The Argosy, Christmas 1912 — page 199: what you’re looking at

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

THE MOTOR-BUS MYSTERY. idea that my wife saw him on‘Bayside Drive that night.” “ But he must-know that I saw him!” exclaimed Mrs. Meador. “I couldn’t help turning around and looking right at him as he started to run after the bus, and he must have noticed the look of alarm on my face.” “T don’t believe that he noticed you at all,” declared her husband. “I don't believe that he was running after the bus on your account. My theory is that he was trying to get aboard be- cause he spied his grandfather, Colonel Reyuclds, up there. “He thought that by riding on top of that bus he would have a good chance to murder the old man, and that is why he was running after it. “When he tripped and fell and found that he couldn’t catch up with the omnibus, he suddenly remembered that Bayside Drive runs under the ele- vated railroad structure at Carboy Street, and that by taking a train up- town he could get to that point ahead of the bus. “T believe that is what he proceeded to do. He got off the train at the Chalmers Street station, which is one block above Carboy Street, walked along the track until he reached a point directly above the path of the north- bound Bayside Drive omnibuses, and crouched there until the bus on which the colonel sat came along—and then he killed the poor old man.” “ Sounds like a good theory,” com- mented. Edwards. “ But wait a min- ute! You're overlooking a circum- stance which knocks it out entirely. How about that package containing the necklace which the conductor found lying on the rear platform at Almar Street, just after Mrs. Meador stepped off the bus? “ As you know, Almar Street 1s sev- eral blocks south of Carboy, and there- fore that necklace must have been taken from the colonel before the ele- vated structure was reached. Who could have taken it? How are you going to account for that robbery? ” 185 “T think I can offer an explanation,” volunteered Mrs. Meador. “ It is only a theory, to be sure, but it 1s probably the right one. “T don’t believe there was any rob- bery at all. I don’t believe that neck- lace was stolen from the colonel. I think he dropped it at his feet, and that I was the innocent cause of its being picked up by the conductor down-stairs. “IT remember that when I left the bus the old gentleman was asleep. It is probable that when he dozed off, the package containing the necklace fell out of his hands, and that, as I got up and started toward the stairway, the package got caught in the hem of my skirt and was dragged by me down- stairs and deposited at the feet of the conductor.” “Fine!” exclaimed Edwards enthu- siastically, while Mildred Sudbury clapped her hands, and Meador be- stowed upon his wife a look of ardent admiration. “I think you’ve hit the nail on the head, Mrs. Meador. Your clever theory clears up the only part of this mystery which remained unsolved.” ** All that remains to be done now,” declared Meador,” is to get a confes- sion out of that scoundrel.” “T think we’ll do it, too,” said Ed- wards. “Tl go interview the wireless operator and arrange about those fake messages. - With his help we ought to be able to put the scheme through.” An hour later Chester Selling, meet- ing Edwards on the deck, noticed that the lawyer’s face was wreathed in smiles. “You seem happy,’ ing. “T am,” replied Edwards. “I’ve just received good news by wireless. Read this. He handed the other man.a typewrit- ten marconigram, which bore the fol- lowing message: 3 remarked Sell- ) New evidence discovered to-day in- dicating Davenport innocent Reynolds murder. Stay of execution granted. Will send further details later. MorvTIMER. COmicboolkxs.com