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GRADY COUNTY PROGRSS---PACE 3
The Window
at the
i White Gat
By MARY ROBERTS
RINEHART
Copyright, 1910, by Bobbi-Mer-
rill Co.
11 I i
<Q.J..«.>|h|n(.
| Wnrdrop appeared. Hu mu down
the pointed wooden stub's und hurried
through the room without looking tc
right or left. The piano kept oh nnd
the men ut the tables were still en
grossed with their glasses und one an
other. Wnrdrop was very pnle. He
bolted Into a man nt the door nnd
pushed him aside without ceremony.
j “You might go up now," Hunter said,
rising. "I will see where the young
>Ho Had Been Shot Through tho-Fore-
I head.
gentleman Is making for. Just open
the door of the different rooms up
stairs, look around for Fleming, and
if any one notices you ask If A1 Hun
ter Is there. That will let you out"
The third door I opened was that of
a dingy bathroom. The next, however,
was different. The light streamed out
through the transom as in the other
rooms, but there was no noise from
■within. With my hand on the door, 1
hesitated, then X opened It nnd looked
in. . •
A breath of cool night air from an
open window met mo. There was no
noise, no smoke, no sour odor of stale
beer.' A table had been drawn to the
•center of the small room nnd was lit
tered with papers, pen nnd ink. At
one corner was a tray containing the
remnants of a meal, a pillow and a
pair of blankets on a couch at one
side showed the room had been serving
as a bedchamber.
At the table, leaning forward, his
bend on Ills arms! was a man. i cough
ed and. receiving no nnswer. stepped
into the room.
“I bog your pardon.'• I said, “but I
•sim looking for”—
1 Then the truth burst on me, over
rwhelmed me. A thin stream was
spreading over the papers on the table,
moving slowjy, sluggishly, as is the
way with blood when the heart pump
is stopped. I hurried over and raised
the heavy, wobbling, gray head. It
was Allan Fleming, nnd he had been
shot through the forehead,
.My first impulse was to rouse the
house, my second to watt for Huuter.
To turn loose that mob of balf drunken
j:ien in such a place seemed profana
tion. Fleming bad been our key to the
r.ullwood affair, and bo had put him-
self beyond helping to solve any mys-
terja, I locki i the door and stout! won
dering what to do next. I had seen
enough of death to know thutl.-u ipan
was beyond aid of any kind.
It was not until I had bolted the
door that 1 discovered' the absence of
stay weapon. Everything that Had
gone before bad pointed to a position
so untenable that suicide seemed its
natural und Inevitable result. With
tlie discovery 'that there was no revolv
er on the table or Uoor the thing was
mere ominous. I decided nt once to
call the young city .physician in the
room ncross the hall and. with some
thing approximating panic, 1 tbre-.v
open the door—to face Hurry Warillop
and, behind him. Hunter.
I do not remember that any one
spoke. Hunter jumped past me into
the i*tu,.*
glnm'c what i ami labored to ucipn
In three minutes. As Wardrop earn
In Hunter melted the door behind
him and we three ritoml staring ui
the prostrate Hgure over the-table.
1 watched Wnrdrop. I have novel
seen so suddenly abject a picture
Ever.t particle of color left Ills face
nnd he was limp, unnerved.
"Did you hear the shot?" Hunter
asked ie. "It hns been a matter ol
minutes since It happened.”
"1 don t know." I said, bewildered.
“1 heard a lot of explosions, hut 1
thought jr was an automobile out In
the street "
Hunter was listening while he ex
ninlned the room, peering under the
table, lifting the blankets that had
trailed off tie couch on to the floor.
Some one outside tried the doorknob
nnd. finding the door locked, shook It
slightly.
"Fleming!" he 'called , under his
brenth, "Fleming!"
We were silent In response to a slg
nnl from Hunter, nnd the steps re
trented heavily down the hall. The
detective sprend the blankets deceutl.v
over the couch, nnd the three of us
moved the liody there. Wardrop was
nlmW collapsing.
"Now," Hunter said quietly, "what
do you know about this thing, Mr.
Wardrop?"
Wnrdrop looked dazed.
"He was in u had way when I loft
this morning," he said huskily. "There
Isn’t much use now trying to hide
anything. God knows I’ve done all 1
could. But he hns been using cocaine
for years, and today be ran out of the
stuff. When I got here about balf an
hour ago he was on the verge of kill-
lug himself. I got the revolver from
him. He. was like a crazy man, and
ns soon as I dared to leave him 1
went out 1o try to And a doctor”—
“To get some cocaine?"
"Yes."
“Not because ho was already wound
ed nnd you were afraid it was fatal?"
“What’s the use of lying about It?"
snld Wnrdrop wearily. "You won’t
believe me if 1 tell the truth, cither,
but he wns dead when I got here. 1
heard something like the bang of a
door us I went upstairs, but the uolse
was terrific down below, and 1
couldn’t tell. When I went in lie was
just dropping forward. and’’— He
hesitated.
“The revolver?" Hunter queried,
lynx eyed.
“Was in bis hand. He was dead
then.”
“Where is the revolver?”
“I will turn it oyer to the coroner.”
“You will give it to me.” Huntpr
replied sharply. And after a little
fumbling Wardrop produced it from
his hip pocket It was an ordinary
thirty-eight. The detective opened it
Two chambers were empty.
"And you waited, say, ten minutes
before you called for help, and even
then you went outside bunting a doe-
.tor. What, were you doing in those
ten minutes?"
Wardrop shut his lips and refused
to reply.
“If Mr. Fleming shot himself,” the
detective pursued relentlessly, “there
would be powder marks around the
wound. Then, too, he was in the act
of writing a letter. It was a strange
impulse, this. You see, he had only
written a dozen words.”
I glnneed it the paper on the table.
The letter had no superscription. It
began abruptly:
I shall have to leave here. The numbers
havo followed me. Tonight—
That was all.
"This is not suicide.” Hunter said
gravely. “It is murder, and i wurn
you, Mr. Wurdrop. to be careful what
you say. Will -you ask Dr. Gray to
come In, Mr. Knox?”
1 went across the hall to the room
where the noise was loudest. Dr. Gray
was opening a can of caviar ut a ta
ble in the corner and came out in re
sponse to a gesture.
"Fleming!" be snid, awed, as lie
looked down at the body. “Fleming
by all that’s sacred—and a suicide!"
“How long bas he been dead?" Hun
ter asked.
“Not an hour—probably less than
half. It’s strange we beard nothing
ncross the hall there.”
Hunter took a clean folded handker
chief from bis pocket and, opening It
laid it gently over the dead face. Tin
doctor got up ( from his kneeling pos
ture beside the couch and looked nt
■Hnnter inquiringly.
"What about getting him away from
hero?" he said. “There is sure to be
a lot of noise about it. nnd you remem
her what happened when Butler killed
himself here.”
"Ho was reported ns being found
fiend in the lumber yard,” Hunter sail,
firyly. "Well, doctor, this body stays
where it is, and I don’t give a whoop
if the whole city government.wants It
moved. It won’t be. This is murder,
not suicide.”
The doctor’s expression wns curious.
“Murder!" lip repented. “Why-
Wh0”r-
But Hunter had many things to nt
lend to. He broke in ruthlessly:
“See if you can get the house empty
doctor. Just tell them he is dead. The
story will get out soon enough."
The window gave me an idea, nnd 1
went over nnd_ tried to see through the
dreaming pane. There was no shed or
ow.building outRldu, but not Hvo yards
iway the warehouse showed its ugly
..vails nnd broken windows.
“Dock here. Hunter," I said, "why
ouid he uot have been shot from the
vnrehouse?"
"He could bnve been, but ho wasn’t,"
Hunter affirmed, glancing nt War-
lrop’s drooping figure. “Mr. Wnrdrop.
I am going to send for the coroner und
rhon I shall ask you to go with me to
the office and tell the chief what you
know uhout this. Knox, will you tele
phone to the coroner?"
In nn Incredibly short time the club
house wns emptied, nnd before mid
night the coroner arrived nnd went up
lo the room. I sat in the deserted room
downstairs and tried to think how 1
wns to take lie news to Margery.
At 12:30 Wnrdrop. Hunter nnd the
coroner came downstairs, leaving a de
tective in charge of the body until
morning, when It could be taken home.
The coroner had a cab waiting, nnd he
look ns at once to Hunter’s chief. He
had not gone to bed. nnd wo tiled into
ills library sepulehrally.
Wurdrop told his story. The chief
occasionally asked a question. Thr
coroner, who was yawning steadily,
left in the middle of Wnrdrop’s story
ns If in his mind, at least, the guilty
man was as good as hanged.
CHAPTER VIII.
Only One Eye Closed.
“*j|* AM—I was—Allan Fleming’s pri-
|j ' vate secretary," Wnrdrop be
gau. "I secured the position
through a relationship on his
wife's side. I have held the position
for three years. Before that I read
law. For some time I have known
that Mr. Fleming used a drug of some
kind. Until a week ago I did not know
what it wns. On the Oth of May Mr.
Fleming sent for me. I was In Platts-
burg nt the time, and he wns at home.
He wns in a terrible condition—not
sleeping at all—and he said he was
being followed by some person who
meant to kilt him. Finally he nsked
me to get him some cocaine, and when
he had taken It he was more like him
self. i thought the pursuit was only
in his own head. He hnd a man nam
ed Carter on guard in bis house aud
acting ns butler.
“There was trouble of some sort in
the organization; 1 do not know just
wlmt Mr. Schwartz came here to
meet Mr. Fleming, and it seemed there
was money needed. Mr. Fleming hnd
to have it nt once. He gave me some
securities to take to Plattsburg and
turn into money. I went on the 10th”—
"Was that the day Mr. Fleming dis
appeared?” the chief interrupted.
"Yes. He went to the White Cat
nnd stayed there. No one but the
caretaker nnd one other man knew he
was there. On the night of the 21st
I came back, bnving turned my se
curities Into money. 1 carried it In a
package in n small Itussla leather
bag that .never left my hand for a
moment. Mr. Knox here suggested
that 1 had put it down and It had
been^exchanged for one just like it.
but I did uot let It out of my hand on
that journey until 1 put It down od
the porch at the Bellwood house
while I tried to get In. 1 live at Bull-
wood with the Misses Maitland, sis
ters of Mr. Fleming’s deceased wife.
I don't pretend to know how It hap
pened. but while 1 was trying to get
Into the bouse It was rifled. Mr.
Knox will hear me out in that, i
found my grip empty.”
I affirmed It In a word.
“What was In tbo bug?” the cblet
asked.
Waldrop tried to remember.
“A pair of pajamas." be said, "two
military brushes aud a clothesbrush.
two or three soft bosomed shirts, per-
bnps a half dozen collars und a suitot
underwear.”
“Aud all this was taken, ns well as
the money?"
"The bag’ was empty, except for my
railroad schedule.”
"Go . on, If you •please;” the detec
tive said cheerfully.
] think rWardrop realized the ab
surdity of trying to make any one be
lieve that pnrt of the story. He threw
up his head, as if he intended to say
nothing further.
“Go on.” 1 urged. If he could clear
himself he must. I could not go back
to Margery Fleming nnd tell her that
her father hnd been murdered and bet
lover wns accused of the crime.
“The bag was empty." he repeated
"I had uot been five minutes trying to
open the shutters, and yet the bag bad
been rifled. Mr. Knox hero found ii
among tbo flowers below tbo veranda
empty."
The chief eyed me with awakened
Intc-ost.
"You also live at Bellwood. Mr
Knox?"
"No; I am attorney to Miss Letltii
Maitland and was there one night a;
her guest. I found the bag as Mr
Wardrop described, empty.”
The chief turned back to Wardrop.
“How much money, wns there In it
when you—left It?”
“A hundred thousand dollars. I was
afraid to tell Mr. Fleming, but I bar;
o do it. We had a stormy scene thlr
nornlng. 1 think he thought the natu
■nl thing—that I had taken it.”
"He struck you, I believe, und knock
,-d vnu iinn-a v asked Hunter smoothly
\lurdrop nusueu.
"Ho wns uot himself, nnd—well, it
meant n grent deal to hint. And he
wus out of cocaine, i left him rnglng,
and when 1 went home 1 learned that
Miss Jane Maitland Imd disappeared,
been abducted, at the time my satchel
Imd been emptied! It’s no wonder 1
vuesttoh my sanity."
“And then—tonight?" the chief per
sisted.
"Tonight I felt that some one would
have to look after Mr. Fleming. I was
afraid lie would kill himself. It wns a
had time to leave whllo Miss Jane was
“What was in the bag?” the chief asked.
missing. But when 1 got to the White
Cat I found him dead. 1-Ie was sitting
with his back to the 'door and his head
on the table.”
"Was the revolver In Ills hand?”
"Yes."
“You are sure?” from Hunter. "Isn’t
it a fact. Mr. Wardrop, that you took
Mr. Fleming’s revolver from him this
morning when he threatened you with
it?’’
Wnrdrop’s face twitched nervously.
“You hnve been misinformed." he re
plied, but no one was'impressed by his
tone. It was wavering, uncertain.
From Hunter’s face 1 judged it had
been a random shot and bud landed
unexpectedly well.
"How many people knew that Mr.
Fleming had been hiding at the White
Cat?" from the chief.
“Very few—besides myself, only a
man who looks after the clubhouse in
the mornings and Clarkson, the cash
ier of the Borough bank, who met him
there once by appointment."
The chief made no comment
"Now, Mr. Knox, you heard no shot
while you were in the hall?"
"There was considerable noise. 1
heard two or three sharp reports like
the explosions, of nn automobile en
gine.”
"You are right about the automo
bile,” Hunter snid. “Tbo mnyor sent
Ills car away as I left to follow Mr
Wardrop. The sounds you heard were
not shots."
"It is a strange thing." the chief re
flected. "that a revolver could be tired
in the upper room of an ordinary
dwelling house, while that house was
filled with people, and nobody bear It.
Were there any 'powder marks on tbe
body?"
“None." Hunter said.
The chief got up stiffly.
“Thank you very much, gentlemen.
Hunter, i would like to see you for a
few minutes."
I think Wnrdrop was dnzed at find
ing himself free. As wo walked to the
corper for a ear or cab. whichever ma
terialized first, he looked back.
"1 thought so.” lie fjaid bitterly. A
man was loitering after us along tbe
street. The police were not asleep;
they had closed only one eye.
The last train had gone. We took
a night electric cur to Wynton and
walked the three miles to Bellwood
Neither of us was talkative, and 1
imagine we were both thinking of
Margery and the news she would have
;o hear.
it had been raining, nnd once War
drop turned around to where we could
uear the detective splashing nlong
The detective was well behind, but aft
er awhile Wardrop stood still, while I
plowed nlong. They came up together
presently, nnd the three of us trudged
on, talking of immaterial things.
At the door Wnrdrop turned to the
detective with a, faint smile. “It’s
raining again.” he said. "You’d bet-
er come in. You needn’t worry about
me. I’m not going to run away, and
there’s a couch in the library.”
The defective grinned, n-d in the
light from the ball I recognized the
man I had followed to the police sta
tion two nights before.
“I guess I will," he snid. looking
apologetically at bis muddy clothes
‘This thing is only n matter of form,
anyhow.”
But he didn’t lie down on the cou:h
.
no looit a cuuir in ini- mm near m.
foot of the stairs, and we loft hltr
thoro with the evening paper and a
lamp.
Wardrop looked so wretched tbnt i
asked him Into my room nnd mixed
him some whisky nnd water. When
1 Imd g'lvcn him a cigar he begun to
look a little less hopeless.
"Yon’ve been n darned sight bqtter
to me timn I would hnve been to yon
under the circumstances," be said
gratefully.
"1 thought we would bettqr arrange
about Miss Margery ijofore wo try
to settle down," I replied. "Will you
tell her uhout her father?”
“I believe it would come better from
you," lie paid finally. "1 am in the
peculiar position of having been sus
pected by hoP father of robbing him.
by yoq of carrying away her aunt and
now by -the police and everybody else
of murdering her father';"
"I do not suspect you of anything,"
I justified myself.' “I don't think yon
are entirely open, that Is all, Wardrop
1 think you are damaging yourself to
shield some one else."
Ills expressive face wns on its guard
tn a moment. He ceased his restless
pacing, pausing Impressively before
me.
“I give you my word as n gentle
man I do uot know who killed Mr.
Fleming and that when 1 first saw
him -dead tny only thought wns that
he had killed himself. He hnd threat
ened to that dny. Why, if you think I
killed him you would have to think 1
robbed him, too. In order to And a mo
tive."
1 did not tell him that thnt was pre
cisely what Hunter did think. I evad
ed the issue.
“Mr. Wnrdrop. did you ever benr of
the figures eleven twenty-two? You
never heard Mr. Fleming use them?”
lie looked puzzled.
“Probably." ho said. “In the very
nature of Mr. Fleming’s position, we
used figures all the time. Eleveu twen
ty-two. That’s the time the theater
train leaves the city for Bellwood. Not
what you want, eh?"
“Not quite,” I answered noncommit
tally nnd began to wind my watch.
He took the hint nnd prepared to leave.
He opened the door and stared rue
fully down nt the detective in the hull
below. “The old place is queer with
out Miss Jane," he said irrelevantly.
“Well, good night, nnd thanks."
He went benvlly nlong the hall, nnd
I closed my door. 1 heard him pass
Margery’s room and then go back nnd
rap lightly.
“It’s Harry." he called. “I thought
you wouldn’t worry if you knew 1 wus
In the house tonight."
Site asked him something, for—
“Yes. he is here.” he Bnid. He stood
there for a moment, hesitating over
something, but whatever it was, ho
decided against it
"Good night, dear," be said gently
nnd went nway.
The little familiarity made me wince.
Every unattached man hns the same
pang now nnd then. I have It some
times when Edith sits on the arm, of
Fred's chair, or one of the youngsters
leaves me to run to “daddy.” Aud
one of the sanest men 1 ever met went-
to his office nnd proposed to Ills sten
ographer In sheer craving for domes
ticity. after- watching the wife of one
of ills friends run her hnud over her
husband’s chin and give him n reprov
ing slap for not having shaved.’ ■ •
I was ready for bed wlidn Wardrop
rapped at my door. He was still dress
ed and had the leather bag.
"Look here," be said excitedly when
l had closed the door, “this is not my
br”: at all. I never examined It care
fully."
-tie held it out to me. nnd I carried
It to the light. It wns an ordinary
eighteen inch Itussla leather -travelin;
bag. tan in color nnd with gold plated
mountings. It wns empty save for th:
railroad schedule that still rested in
one side pocket. .
"Don’t you see?" be asked excitedly.
“Whoever stole my hag had this one to
substitute for It. If we can succeed in
tracing the bag here to the shop it
came from nnd from there to the pur
chaser wo have the thief.”
(To Be Continued)
SERIOUS SHOOTING
IN ATLANTA SUNDAY
A lanta, Mi rch.30-j,W. Graham
and his wife, formerly of Hunts
ville, Ala., were shot early to-day
oy D. E. Guerrant in an alterca
tion which is said to have been
caused by a disagreement ovei’
. the payment of rent for an apart--
ment which the two families oc
cupied jointly.
viranam and his wife both are
in a local hospital. The former
is seriously wounded. Guerrant
and’his wife, who witnessed the
shooting, wire arrested. Mrs.
Guerrant later was released but
her husband js held pending the
outcome of Graham’s wounds.
Graham and his wife are said
to be members of wealthy Ala
bama families.