained that he had never lat cnb No m4 nad disappeared from back to tho head porter, and asked him
"Yes, sir. Of-course, you know enough The curious thing, about the cab was that and to the right or left. He had no Idea somehow. When he's caught, the whole seen Fletcher before that dinner at Green s. , front of nl8 own office and that the It he had heard any direction given to the
about women to understand that a man on the lamp was "No. 44;" but that when of the number. The police attached no Im- story will come out, and we'll all go to ani that he knew him only as a friend of r(,bmn-B fHro who hud given tha driver driver of that cab-to go to the Karls-
has to flash the wad to get along easy the police went to look up that number portance to that, apparently. All they Sing Sing for putting up the Job with him. Maynard. How long Maynard had known w. one of'ias patients wood hotel, for Instance. No, he had not.
with them, sir. Your poor chap has to and find the owner, they discovered that cared for was to satisfy themselves that That's what. Kven if we got off. how the him, or where he had met him, the doctor "Now" the doctor went on "you know Did he think It at sll possible that Mr.
. waste too much time. The man with the cab No. had left Uie stable that morn- this man had not driven the cab to the boys would guy us for picking up a crook had no idea. The whole thing looked to lt mlKh't hurt my practice quite a little Walton might have been the man that
dough can get her anything or take her ing at 8 o'clock and waa on the rank at dock where lt was found. The riddle for like that and taking him to dinner!" him now. he said, as If Maynard had been ,t .r. Wnown n.l r wt want anv came In the cab? No. he waa nulte aura
anywhere she wants o go. Theaters and the Central Station. with Its proper driver, them to solve was: Who had? Hartley turned a shade paler at the men- marked for a victim for some time past, notoriety of that kind. The man that came It. was not. He knew Mr. Walton by sight,
things like that, you know." Judging from the traces of frozen blood Having read all about the case, Hartley tlon of Sing Sing. He had not thought of and that Fletcher muat be an adventurer , n)y office In the cab Is a prominent and had received a very liberal tip from
"Then you think you have lost track of that led to the edge of the dock, whatever stuffed the newspaper Into his pocket, thut before. of some kind. These Mews so closely agreed lnan one of my best patients I was out ihe gentleman,
him? Don't you think you could pick him had been In the cab had been thrown Into After he had looked oyer his morning mall, "I'm going right to my lawyer, Groscup," with Hartley's own that he came very Bt the time. He went with tho driver to Johnson sat down again and did more
up again In some other way than through the water, and they were then at work ho rang the bell and told the boy to send continued Douglas, wiping his face again, near making the mistake of telling the i00k for the cab and didn't come back. I thinking. Then he questioned several of the
this girl?" dredging the river. As no one knew what In Mr. James McBrlde. " and I'm going to tell him the whole thing, doctor that he was quite right. Catching want to be candid with you and tell yon clerks and other persons who were on
"He's an old hand, sir. He can lose, a time the tragety had occurred. It was dlf- McBrlde was a tall, handsome young fel- And then, If they don't pinch me before himself Just In time, he went to the other the whole story. It appears that he invited watch Thursday night, to see If any of
shadow better than any man I ever fol- ficult to say whether the tide had been low. with lond curly hair. He had a de- 2 o'clock I'm off to Kuropo by the first extreme, and tried to put the doctor off the driver Inside, and they had several them could recollect a man that had
lowed. Why, he went In the Waldorf one running up stream or down at the time cldedly good face and a certain look about steamer. She sails at 2." the track. drinks; that Is, the cabman did. While they dropped Into the hotel for half an hour or
evening, Thirty-third street corner; took the body, If there were a body, had been him that suggested cleanness, both In body "Hut If you make any such extraordinary "Hut why should Fletcher kill Maynard were Inside filling up with whiskey the so. u would seem thai hundreds of men
the elevator to the ninth floor; walked thrown In. and mind. His clear blue eyes and red move as that you will attract attention for the money, doctor, when he was to get cab horse ran away, or some one ran off might have done so without attracting the
across to the other aide in' the Astoria; Having read over the account and glanced cheeks told of a healthy outdoor life. Mc- and suspicion to yourself at once," ob- it anyway by being allowed to rob him with it. Now, that is not a nice story to slightest attention,
took the elevator up to the tenth and then at some other Items in the paper which in- Hrlde was Hartley's confidential secretary, served Hartley, who was nevertheless very of it?" get into the papers about my oflce la it? Finally he went to th manager,
walked down to tho seventh. I seen him terested him more, Hartley went back to and had better prospects than any man In much In the humor to cut and run for lt "That Is what is puzling me," answered 1 should have pictures of my place In all After considerable sparring, during which
Just In time to dodge. Course If he met me his office, leaving the Judge still poring the office. His appearance and his abilities, himself. the doctor slowly. " lthlnk that Fletcher the papers and a mob of loafers round the Johnson felt that something was helng
again he would have knowed the Job I over the minutest details of the cab mys- Hartley had remarked, would make his "I'm going to get Groscup's advice upon must have excited Maynard's suspicions door. Why, It would ruin my practice." llBid ljat.,i he Kthvrcd that a gentleman
was on, and I might as well go home tcry. At parting, the Judge promised that fortune if he would only attend a little it. What I want to know Is: Who Is thla at the last moment. These fellows often The stable owner shook his head, as If haJ ra)Pd jor Mr jHmoB Walton on Thurs-
and take off my clothes. Y'ou can't shadow one of the central office men should call more strictly to business; but the young fellow Fletcher? How did you meet him? I get too eager when the game Is near u.n he realized that It was a bad business. day nlBllt and ,1Ht thi!, K,.nti(.mai, WBs
man. like that, sir. All that Ardmore tin Hartley next day or the day after,
gang's clever."
Mr. Hartley did not appear to be paying
t much attention to this last piece of de-
scriptlon. He was pacing up and down the
littlo sanctum puffing at his cigar.
CHATTEIl XIV.
That evening after having dined at home,
Vlartlev rirovA down to thn club, where he
Hut wasn't there any row at the Earls- hopea to tlaA ur jtmio or. Maynard.
wood last night? Did nothing happen?'
' Nothing out of the ordinary, sir. W
waa you expecting to happen?" Mr. John- found that tne aoctor had been out all
son asuea mis question who t.m. a(lornootl and was Jiot expected to return
oalty, and awaited the answer with his unt lata
ears wide open. Several of the men at' the club were
man was a nine too rono or atnietics. uon i Know wnere to go to ask aoout mm. end, you know, and Maynard may have The doctor went on: l ersonally known to the mananer, who did
Hartley, however, always expressed the "Take my advice, and don't ask any become alarmed. He may have wanted to "Now I don't want your driver to freshen not (o dl(,(.,OKe n)H j,jeiit lt .' The de
hope that his secretary would "steady one. If you do, they will lock you up as KO somewhere else. I cannot see how they up his memory any more than necessary, tectlve was sharp enough to seo his ad
down" in time. as a witness." got into thj same cab unless that was the and" vantage and to make the most of It, so that
"As long as he doesn't get to be a cham- "But there must be something wrong case. I thought Fletcher was to be at the "That'll be all right, sir," interrupted tne manager finally agreed, on tho under
pin," Hartley had remarked to a friend, somewhere. How did you come to know hotel beforehand, so as to be ready to the liveryman, beginning to understand Btlindng (hat j0hnson would consider the
"he Is all right. But the moment these him?" rob Maynard as soon as he arrived. They what was wanted of him. matter as strlctlv confidential to send him
up to have a talk with Mr. Maynard. John-
the
nt hlff t In t otlrtwa vet in Yttk rhamnlnna inrl r i . . t. tnnK aua. nrnKn Kl r ho1 nrnra In Vi - n K n .1 nit'kn t o -im In a- in i thin.'
. . .... m a. m i i - -. - w - v. JL lit; CI DAW 111 III UtlUl t! lllfj U Ulilfl LIIO.L " uij ww ui u- as ilia Wi '- tTIlOvt. v
XM'imer ui ineni wh.b mere. m.iili w neii no .............. . . . j "
Nothing out of the ordinary, sir. What cae(1 up tha doctor at his office, he g K runnln arler inem- tney re night ut Green s. He was Dr. Kamie's Heteher. seeing the game was up, threw doctor continued, "lour cao was aamageu gon c01ll(J lhcn perionully tuntlrm Bme o(
..w w - " guesis, anu an oiu. irienu oi juajniiru i, & w.rae,u.oo uiu riruucu iubiibim i'j quite k imi, uomci .., lnQ inings that the manager had taken
a fifty to keep McBrlde from ever being understood. I don't know any more about the throat, or stabbed him, or something, was locked up, and all that sort of thing. tne ioerty ( telling Mr. Maynard in or
good enough to enter for the champion- him than you do." He must have had a confederate on the Now let me pay you $50 toward the damage to put hm on n(s Kllllrd. .
ships, and Just to make things sure, I al- -But aren't you going to find out?" box, driving the cab, unless he .killed the to the cab, and If there Is anything left, j0hnsun rejoiced Inwardly. He '
"Oh, nothing!" flicking the ashes from lalkln about tha murder i the cab The yS n Ve 8 6 mauer 10 auena "On the contrary, I think It Is best for driver, too. ' make a Christmas present or 11 10 me up Bnotnep ,,lue. ,l8 had found
his cigar. "But It Is certainly extraordin- iateat news waa that the result of dragging: m ljenver or Bl- 1 aul lne oay lne to keep cool, and suy 'nothing to no- "uut what would excite Maynard a sub- driver; but give him to understand urn knew Mr Waton. "
ary. Do you think you could pick up the th- Hver a8 tha flndlng. of a man, ieg. cnampionsnips come on. body about nothing.' That's Chuck Con- picionsi tou don t suppose that he had he Is to forget where he went mat nig.u
trail if -VOU knew any Place ne was ai laie Tk. ,,. , tahA . - nera uwc iur an sum . ..v... . ...... u j. uiitiuii.
80 the reason that Hartley had not seen
anything of Johnson for nearly a week
last nlghtr John which waa full of reddish colored McBrWa had more than hls Bhare of al' "Well. I'm going to get legal advlc. upon and was afraid to carry out the scheme The liveryman Insisted that lt was nt WM tnat JohnROn was hunting high and
Mr. Hartley's thoughts were running watar Tha M thomrht lt might have lr""u" l" uul u,u nut it. lt l don t call you up alter a o'ciock mini pernaps imi is tne doctors lauu mm me c low for Maynard and had put a relief watch
on the empty pocketbook now. He was de- k j. ',d in an attemot to catch the blood alarm Httrtley BO mucn' "A" "oon 88 MM this afternoon, you will know that I'm off why the pocketbook was empty. Maynard mussed up," as he expressed it; but he did , ,partmcnt n,sht and day.
bating with himself whether it would be 7in from the cab or in carrying water R'ght Cm" aIonB'" ha UBed to say' ' J to Europe until this thing blows over." may not have liked to trust himself with not like to refuse the M. nd he promised Tne Janor told th(U Mr MaynaTd
safe to tell Mr. Johnson that Mr. Milton 71 tha.cab ,. " attemDt to wash It off W'" be redh0t IOVer' "nd 1 don t thlnk "l wouldn't do lt," advised Hartley, who o much money In the company of a the doctor that nothing should be said had ,eft no word ag tQ how long h(j woul(,
Fletcher had been at Green', restaurant The,r theory was that the cab had been th" nBaement wl" b" a Ion one' The did not like the idea of being left alone to forger." about where the cab was when the horse oe awgy Ho ofte went away fop a wee,c
at 2 o'clock in the morning. Upon further abaVd0ned because of the tell-tale froren ,0ner th betUr fr me; becaua8 onca face the trouble should it come. "Fancy "A forger! What do you mean?" ran away. He always protected his cus- or ,wo without saying anything about it.
deliberation, he concluded It was not. blood on the door and steo man'" marrled 'ou"ve got hlm' Married being a week without any kind of news. Mr. Hartley turned very pale. He saw turners, and the doctor was a good one. Welng a bachelori tnera was no rcaJK,n
Then lt occurred to him to call up Dr. . rathe. DUllnlt thin about the case me" nl B qU'CK " BlV'"B "P tnelr lo0Mns forward to being nabbed the mo- me sup ne naa maoe. 1 oidn t mean a
Kamle and ask him If he had seen May-Wa that the police had taken the cab to JbS "lp8'a 0ne8' nd dQn t Care ment you landed on the other slde' and l0"' Dlean amateur thle(' yu un"
nard that morning, and. If so, whether th(J gtabi0 ln order t0 Bee bow lt waa that
the $5,000 was all right. He went into the tna owner camtt t0 have two cabs bear-
n.il.r .,ffl,- anil hnrt a tttlk With the dOC- . i ... -
itor over the telephone. The doctor had was registered The two cabs had stood a"d Went Ver brlcfly Bm8 matter8 th8t wnat yu thlnk 18 80 one thln ,8 clar ,he doctor evidently did ribt understand
' . r .... . was regisierea. ine iwo cuob naa siouu .,,ij naria ur.nn.i .t.ntin. n .. L . j . - ... . 1 la Inok.H of hi. vi.i. . ru...ii .k..
C IIAITKB X II.
After his usual good morning greetings extradition. Take my advice and stay here, agreed lt was to be a forgery, or some-
McBrlde took his Instructions carefully, There's some mistake about something. If thing of that kind.'
why he should explain his movements to
any one.
While engaged In his aearch for May-
ler.
-handed Johnson IJOO ln lillW. and told him ::,.k. ....... 11.. ... w. woula OIrer nlm one ot n18 w-cent cigars. lunged to Maynard.
to go ahead witu ilie jjornmua ena 01 11
As the days passed, the headlines In the nurd, Johnson had looked up many of tha
daily papers referring to the cab murder retired broker's old business haunts and
Iaibiyim amuller and smaller. All attempts hud tOHrla mlniltA In.iiitrlaH ua t,. 1.1a V.akli.
not tried to find Maynard yet. Did not ex- . together for several hours- they had refjulred """W 8 Personal attention; all to me," he added, with an attempt to looked at his viator so crltcally that t0 flnd any further portions of the body and his connnectlons. He had found an old
pect to until dinner time. been Kazed at by hundreds of pe'rsona and a very businesslike way. which evidently laugh: "you will lose your little bet, all Hartley winced, but could not think of nad falled ftnd no one had recognised the .ervant. that had often waited on him
Hartley went over and spoke to the cash- vad been DhotoraDhed by dos.ns of news- plea"ed Harlley 80 much that he 8ald h8 right. The police will have that fellow an'thlnf '"rther to say. It flashed across rng as Maynard's; or if they had. they al table and had overheard many things.
r. Going back into the private office, he ' b for , My ' hw nol,,.ed WBS Borry Ji,meB a,a "ol m"Ke. or ne int.ide twenty-four hours, if the ring be- ""'w-" m me aoctor into nis ,iad ot told the polll.e. but nolh,B ,hat Would throw any light
wouia oner mm one oi ms ou-ceni cigars, longed to Maynard." lu " wun jonnson; what was stranger still, according to the on his probable destination, If he went
McBrlde thought smoking interfered with Douglas could only spread his hands and but that would at once betray the fact that paperg wBs that there was not the slight- ff on a trip by himself.
bla wind and he considered bis ahllltv tr. .kn.. .i.nM.,-. ... ka l.ft k. he hud acted ln shocklniflv bad faith with . . . ...... n-... ., ... ...
A slun ualnter haiiDenlne to stoD ln front 7 . .7. . . " " " - - " est ciue to me ariver oi me cuu. ini .iu uuring me vigus ox muse two or three
of 'the stable out It "08! pointed out d a QUarter 'n flfty-four 8econds much a od-bye. Piling the regard to the wager. h fl gt a runaWay horse in the days Johnson had done a great deal more
OI me Biauie OUl OI turiusuy, puinieu OUl ,- Imnrirtnnt than tha anlnvm.nl . i vi i.. . i ... i,. "Well, doctor." ho an Id al lpnj.lli i'-hil ' . . .. ...
- - virtu 01 ma tii:i in ' vuvrci.. , - street, or snouiu steal a norae una cm. minking and had constructed and rejected
cigar. It was the wind that Hartley waa Left to himself. Hartley s coolness dls- are you going to do about it? lt seems to and dr)ve ,t aI1 over New York without a number of theories. What bothered him
anxious to break up. appeared. In a disturbed frame of mind he "e that we are all In a nice mess." leaving a trace, was something that the WBs to reconcile Mr. Hartley's knowledge
uoui ......uo "ici mo MuiiiuiKA pegan to waiK up ana aown me onice. " " - " o..t detecttves could not understand. The mur- of Mr. James Walton s Intended move-
but on no account to mention his employ
er's connection with the matter to any
one outside.
"No mutter what they find out about this
Fletcher, or whoever ho turns out to be;
not a word about my having anything to
the lamps.
that while one cab had the numerals "44"
on the lamp, the other was marked "No.
44." This led the few drivers and stable-
.1 . . f II r,i., .lull I T, 1 V- navinir H I V 1 rilHU ... . . . . . -----raw WCHE... .V I...... V. H ' " - .., w. .-..
- --------- men who were-sianaing arouna to com- ..,.,. finished and McRHda k.d mk. ... ... . ,k .. .. of a dream about aomethlmr "Dn rmhlnir ...... ' . . 7
do with him, remcmeer, naruey repeaieo. notes and to concur in tha oDlnlon . 7 ..7 7 uc " -' 7,7, - aerea niignt ne a snrewa una iiiieiiisii!. menis and the lact that the movements
with emnhuais . . . u ...... . ..k. returned to me outer onice, ne lapped at h mself to think out a course of conduct.
wun einpnumo. that no cab ever hud the lettering "No." .. . . . . . . , .. ... .
Keep absolutely quiet. Ask no questions. ma they ,adi but ,ny one , the ,.ab. ,, nol ,ake la(.. That Mf Harley
'; You can trust me for that, sir," saUT . f f . number Aft.r aettina- ci0.er WIB uuu'" "nu wuu a Bralle' at happened was pretty clear to ut cllc. o. drlver claM hould be eagUy trai ed; it by was very much astonished at Mr. Walton, s
Johnson, drawing himself up, and stuffing 1" Z' ,h" Trowj haWn mad. wsr "Mr' DouBla3.jU8t calIed Up on the tele" hlm' Soma BhreWd membcr the Ard- Maynard to any one. None of oun friends nothlng eleBe. through the betrayal of his failure to arrive at the Karlawood hotel
to the cab. the crowd having made way " .. " .J ,,.. .... ' . noming eie8. mruutn ... uei.,-. u. .
tho bills Into his pocket. for hlm ' lf ht W.r. an authorltv the v ' ' , y ' J" moro an naa plcKea up an lualnlanc8 '" '- confidence by his friends. He would be was clear. That he did not know what had
"Here's H for your self." Hartley added. g pal nte r re in a rk e d that tne letter ng h6'" b" rlfht d0W"; th" "mlle brad wlth Maynard- ". "d ,0U met h'm " "y ue.t only. Ever see ure t ulk of th, expiolt t0 Bome one prev.nted that arrlval w al8(J cl B
"Keep me posted; but not a word about ' barman who had learned '" " " .tb neW8l.r'er8 ooA Jke' blm for a plucking. The little after-dinner 1dm anywhere else?" un,eg8 h, wer. 8 accompUc. himself. putting this and that together. Johnsoa
anything to any one. I ll pay the costs, tZ , th llS, 1U d.OB T,?" DoUSlas? waa "'"d UP 8nd ked !! ," ,W ab0Ut vour part of It? If the A, tbere wer, no new dev.lopmeni., at came t0 the t.oncluslon lt waa Mr.
but keep lt quiet. Thut man must be found, , ,h N wer8 heav lngteaJ ot b ,n " -" up as an opporiunuy. ine man m arove v-...v- IeaBt non, that were given out to the Maynard that had Interfered with or pre-
lf money will do It. I should thing lf he was .. M h th dlaKnol' Btroka was lla-ht dickens U he coming here the cab must have been a member of the Btana ' press, the whole thing seemed to be pass- vented Mr. Walton's arrival at the Karla-
one of the Ardmore gung the whole police " ' U " The crowd did fr?" ang' and th two of them had ,OUnd that , .J"" .0t 'orrlnKJ IIhv yur chevk" ing from the public mind. All that was nec- wood hotel. Consequently Maynard prob-
.. . .. insieau or uting neay. inn iiowu aiu ,.,,.. ,, ,.., -,,,. ,.., n,. a ...i...h n,k.n .k. ,.,i.i .i In the safe there, and I emect to collect . , . . . .. . . . .. ..
not attach much importance to this critic- .. : 7 A. ... ' , " " 'Z. tlnn from . .h. .m. eHBary lo 0,01 11 oul ""'X new tne direction in which Mr. Wal
l.BB.I b urrii 1 1 . .ma unno diiicq nidi ivj uiu jat ib iwwn iivici. a iicii , in j . i u
force would be after him.
"They don't know It. sir. lf there's any
thing ln the Job of pinching him, I want
It for myself. I'm the only one that seen tQ eay go
lam; several men thought the lettering
was all light, and they did nut hesitate
little stock transfer about two years ago. knocked him on the head, lf the stary un. 'ou do, h I guess not.
What shall I say when he comes? That ever came out. Hartley, the smart busi- "I certainly do. Look here. Hartley, You
that bug, sir. That Is, to recognise It.
"Where is it now?"
iti ... v.imi-1 .w... k. Hi,-., in fift.- on...nuni.a are unnecessarl I y excited about thla affair . . . . ... .t., .
I'h Ih .nada li ualnter anirrv and he went ""' " - - - pages or me pa pel wuiiouv even
. . oh s j guppose I 11 have to see him." the president of the Hardware trust, would wl"us" ou "e gumy conscience, mat . d
M r llaI.t. UJ .-.It T. , - 1 w 1 t l.a. I-1,.rIr,lr t..U r.f 4 It a lfU., tc mftKeS VOI1 IOrBet UW lit t M nthPr DPOtt A
I'm going up to the Keulton to find lat rl..ht number ot cab wu. lu. Hartley had not long to wait. That Frank be the laughing stock of the town. Why la - '"'l .w ow.er peopie H
out. sir. Course I expected to see lt come .,. ,,,, ,I ,, h..n ,,.,. lntn .' Douglas was very much excited was evl- lt that some men fear ridicule more than """ "' ""-i mm lh.
big sensation. On the fifth day that sensa- ton had actually gone. What he would
tlon came, and all the news about cab very much like to know was, whether
No. 44 was tucked away In the Inside or not Mr. Hartley was acquainted with
sub- Mr. Maynard as well as with Mr. Walton.
over lt. if so. Is was Just poasible that be could
round to the Karlawood last night."
"Would it help mutters any I mean,
would lt save time in locating him, If the
police were Informed about that bag? Per
haps the linkertons would like to know It."
Johnaon did not seem to like the sugges
tion, but he pulled himself together after
a moment and answered slowly. "I don't
think so, sir. Tha linkertons ain't no good
for Jobs like this, sir, they not having
N and a small "o" had been put between
the 11 and the 44. lie said the alteration
waa never done by a sign painter, nor
with paint; but with some sort of liquid
glue, mixed with ink. L'pon hearing thla
opinion, the policeman in charge took it
upon himself to remove both lamps, after
getting the sign painter's name and ad
dress, and getting three stablemen to wit
ness that the lamps with the altered num-
dent. He strode Into the private office Imprisonment?
without even saying good morning. Once To ene thing Hartley quickly made up
inside, be shut the door behind him very his mind. He would not consult any law-
trouble must find you, unless you go hunt-
Hartley was congratulating himself on throw some light on the matter If lie
success of his policy of silence. Nothing knew that Mr. Maynard and Mr. Walton
had happened to disturb his peace of mind were together at the time that one of
farmed about? "th I 'I s0 Iar' Th only lhin UlV hJ "ou.d have gon. to the Kar.swood
. . . ... : , ' . was the nun-appearance or jonnson. lie hotel. The Idea was gradually becoming
carefully, and looked as lf he wished to yers, and he would refuse to Bay a word nd Part8 01 boa- Ths body as t hd not .u.n h. rtf.i,-iv ainca h. ad- a , -.
. . ... . - ..... , .. ... .. ... ....... ..... . .. i.-tn iWn dantlfl.il v.t" -vimi-wm nn lllino mat
loca ii. men no tuoa. rapiu aieps xo iir. iu ny one auoui. eimer aiaynara or
vanced the money to engage the services Mr. Walton und Mr. Maynard were
Hartley's desk, and fumbled In his pocket. Fletcher. He would deny that he had ever "'hy. that ring gives the whole thing c, th(J charmlng Wr. ijyremus. Nothing gather In cab No. 44 on Thursday night.
to-
seen hun. Ilk. 1 have. I think you'd better bela t..R1- from the bloody tab
trust me and Doromua to work the girl.
sir. In a week that chap will get word
to her somehow, lf he don t, aa I aald
before, sir, he ain't human. Good-day, sir."
With this information at hand, the police
had lost no time In finding the owner
of the cab registered aa No. 1144. The owner
of the vehicle said the cab had left the
stable the evening before, and the driver
had telephoned that, while he went Into
... ... . , ' , a house for a minute with a fare, the
After attending to the signature of a
.. i.,, 1. ., . ,, .... . , liuiaa HflU lull ana), ivtiriv m5 ltrir.uuitfi
few letters, Hartley felt thut it was time . .......
He did not even take off his hat. known either of them. He was sorry now w
Pulling out a newapaper, ar.d thrusting that he called ln Johnson. But perhaps It "'d yu r.cognis. lt th. mon.ent you
it under Hartley's nose, he Jabbed a big was lucky that he had not called In the aw tn Picture of it?"
headline excltely with his forefinger. linkertons. They would haul him up at "Well. Douglas won t tell any one elae.
"Read that." he gasped under his once when they found the clue. 8o would 1,8 called m. up on the 'phone and asked
i . . ...... . , . v. i , .... . .... , . .. , , . . ... mil lf I bad aaan th. nlctnra r9 th fln
urea n. x,, u . o.cj .ellie ol m. re.ui.r po.ice. mm. ne xen, une.ay --- ---------- tervtew Johnson had carried out hi. avowed .tood on th. stub, for Mr. James Walton.
. kuui juo.i.-uii. jo nui i-ui.io ueiaciit. - - intention or a-olna- back to tna Keaiton to ivh.n ik. n..n.n..-. i.. ... ...
..... . .f V. , , .... . i . . ,. -- -- -- - - - ' ..... . uuoli iuiiu.1 u. Air.
see what had become of that bag. A cigar Maynard was repeated lo the head porter.
would have pleased Hartley better than Johnson had carefully noted the time
to know he had seen th. last of Johnson; ot the cab s arrival at th. hotel, as given
but that astut. Individual waa not at all hlm by th. head porter. He found that it
anxious to lose sight of Hartley. t agreed exactly with th. time of the call
wnen tney naa panea at tneir last in- that was afterward canceled, but still
lllAI'iKH XIII.
to run over to the Downtown club for
luncheon. While thure he took occasion to
aak one of his friends, Judge Wlndom,
whom he knew to be familiar with such
matters, how a pciaon could get a few
minutes' chat wlih a central office detec
tive. "You know," he added hastily, seeing
the curious look on hla friend s fait, "we
have missed some luiHrtunt paperx fiom
the office lately, und 1 thought tf I could
Just have a little advice from one of those
fellows, on the quiet, you understand not
a wold about this to any one. if yuu
please why, lt might be useful."
"Nothing simpler, my dear fellow. Ill
Juat call up a friend of mine at Mullx-rry
street and tell hlm you would liks to
see an officer. Where shall 1 aay?"
message came from they did not know, and
tho driver hud not returned. The poll, e
lost no time In going to th. cabby's home;
but he had not been seen since the night
before.
I Hartley passed half an hour reading over
the details and looking at the pictures
of the dock, and the dredges, and the
stable, and the house where the cabman
lived. Then he began to feel restless, and,
ss theie was no sign of the doctor or May
nard, he drove to the theater and saw the
Uat acts of the latest play. Then he went
home.
Hartley was quite taken aback by his on the track of a thief, or one who he knew 8t oni'"- because you never know who Is
ulyl at a m U rT aw V a Ihat-a a 1 . 1 iV IsunU IV t 1 1 1 rt turn out . i l.a a f aa-u m . a at n.nrilllis. a k m ICIlrUlluIlG. M. mr. 1 1 L 11 1 1 II M. . . ....
;::.r ---1---: not. immediately. .! b.m .., v.. 10 tne neaa por,er ana a .ca,uai ia, withoi't " prt.r m. slightest
..1.1 i..u ii.kii. ........ iu ...ve . ucicunc iu w.i. 11 .. - - . . - - - - atj0ut nothins in particular ea to the imi thn n iruih.in.n....'. i. .i ..... .
.. .... . .., . ,.. ins mouth shut " - " " ""i'oa
proposition to r.ve another look at Mr. that it was pretty close lo the appearance,
James Walton a room. That was on Friday of the man thut got out of the cab whea
morning. it at rived at the hotel that niiUit.
The room was empty. Having fully satisfied hliiielf tlitu both
Johnson was worried. The porter assured Maynard and Walton had completely cUs-
l.l.n .1... 1 . 1. .1 .... V, . . 1. t.L.H , . , ... .
......... . a .u. - a ........ w. .....,.. k... ...k ....... nard that waa killed In th. e.h Tk. .P. " "T - 'vvwra on tne aume nignt ana at about
'"'u .... ...u .ou..u n,.u.u .u..ow uo.u.roi. . .cwwiy ".. , . ,hat roum on ' " trom ,h8 "k'e' but the sam. time, Johnaon made up his mind
....,!.ri.."".:r;"e r"?::" :.ha ,.. ; .7k : ut8d .,hat a.ue"t miht tak r, to ,h. ..at. u ,. ,
uuuuitj iirnunura ut v tau iiiuiuiti tacc. snuu.ii. it tuiiui lubi h fitriij j'triuiji , I uu- - ......
He glanced down the column carelessly. ably, and Would perhaps expose him to lf 11 w're not Ior ,he pocketbook I should
Well, my dear fellow, I don't see any- blackmail for the rel of his llfo. Hut he be I11IB" to bet that Fletcher did not
ming in tins mat interests me particularly, coum noi neip mat now. ne was In a hole. -"" between 4 and In tha morning, unless il0 hud nothlnu to lose
. . . . , .l- ,, ..... ... ,. ..... .... tha n.u.hjn.r ar-nmint. . .... ....f , , 1 1 . . llu H". K .o lunc
. re.t ii an in me liioruuiK paper. hii-i ne anew ll. lie would Iiae glen .m'.u,,..
"That wasn't in the morning paper," Jj'.'.Oho twice over that minute If he had ,nrt whui I. aa a doctor, cannot for the
'Sit down, my dear fellow," he aald re- a man who. it turned out, was deliberately nls moutn shut
aseurlngly. "You seem to be all worked planning u cold-blooded murder, was "He's going to Kurope tliia afternoon."
up about something. What's the matter?" something else. The nasty par. of it was "ll does not matter where he goes. We
"Matter? Hcud that." whs all Douglas that he, Hartley, would appear to have ar" BolnK to stay here. At least I am. We
could bay, jabbing his finger Into the paper known the very hour, almost, that the m"t remember that the police have not
again. crime waa to be committed. 561 established tne lact that it was May
lev danced at the naner and found Ha would hve to atoD Johnson's activity
also
nana-uaggage down ana put it in the check- correct, he was fulrly on the wy to make
room. A careful search of the checkroom a name for himself as the greatest de-
. uu.u .,. ..c u..ur,...cii until aoinc nine IclHe m rew 1 urK- If lie Here wrong.
gasped Douglas, pointing a shaking finger never seen Johnson.
tHAl'TUH XV.
at one ot the pictures.
"1 see they found an arm and a hand,
with a ring on one finger. I read that be
fore. What s the matter with you, Ioug
laa?" 'yes! A ring! Iok at It: There's a plc-
llls meditations were interrupted by M
lirUle, who put hia head in the door asaln
life of me understand Is why a murderer
should stop to cut up a body In a cab.
with the thermomenter below freezing, in-
"Man to see you, si,. Says confidential Mea'' "f '"rowing the whole thing Into the
The next morning Hartley was at his ture of the ring. Can't you see It?"
office at 10 o dock sharp. On his aay "Why, of course 1 see It. What of It?
Perhaps it would be better to meet him downtown he had looked over the morn- Bay, what s the matter with you?"
here, ay In half an hour."
Luslness. Henl here by Juilne Wlndom. "
"I don't uanl him now. ciid him away.
No! Btop a minute. Vis. Send him in.
What am 1 talking about?"
The man entered, closed the door behind
him quietly and walked up lo Ha, lie).
liver. To hack off the head would have
dtairoved the identity. I have had some
exptrbnee in amputations, and that. Job
on the .lock, If It was done on the dock.
Ing papers with a sort of idle curiosity, "iHin t you see the picture of that ring? mentioning his name. At the t-ame time he
The Judge called for the boy to bring and had seen that the latest development Don't you see the star-sl aped buslne.s. opened Ms coat, dl.-.iosing a detective's
Mm the telephone book, and while he ill the tab murder case was the finding and the snake's head at one side and the shield. Hartley had never sen one be-
was gone for It lemark.d lo Hartley: of fonic other part of the body; this time fish at the other? Don't you see Its May- foic. and did not know It from a fire
"You are rlnht to call on the rigular an arm and hand with the sum. evidence nurd's ring?" budge, but the count-cling cli t uniMuncca
police In all these things. Some people don't vt rough-and-ready surgery ln the Separa- For a moment Hartley felt a cold chill told him what it was.
like ths idea of it. and go to private de- tlon. run down his back. Douglas took off his "I am very sorry." he began, thinking of
tectlve agen.ie. As an experienced crtml- The theory of the police was that .he hat and wiped his forehead. In doing It the best way to get rid of his viator as
nal Judge, let me advu-a you never to have driver of tha cab was an accomplice, and he knocked off his glasses and broke smoothly as possible, "but we found It
anything to do with prlvte detective si:en- that the story of the horse's running away them. He picked up the pieces with un- was all a mistake. Something got filed
.es. ti.i to Mulberry street or linkerton s. a lie. pure and simple. All their efforts printable comments. Hartley looked up away wrong Important document you
1 her. are so msny skins and blackmail- bad been directed to tracing the driver, from the paper.
Johnson wanted to gel out a search-war- - hu difficulty would be to g I ih truth
rant, but for a slight consideration the from Mr. Hartley, if theie weie alo thing
head porter managed things so that Ihe important-, to conceal. He realized th;u.
det..-tlve could look over the bugs that had Knowing the psychology value of tomplel.
bten he. ked since Wednesday. Kurpiise, he determined thut he would not
Neither that search nor the one that look approach Mr. Hartley with any roundabout
place In the early houis of the morning questions ss lo whether he was acquainted
showed any tra. of the bag. Nevertheless, with Mr. Maynard or nol. bul would put
it was there, in devoting ills attention to a question to him that would be answered
must have taken an hour. Then I cannot lne Ardmore bag, Johnson had not oh- by ,, manner, truthfully, completely, and
see how a man In a tab could carry out M,'Ved another very ordinary bag whl h i unit.
such a piece of woik without the knowl- a8 ""der Walton s bed ut the time of Accordingly, next morning Hartley found
edge and assistance of Ihe cabman. There ,l,e detective's flisl visit to the room. The the detective pacing up and down the cor-
must have been an aci oin,,llce. Then an- ,,a lh,t I'bder rtie' bed was now In n.lor walling for hlm.
other thing is that Fletcher would surely ln checkroom, and the Aidmore bag was ' Hello, Johnson! Wheie lime you been
never have been so foolish as to return to Inside It Willi some of Mr. James Walton's B;i tis time? t ome i iiit in."
tlrtens to deliver an empty pocketbook ffects. '1 he wtnt in, and ll was Johnson that
lf he had Just committed a murder." Finding himself off the scent of the bag suggested their going Into the Inner und
"But there was blood on the pocketbook Itself, Johnson strolled round to th. hotel ,not prva'.. office. Having carefully slim,
when u gut It. you remember. You again lu the afternoon and tried to gather ati the doors behind hlm and having mad",
thought Fletcher had rut hla finger." some Information as to the movements 8ll,-e that they could rot be overheard, h
"Yes. I remember tha. very well, and 'f the bag's owner. No one had seen Mr. H.t down, laid his sloub h hat on the ti...
It has worried me quite a bit. Htill, I Vialton. Ihe head porter did not think and .iroked his bin
know. Thought Some one had Stolen ,.,. ihlnb h.. t-..,k.. knn.-ln. be hart left Ih. hotel aa a., a. la .li.i.
among th.se Utile fellows. They waica and, Strang U say. they found hlm la l confess 1 did not recognU. It as May- Uim. Aufully sorry to trouble jou." JU M UvUt tu, nuul a. i a,,, couia b Bttv.' up their keys, and. th. oltlca Uko,
(To lie 'Junllnued )
1 J '
