Adventure, December 3, 1920 — page 144: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

134 grand kettle plot for a detective story! Only things don’t always work out that way in real life. If I’m right, the gentleman will be out of the house by now.” I turned, leaving the lights going, and went Out into the hall. Sure enough, I felt a breath of cold salt air the first thing. A window had been opened since I stepped into that room. I knew what window was open, instantly. ° Often enough I had used it myself, when I had wanted te ship out of the house unheard, as a boy. Without hesitation I went to the adjoin- ing room, turned on the light and found the window open. Directly under this window was the roof of the back porch with an easy descent to the ground. Not being a fool, I did not go near the wimdow but turned off the light again and halted in the hall. “The gentleman is gone,” I reflected, cursing my own thick-headed folly in having missed him. “It looks to me as if my one best bet were to call in Kilgore and his friends. This seems to be more of their funeral than mine.” At this moment the front door-bell rang, shrilling through the house with a suddenness that startled me. The police—already? Impossible. Death had been gone only a few moments at best; he could not have set them on my trail yet, even if my conjectures as to his course of action were correct. Perhaps the fellow had the effrontery to slide out the back window, then come around to the front door and—but no; he had a pass- key. This, more likely, was a visit from some other lodger who had forgotten some effects. I went down the stairs, prepared for any- The front doors were heavily curtained, so that not until I had opened them did I see who was outside. Then, with an exclamation of relief, I greeted Kilgore and McAuliffe. With them was a third—a dark man, bearded, his face proud and keen. I knew who this was even before Kilgore’s introduction. “Mr. Day, I’d like to introduce my friend Sir Fandi Smgh—a Rajput.” “Delighted,”’ I said, meeting a firm hand- ip. “But come inside; don’t stand out here! Fou met no one?” ’ Kilgore’s brows lifted. “No. Why?” “The devil to pay and no pitch hot!” I slammed the front door. “I was just deciding to run over and see you gentlemen. What fetched you if I may ask?” “We had decided to give you a little more information,” and Kilgore smiled. “Aye,” said Mac heartily. ‘We liked the hook o’ your neb, Mr. Day. And when Sir Fandi said aye to it, we came along.” “Well, you came at the right moment,” J responded. “There’s been——” The shrill whang of a bell cut me short. The telephone stood by us in this lower hall and I Adventure moved toward it with a premonition of the message. “Excuse me, gentlemen.” “Park 1199?” asked a voice. Ves.” “Police headquarters speaking, Ingleside sta- tion. Anything wrong there?’’ “Nothing wrong here,” I responded. “Why?” “We just had a message that there had been a murder out your way. Know anything about it?’ “Murder? Day speaking. of my friends for a couple of hours, sent any message from here.” The sergeant swore slightly. “We had a ’phone half a minute ago. It sounded fishy = “Ah!” I exclaimed. “I threw out a couple of bum lodgers here today. I expect one of them is trying to make a little trouble. But send out a man, sergeant, if you like, and take a look around.” ‘We've no men to spare on no-name informa- tion like this,” snapped the sergeant. ‘‘Sorry we troubled you, Mr. Day. Good night.” Hanging up, I looked around to see all three visitors looking fixedly at me. - “Well,” I said cheerfully, “somebody has to get his hands dirty tonight, that’s sure. Regular old nickel-novel stuff, too. One goes ahead with the spade, two come along with the corpse, and the fourth acts as covering and protecting convoy.” The Rajput’s white teeth flashed. “T gather,” he observed, “that you have had some excitement over here?” “Not me,” I answered, and chuckled. ‘“‘Some- body else had the excitement. He got your friend Death’s knife in the back of his neck, and he’s up-stairs now. I figured that Death would make this kind of a play, so when the police called up——’” Kilgore’s blue eyes flashed. “We'll get on, Day, we'll get on!” he said, and clapped me on the shoulder. “Then let’s move up-stairs,” I said. “We can’t take chances on that desk sergeant, and we want no police in this business, I fancy.” “Right,” said Kilgore, cool as a cucumber. “So it’s murder, eh? A stranger?” “T haven’t inspected him” was my response. “Maybe you’ll know him, though.” They followed me in silence. IV Certainly not. This is Mr. I’ve been:here with # three No one fg CHE four of us stood in my room, with aE lights on and blinds down, and surveyed wal things. McAuliffe looked calm enough, but blazed with excitement under the surface. Sir Fandi Singh sat down on the bed and lighted a cigaret, saying nothing but watching us | EOLMIGE MOO KS (E@)