Newspaper Page Text
GRADY COUNTY PROGRSS-.-PACE 3
The Window
at the
While Cal
By MARY ROBERTS
' RINEHART
Copyright, 1910, by Bobbj-Mer-
rill Co.
A Glance Down the Staircase Revealed
Davidson.
drop’s fuse foil, and bo took the bag
from me despondently.
“If you don’t mind I’ll leave it here,”
he said. "They’ll be searching my
room. I suppose, and I’d like to have
the bag for future reference.”
I have no Idea how much later it was
‘ that I roused. I wakened suddenly
and snt up in bed. There had been a
crash of some kind, for the shock was
still vibrating along my nerves. 1 got
up and. lighting the cnndle. got into
my raincoat in lieu of a dressing gown
and prepared to investigate.
My door, which I had left open,* I
found closed. Nothing else was'dis
turbed. The leather bag sat just In
side as Wardrop had left it. Through
Miss Maitland’s transom were com
ing certain strangled and irregular
sounds, now falsetto, now deep bass,
that showed that worthy lady to bo
asleep. A glance down, the staircase
revealed Davidson.
"You didn’t happen to be up there
a little while ago, did you?” I ques
tioned.
“No. I’ve been kept busy trying to
hit tight where I am. Why?”
“Some one came into my room and
.wakened mo.” I explained.
"That’s funny," he said. "Anything
in the room disturbed ?”
“Nothing, but some one had been in
the room.” I reiterated. “The door
was closed, .although I hnd left it
open.”
“I’ve got only one business here. Mr.
Knox,” ho said in nn undertone, "and
you know whnt that Is. But if it will
relieve your mind I’ll tell you that it
was Mr. Wardrop and that to the best
of my belief he was in your room, not
once, but twice, in the last hour and a
half."
“What could he have wnnted?" I ex
claimed. But with his revelation La-
vidson’s .interest ceased.
“Senrch me.” he said and yawned.
I went back to bed. I deliberately
left the door wide open, but no Intru
sion occurred. Once I 1 got up and
glanced down the stairs. For all his
apparent drowsiness .Davidson heard
my cautious movements.
“Have you got any quinine?” ha.,
said. "I’m sneezing my head off.”
But I had'mine. I gave him a box
of cigarettes. I was roused by the
sun beating on,my face, to bear Miss
Letitin’s'tones from her room across.
' “Nonsense,” she was saying queru
lously. “Don't you suppose 1 can
smell? Do you think (because I'm a
little hard of hearing that I’ve lost ray
other senses? Somebody’s been smok
ing.”
“It’s me,” Heppie shouted. "I”—
“You?" Miss Lotltla s'nurled. "What
are you smoking for? That ain’t my
shirt; it’s my’’—
“I ain’t smokin'!" yelled Heppie.
•“You won’t let me tell you. I spnied
viuegar on the stove."
"Vinegar!” said Miss Lotltla. with
scorn. “Next thing you’ll be telling
me it’s .vinegar that Harry and Mr.,
Knox carry around in Tittle boxes In
their pockets. You’ve pinned my cap
to my scalp.” ,
1 hurried downstairs to find David-
sou gone. My blanket lay ncntly fold
ed on the lower step, and the horse
hair chairs wore ranged along the
wall us before. I looked around anx
iously for telltale ashes, but there
was none save at the edge of tho
spotless register, u trace.
CHAPTER IX.
Broahitjfj tho News. 4
ARDROP did not appear at
breakfast. Margery looked
tired and white.
I saw tho glaring head
lines of The morning paper, laid open
at Wardrop’8 pinto. Site must hnvc
followed 1 ;y eyes, for, we reached for
It simultaneously. She was nearer
thnn I. and her quick eye caught tho
name. Then I put my hand over tho
heading, and she flushed with Indig-,
nation.
“You are not to rend It ucw," I snhD
meeting her astonished, gaze. "Plonsq
lot me have it I promise you I will
give'It to you nlmost Immediately.”
“You are very rude,” she said with
out relinquishing the paper. “I saw
a part of that. It is about my fa
ther."
“Drink your coffee, please,” I plond-
cd. “I will let you read it then, on
my honor.”
“How can you bo so childish?" she
exclnlmed. “If there is anything In
that paper that It will hurt mo to
learn, is a cup of coffee going to make
It any easier?” •
I gave up then, and, feeling that
evasion would be useless, I told her
whnt hnd happened, breaking the
news ns gently as I could. I«said
that ho had been accidentally shot.
“Accidentally!” she repeated. The
first storm of grief over, she lifted her
bond from where it had rested on her
arms and looked at me, scorning my
subterfuge. “He was murdered. That’s
the word I didn’t have time to read.
Murdered! And you sat back and let
it hnppon. I went to you in time, and
you didn’t do anything. No ouo did
anything,"
I did not try to defend myself. How
could I? And nfterward when she sat
up and pushed back the damp strands
of hair from her eyes she was more
reasonable.
“I did not mean what I said about
your not having done anything.” she
said, almost childishly. “No one could
have done more. It was to happen,
that’s all.”
But even then I knew she had trou
ble in store that she did not suspev’t.
Whnt would she do when she heard
that Wardrop was under grave sus
picion? Between her dead father and
her lover, whnt?
I broke the. news of her brother-in-
law’s death to Miss Letitia.
“Shot!” she said, sitting up in bed
while Heppie shook her pillows. “It’s
a queer death for Allan Fleming. I
always said he would be hanged."
After thnt she apparently dismissed
him from her mind, and we talked of
her sister. She regretted that under
the circumstances Jane would not res):
in the family lot
“Wo are all there,” she said—“eleven
of us, counting my sister Mary’s hus
band, although - he don’t properly be
long, anil I always said wo would
take him out if we-were crowded. It
is the best lot in the Hopednle ceme
tery. You can see the shaft for two
miles in any direction.”
We held a family council that morn
ing around Miss Letltin’s bed—War-
drop. who took little part in the pro
ceedings and who stood at a window
looking out most of the time: Margery
on the bed. her arm around Miss I.eti-
tia’s shriveled peck, and Heppie. who
acted ns interpreter and shouted into'
the old indy’s, ear such parts of the
conversation us she considered essen
tial.
"I have talked with Miss Fleming,”
I said as clearly as l could, "and she
seems to shrink from seeing people.
The only fricuds she cares about are
II Europe, and she tells me there are
no other relatives."
Heppie condensed this into a vocal
capsule and thrust it into Miss Le-
titia's ear. The old ludy nodded.
“No other relatives,” she corroborat
ed. “God be praised for that any
how.”
“I was going to suggest,” I put in.
“that my brother's wife would be only
too glad to help, and if Miss Fleming
will go into town with me I am sure
Edith would know just what to do.
She isn’t curious, and she’s very capa
ble."
Margery threw me a grateful glnnce.
grateful, I think, that I could under
stand how, under the circumstances, a
Btrauger was more acceptable than cu
rious friends could be.
“Mr. Kriox’fc sister-in-law!" interrupt
ed Heppie.
“When you have to say the'letter
‘s' turn your head away,” Miss Lotltla
rebuked her. “Well, I don't object if
Knox’s sister-in-lnw don’t.” She hnd
nn uncanny way of expanding Hep-
pie’s tabloid speeches. “You can take
my white silk shawl to lay over the
body, but be sure to bring it back. Wo
may need it for Jane.”
If the old lady’s chin quivered a bit
while Mnrgery threw her arms around
her she was mightily ashamed of .it
But Heppie was made of weaker stuff.
She broke Into a sudden storm qf sobs
nud left the room to stick her hend in
the door a moment after.
"Kidneys or chops?” she shouted al
most belligerently.
"Kidneys," Miss Letitia replied in
kind. ,
Wardrop wont wi ll us to tho station
at noon, but he left us there with a
brief remnrk thnt ho would be up thnt
night. After 1 hnd put Mnrgery in n
seat I went back to have a word with
him alone. lie was standing beside
the train trying to light a cigarette,
but his hands shook almost' beyond
control, nud after the fourth inntch he
gave it up. My minute for speecli was
pone. As the train moved out I saw
him walking bnck along the platform,
paying tin attention to anything around
him. Also I hnd a fleeting glimpse of
u miyi loafing on u baggage truck, his
hat over his eyes.
I had arranged over the telephone
thnt Edith should meet tho train, nud
it was a relief to see that she and
Mnrgery took te each other at ouce.
We drove to the house immediately.
“Do you know that you have not
been to the ofllco for two days?" said
Edith to me. "And do you know that
Ilawes had hysterics in our front hall
last' night? You hnd a case in court
yesterday, didn’t you?"
“Nothing very much,” I said, looking
over her head. “Anyhow, I'm tired.
I don’t know when I’m going bnck. I
need n vacation."
"The biggest 'case you ever had.
Jack! Tho biggest retainer you ever
had”—
"I’ve spent that,” I protested feebly.
“A vacation, and you only back from
Pinehurst!” ;
“The girl was in trouble—is in trou
ble, Edith.’’ I burst out. “Any one
Would have done the same thing.”
“Of course it’s your own affair.’’ she
said, not looking at n.e. “and good
ness knows I’m disinterested about it.
You ruin tin* boys, both stomachs and
dispositions, and I could use your room
splendidly as a sewing room”—
“Edith! You abominable little llnr!”
She dabbed her eyes furiously with
her handkerchief and walked with
groat dignity to the door. Then she
came back and put her hand ou my
arm.
“Oh, Jack, if we could only have
saved you this!” she said, and a min
ute Inter, when I did not speak, “Who
is the man. dear?”
“A distant relative. Harry Wnrdrop.’’
I replied, with what I think was very
nearly my natural tone. “Don’t wor
ry. Edith. It’s all right. I’ve known
it right along.”
“Pooh!” Edith returned sagely. “So
do I know I've got to die and be bur
ied some day. Its being] inevitable
doesn’t make it any morp cheerful.”
She went out, but she.came back In n
moment and stuck her head through
the door.
“That’s the only inevitable thing
there is,” she said.
That Saturday afternoon at 4 o’clock
the body of Allan Fleming was brought
home and plnced In state In the music
room of the house.
Miss Jane Imd been missing since
Thursday night. I called Hunter by
telephone, and he bad nothing to re
port.
I had a tearful message from Ilawes
late thnt afternoon, and a little after
5 I went to the office. I found him
offering late editions of the evening
paper to a couple of clients-who were
edging toward the door. His expres
sion when be saw me was pure relief,
the clients’ relief strongly mixed with
irritation.'
I put the best face on the matter that
I could, saw my visitors and, left alone,
prepared to explain to I-Inwes whnt I
could hardly explain to myself.
“I’ve been unavoidably detained.
Hawes.” I said. “Miss Jane Maitland
has disappeared from her home.”
“So I understood you over the tele
phone." He had brought my mull and
stood by impassive.
“Also her brother-in-law is dead.”
“The papeis are full 6f It"
“There was no one to do anything,
Htowes. I was obliged to stay," I apol
ogized. I Was ostentatiously examin
ing my letters, and Hawes snid noth
ing. I looked up ut him sideways, ami
he looked down at me. Not a muscle'
of his face quivered save one eye.
which has a peculiar twitching of the
lid when he Is excited. It gave him a
sardonic appearance of winking. He
winked at me then.
“Don’t wait, Hawes,” I said guiltily,
and he took his hnt and went out. Ev
ery Hue of his back wns accusation.
The sng of his shoulders told me 1
had let my biggest case go by de
fault that day; the forwnrd tilt ofjjis-
head thnt I wns probably insane; the
very grip with which he seized the door
knob, his "Good night” from around
the door, that he knew there was a
woman at the bottom of it*all. As he
There are only two kinds of Au
tomobiles, Ford ar.d Can’t offords
Price $650 and S575 Delivered
Completely equipped. Logan
Auto Exchange, Thomasville, Ga.
tf.
"I hnvo been here six times since noon.”
closed the door behind him I put down
iny letters and dropped my face in my
hands. Hawes was right.
1 had not heard the door open.
”1 forgot to tell you that a goutlo-
mnu was here half a dozen times to
day to see you. He didn’t give uuy
uume.”
From around the door Hnwos’ ner
vous eye was winking wildly.
“You’re not sick, Mr. Knox?"
"Never felt better."
“I thought l heard”—
“I was singing,” I lied, looking him
straight iu the eye.
Ho hacked nervously to the door.
“1 have a little sherry In my office,
Mr. Knox—twenty-six years iu the
wood. If you”— 1
"For God’s .sake, Hawes, there’s'
nothing the mutter with mo!” I ex
claimed, and he went But I heard
him stand a perceptible time outside
the door before he tiptoed away.
Almost immediately after some one
entered the waiting room, and the next
nioulent I was facing a man I had
never seeu before. He wns tall, with
thin, colorless beard trimmed to a Van
dyke point and pale eyes, .blinking be
hind glasses. 1-Ie had a soft hat crush
ed in his hand, and his whole manner
wns one of subdued excitement.
“Mr, Knox?” he asked from the door
way. 1
“Yes. Come in.”
“I have been here six times since
110011,” he said, dropping rather thnu
sitting in a chair. “My name is Light-
foot. I am—was—Mr. Fleming’s cash
ier.”
“Yes?”
“I was terribly shocked at the news
of his death," he stumbled on. gelling
no help from me. “I was in town, hud
if 1 hnd known in time I could have
’kept some of the ’details out of the pa
pers. Poor Fleming—to think he would
end it that way!”
“End it?”
“Shoot himself." Ho watched me
closely.
“But he didn’t," I protested. “It wns
not suicide. Mr. Lightfoot. According
to the police it was murder.”
His cold eyes narrowed like a cat’s.
“Murder is au ugly word. Mr. ,Knox.
Don’t let us he sensntionnl. Mr. Flern-
iug had threatened to kill himself more
than once—nsk young Wardrop. He
was sick and despondent: be left his
home.without a word, which poiffts
strongly 10 .emotional ■ insanity. He
could have gone to any one of a half
dozen large clubs, here or ut the capi
tal. Instead, he goes to a little third
rate political club, where, presumably,
lie' does his own cooking aud hides Mu
a dingy room. Is that sane? Murder!
It was suicide, and that puppy War-
drop kuows it well enough.
"I have seen the police," he went on.
"They ugree with me thnt it was sui
cide, aud the party newspapers will
straighten it out tomorrow. The Titnes-
Post. which is Democratic, of course.
I can not handle."
“Suicide!" I said flnnily. “With no
weupon, no powder marks andiwitb a
half finished letter at his elbow.”
He brushed my interruption aside.
"Mr. Fleming had been—careless,”
he said. ' "I can tell you iu confidence
that some of the state funds had been
deposited In the Borough bank of Man
chester, and—the Borough bnnk closed
its doors at 10 o’clock today.
"I arrived here last night, and I
senrctied the city for Mr. Fleming.
This morning I heard the news. I
have just come from the house; his
daughter referred me to you. After
all. wtmt I want is a small matter.
Some papers—state documents—are
missing nnd no doubt are among Mr.
Fleming’s private effects. I would like
Ford Automobiles cost less to
run than a Horse and Bugtry.
Five Passenger Touring Car $650
Delivered.
Logan Auto Exchange Thomas-
ville, Ga. tf.
to go through his papers aud leave to-
uight for the capital.”
"I have hurdly tho authority," I re
plied doubtfully. "Miss Fleming, I
suppose, would have no objection. Ills
prlvuto secretary, Wardrop, would bo
the one to superintend such n senrch.”
“Can you find Wurdrop—at once?" •
Something in his eagerness put me
bu my guard.
“I will make an attempt," I mild.
“Lot mo hnvo I ho imrno of your hotel,
nnd 1 will telephone you- if it cun be
arranged for tonight.”
Oddly enough, I could not locate
Wurdrop. I got tho Maitland house
by telephone, to learn that he had left
there about 3 o’clock und had not come
bnck.
I went to tho Fleming house for din
ner. Edith still was there, and we-
tried to cheer Mnrgery, a sud little fig
ure In her binds clothes. After ibe
meal 1 called Lightfoot at his ho(,el and
told him that 1 could not Hud‘Wardrop,
that there were 110 papers at the house
and Unit the office sufo would have to
wait until Wardrop was fouud to open
it. He was disappointed and fiirlous.
From that minute in the struggle that
wns coming, like Fred, 1 was "for-
ulnst" tlie government.
It was arranged that Edith should
take Margery home with her for the
ulglit. I thought It n good idea. The
very sight of Edith tucking iu her bu
llies aud sittiug dowu beside the libra
ry lamp to embroider me a senrfpiu
holder would bring Margery buck to
uormul again, • Edith is the snucst wo-
man I know. I recognized it at the
dinner table, whore she hud the little
girl across from her planning her
mourning hats before the dinner was
half finished.
v Wlien we rose at last Margery looked
toward the music room, wltere tho
dead man lay in state. But Edith tools
tier by the arm aud pushed her towurd
the stairs.
“Get your hnt on right nwny while
Jack culls a cab," she directed. “I
must get home or Fred will keep tlie'
boys up until 0 o’clock. He is abso
lutely without principle.”
CHAPTER X.
A Night In the Floming Home.
W HEN Margery came down
there was a little red spot
burning in each pale cheek,
and she ran down the stairs
like n scared child. At the bottom sho
clutched the newel post aud looked
behind fearfully.
"What’s tho matter?” Edith demand
ed, glancing uneasily over her shoul
der.
“Some one has been upstairs." Mnr
gery panted. "Somebody has boeu
staying In the house while wo were
away.”
At the door of a small room next to
whnt hnd been Allan Fleming’s bed
room we paused. It was filled with
feminine kulckkimcks nnd mnbognny
lounging chairs. Wherever possible a
pale brocade had been used, ou the
empire couch. In panels In the wall,
covering cushions on the window sent.
It was evidently Margery’s private
sittiug room.
The linen cover that had been
thrown .over the divan was folded
hack, and a pillow from the window
seat bore the impriut of a head. Mar
gery hnd been right. Some one had
used the room while, tho house was
closed.'
"Might It not have been your fa
ther?" Edith asked when wo stood
again at the foot of the stairs.
. “I don’t think so,” Margery snid
wanly.
I put tljeui In a 'cab nnd saw them
start away. Then I went bnck into
tlie, house, as I had arranged to sleep
there and generally to look after
things. Whatever scruples I hnd had
about tnkiug charge of Margery Flem
ing nnd her affairs had faded with
Wnrdrop's defection and the. new
mystery of the blue boudoir.
The lower floor of the house was
full of people that night, local and
stnte politicians, newspnper men aud
the usual crowd of the morbidly cu
rious. Whatever panoply tho death
scene had lacked. Allan Fleming was
lying In stnte now.
At midnight things grew quiet. I
found Bella in the basement kitchen
with all the lights burning full.yand 1
stood at the foot of the stairs while
She scooted to bed like a scarpd rabbit.
She was a strange creature, Bella—not
so stupid us she looked, but sullen, mo-
rosq—"smouldering” about expresses
it.
A guest room iu the third story had
been assigned to • me. The telephone
hell rang just after I got into bed.
“This is the Times-Post. Is Mr. War-
drop there?”
“No.”
"Who is this?"
"This is .lohu Knox.” .
"The attorney ?”
• “Yes.”
“M.r. Knox, are you willing to put
yourself on .record that Mr. Fleming
committed suicide?”
“1 am not going to put myself on rec
ord at all.”
“Too'ight’s Star says you call It sui
cide and that you found him with tho
revolver iu uis baud.",
i (To Be (Continued)