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Show LEHI FREE PRESS. LEH1. ddenWaYs 11 1 By FREDERIC SYNOPSIS David MaUory. n search of newspaper work in New York, is forced to accept a switch-boaroperator in a swank job as by officious Jpartment house, managed David meets Miss AgaThere Hujgin.a old lady, and her crippled tha Paget, One day. talking charming niece. Allegra. David is alarmed the lobby. with Hifgins in David finds the a piercing scream. scream came from the Ferriter apartment, Femters inpot far from the Pacts'. The clude Lyon and Everett, and their sister,a lone. Everett, a genealogist, is helping Aga-tnPaget write a book about her Inside the apartment ancestors. man dead. No they find a weapon can be found. The police arrive. dislikes David, inH'ggins. who actively forms him that he is fired. David is called There he finds to the Paget apartment. Agatha Paget sipelderly, She him a job helpoffers ping a cocktail. ing write her family history which will unearth a few family skeletons. He accepts the offer. Meanwhile, police suspect Lyon Ferriter of the murder. Jerry Cochran of the Press offers David a job helping solve tr-murder. David accepts. He is to keep cn working for Miss Paget. Later David meets Grosvenor Paget. Allegra's brother. d Tim-eOi- y tr d black-bearde- d g CHAPTER V Continued 7 "But how did he get out again?" I then asked. "That," Cochrane said and grinned at me, "is something to be disclosed to our readers in a later installment. And, by the way, our friend Blackbeard had been places. The Medical Examiner says he had been shot in the chest. Not recently. In a war perhaps World or rum. It may mean much, or nothing, like the rest of this case. The Ferriters are at the Babylon, eh?" I nodded and was galled once more by the feeling that somehow I was betraying Miss Agatha. Then I looked at the clock and knew I was. As we left, Cochrane asked: "Still living in the basement?" I gave him my address. "You can find me there any evening," I told him, "but not till late tonight. I've a lot still to go over when I get back to the Morello." The maid, Annie, let me in. Remorse for my neglect hurried me down the hall. I came into the room so quickly that I caught Allegra and her brother off guard. They became in an instant two youngsters, yet beautiful, in the split second of surprise I thought I saw fear on the boy's face and I was certain the girl's eyes held tears. She had turned toward the window. Grosvenor spoke pleasantly enough but I was sure suspicion echoed in his voice: "We thought you had gone for the day, Mr. MaUory." "I don't wonder," I said. "I was delayed. If you're busy I can wait." "No," he said nervously, "oh, no, no; not at all." Allegra turned from the window and smiled. It wasn't a great success. Neither was the carelessness she pumped into her voice. "Grove and I were having another of our squabbles, Mr. Mallory. You'll get used to them." She went to the door, trying so hard to appear at ease that she was pitiful. She said from the threshold: "Well, it's just as unsettled as when we began, Grove." And this I knew was sheer g that hid something. The boy lingered after she had left, wandering about the room, peering at titles on the bookshelves. I sat down, switched on the desk light and bent to my work. Twice I thought he was going to speak. At last, he said, with a wide yawn: "I'm dead on my feet. I think I'll pass up supper tonight and go to bed now." "Pleasant dreams," I told him. He smiled uncertainly and left. It was nine o'clock when I finished. I stacked the papers neatly on the desk, swung about in the swivel chair and glanced upward at the narrow strip of sky above the upper row of lighted windows in the area wall. There were stars. I started to rise, checked myself and sat, staring. Those dark panes across the way were in the Ferriter apartment and behind one of them I had seen a light turned on. It showed the corner of a bureau, the foot of a bed and a man's moving figure. One of Shannon's cops, I thought, still searching the flat for what plainly was not there. Belatedly, the intruder came to the window and drew the shade. I saw his face clearly for a second. It was Grosvenor Paget. I sat still. For a few minutes my nind didn't work at all. It kept jumping at theories and falling short. Its first sensible act was its counsel: "It's none of your business, Dave; it's none of your business." But I knew it was. The boy was deeper in this thing than anyone dreamed. That wasn't entirely his business. It was his sister's and his aunt's and, since I owed Miss Agatha much, mine as well. I thought of Cochrane, too, and swore to myself. When I looked again, all windows across the court were dark. I sat down and stared at some papers. I heard the latch of the front door turn. Feet crept along the hall. A door closed. I waited a minute. Then I picked up my hat and coat and rang the desk bell. "Will you tell Miss Paget," I asked the maid, "that I'll be back promptly at nine tomorrow?" She led me to the door and let me out. I did not ring for the ele- well-bre- d play-actin- F. VAN DL WATE-- vator. IT AH TAKE VOI R TIME i h COR our first fall needlework, what could be more appropriate than making some new pan holders? Gay flower faces, hen and rooster, Toby jugs and a par rot handle holder, etc. Why, even the smallest scrap bag would sup- - R went loudly down the first "Which is, of course," he said, flight of stairs. Then I tiptoed back, "the correct answer. crossed the hall and pressed the your business. But if It is none of you insist on Ferriters' bell. making it so, go ahead. I'll only say mat you Lie. CHAPTER VI I could have smacked him down with great joy, but I held myself in. Deep in the Ferriter apartment, "I'm not a cop," I reminded him. the bell shrilled. It was so loud He had picked his course. He was in the silence that I jerked my finto bluff it out. going ger from the button. not. You're "No," he I heard the f torrent of traf- my aunt's said, "you're hireling." fic and the muffled squawk of a I think he knew radio, filtering in from the area. I came to a sock in how close he the nose, for he heard a steady thumping in my own rose and his eyes widened. I ears and wind muttering in the ele- half vator shaft but no sound, no hint of didn't move. I only said: "Thanks for putting me in my movement beyond the Ferriters' place. That makes everything simdoor. I won't keep you any longer." I pressed the button again and pler. We heard the front door open and held it down just to show the bell voices. They stirred more that its noise didn't scare me. It women's in Grosvenor than I had. He panic stopped, when at last I dropped my up with a hiss of breath. hand, as abruptly as the voice at got"Sit down, you ass," I told him the telephone had been checked the "Sit down and get hold of softly. day before. I was sweating and in- yourself." side me the wise, or timid, voice had I rumaged in my He obeyed. begun again: mind and then recited, loudly: "It's none of your business, Dave; "D'Armhaillac was the greatest I it's none of your business." ever saw. Utterly unbeatable if you I was mired too deep now, to let him come to you. His comclimb out and walk away priggishly attack was like a song. Once while Allegra and Miss Agatha and posedwere on defensive you were you that fool boy teetered on the brink lost. He had the a disarming trick that was sheer wizardry. I saw his epee jerk Kurthoff's and throw it away. And Kurthoff was no weakling. I learned the elements of that stunt once myself, but it's over a year now since I last touched a sword. Fencing I jerked up from my lounging position against the desk. Grosvenor rose and gave a weak smile as Allegra Paget pushed her aunt's wheel chair into the room. The old lady looked at me. Behind her I saw the girl stare at her brother and I wondered how much she knew. The thought made me sick. Miss Agatha said, crisply: "David, I hired a writer. Maybe you thought I said 'lodger.' " I felt Allegra look at me but I kept my eyes on the sharp old face before me and grinned. "My fault," I said. "I started home an hour ago, but we got to talking about fencing and I never know when to stop." "H'm," Miss Agatha said and turned upon her nephew who once more was a fashion plate for what man should wear. the "I thought you were going to bed, faker?" I saw his face clearly for "I started to," he said, "but a second. I couldn't sleep." "You should have come to your of a slough. I couldn't make GrosUncle not at a least Stanley's," she told him. "Almurderer this venor murderer. He hadn't the brains. He legra and I dozed so much that now hadn't had even the common sense we're wide awake again. Take some beer, Grove. It's relaxing and it's to pull down the shade before turnplebeian. It would be good for you ing on the light. Yet the flat's silence damned him. It proved that on both counts." "It might at that," he admitted. he, unknown to the police, unknown to Higgins, had a key. Allegra was watching him so hard The wheedling voice inside me that I feared her aunt would see it. died away. Shannon was no fool. I picked up my hat and said loudly: Shannon might have set a trap into "I'm really going now. And I'll which a young idiot had stumbled. be a less permanent resident, hereI knew now what I must do. I after." crossed the hall and rang the Pag-et"No," Miss Agatha corrected. bell. "We'll all have beer and cheese as Grosvenor himself opened the door a nightcap. My tastes get lower as and the lie I had prepared for Annie my age increases. Allegra, my dear, served for him. ring for Annie no, don't. She's "Sorry," I said; "I forgot some- probably gone to bed. Grove, if you thing," and stepped forward. He can pull yourself out of your inwas in a dressing gown but his hair somnia and actually wake up, you was sleek and his eyes were quick. can help me in the pantry. We'll I walked to the room where I had be right back." worked and turned on the lights. He The girl started to follow them. stood in the hall, watching me and She checked herself at the door and he looked in his brocaded, tasseled watched them down the hall. I robe like a poster for men's socks. saw her brace her shoulders beI could see he was relieved it was fore she turned around. "You're fast on your feet, aren't only I. He was easy to read. "Could you come here a minute, you?" she asked me. "I think you Mr. Paget?" I called and I closed actually fooled my aunt." the door when he had entered. That Something rode her. She seemed frightened him. He turned white calm and there was a mocking glint but he had enough backbone to keep in her level eyes but I could feel his face stiff. He sat down and her worry. Thought of where it pulled his robe about him. I leaned might lead made me feel sick again. against the desk. He cleared his I wanted her in my arms for many throat, looked up at me and asked: reasons. Not the least of them was "Well?" that I knew she was scared. I The way he sijoke made me feel grinned. "I fooled you!" I told her. "We clumsy. It was hard to begin and were just talking." I found myself saying aloud: She brushed that aside. Her eyes "It's none of my business, There I stuck. His eyelids flickered. admitted her fright and her bright I felt my muscles jerk as he slid mouth trembled. "You and he have been quarrela hand into the pocket of his robe. He took a cigarette from a silver ing," she whispered. "What about?" I almost told her but I knew that case and then, remembering his manners, offered one to me. I held it wouldn't be square, after what a match for him and then lighted I'd said to Grove. I knew, as she stood near me and seemed to forget my own. Then I tried again: "I'd like you to believe that I'm I was a hallman emeritus, that I because I not horning in. I'm not asking for needed my your confidence, but I'll be glad to wanted her. She was one ofhe people who make you more decent help you in any way I can." than you are. So I said: His eyebrows arched a trifle. "You're wrong. We were just talk'Kind of you," said he and his upstage stuffiness irked me. I picked ing. Ask him yourself." It didn't satisfy her. my words less carefully: "He's a fool," she said half to "I've proved that already, whether you like it or not. If I weren't in herself, "but a dear fool. What's he your corner, I'd be phoning Captain been doing?" "You don't retain very well, do Shannon now. You can drop the air of patrician bewilderment, if you you?" I asked. "I said he'd been don't mind. All I really want to talking to me." "You lie like a gentleman," she give is advice. The next time you said and smiled. prowl about the Ferriters' apartI heard the clink of glass in the ment, pull down the shades before hall, and dropped my voice. you light up." "Merely a vestige," I told her. That hit him. He turned green them to were talking about fencing. If "We his keep creased lips and from trembling. He did not heed he were to ask me himself, that is the ash that shook from his ciga- all I could remember." I think she understood what I did rette onto his knees. want to not say. She gave me a look that "If," I told him, "youaffair. Aftwinded me again and then, turning, leave it there, that's your business." of none helped- her brother guide a laden my er all, it's over the threshold. BeHe had got hold of himself. He Miss his on hind cigarette it, a Agatha propelled her took long drag and ground out the butt in an ash chair into the room. (TO BE COSTINVED) tray. 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