The Sheridan Road Mystery

rned autumn leaves hung in the air, and a hazy moon, showing

he morning as that was the hour at which he usually reached this point. He glanced sharply up and down Sheridan Road, which at that moment seemed to be

ICEMAN MURPHY

ong the lonely stretch of Lawrence Avenue. He saw nothing, and concluded that the sound

as hard to locate, for it had been but the sound of a moment on the still night. Murphy, however, decided to tak

t house just ahead of him and ran north. Murphy instantly broke into pursuit. At the sound of his heavily shod fe

the man. "I think somebody has been murde

for," and as they mounted the steps of the ap

tle while ago my wife and I were awakened by a noise in the apartment over us. It sounded like a struggle of some kind. As we listened we felt sure that several people were taking part in it. Suddenly t

thick forefinger on the button of the electric hell and rang it sharply several times. The men could distinctly he

the guy's probably slipped down the back stairs. Who

ope this summer, and as I understand it, they won't be back for another month. The apartment has be

o break in," said Murphy. "

Marsh, and led the w

commented, half meditatively, "it's funny we haven't seen anybody else show up in the halls. I heard that shot way down at

't I tell you that we heard the strugg

y, as he placed the telephone receiver to his ear and called f

th of Lawrence Avenue. I think somebody's been murdered and we'll have to break in. Send the wagon, will you? ... Don't know a damn thing yet,

e until the boys come. Much obliged for yo

is excitement going on. And then-Mr. Ames is a friend o

a regularity that many people would consider handsome. He was what one would call a big man, but this appearance of bigness arose more from a he

Ames?"

" Then apparently taking the matter as set

roval was hard to tell, but as he climbed t

the knob. The door was securely locked. Then he threw his two hundred and some

. "I'll have to wait

terested in getting Murphy's ideas than in expressing opinions of his own. At length they heard the clang of the gong on the police patrol as it crossed Lawrence Avenue. They stood

ed the latter, as the part

a thumb over his shoulder toward the door of the apartment.

owing themselves against the door. It creaked and groaned, and from

es appeared on the landing just below where the police were working. Marsh leaned

ion to their audience, and apparently did not notice that the door across the

ood, the lock gave way and the door flew ope

et lamp and flashed its rays into the entrance hall, while the others drew their revolvers and held them in readiness. Then all stepped into the hallway. This was a large, square entrance way with four doorways opening from it. Two

the apartment. Seeking for the electric light buttons as they moved about the apartment, the men soon flooded the rooms with light. Each man with revolver ready, and int

at the back was locked and the key was missing. In addition to the regular lock a stout bolt was in place. The catches on all the windows were properly locked

door, stood nonplussed in the kitchen. The plain-clothe

er ran up against. Ain't been just hearing things, have you, Murphy?

hy g

vely, "You know damned well I wasn't the only one to hear that shot.

t this is where the shot, was fired. Ma

ed, then gla

d. "Where's that gu

hall, and through the now drawn curtains this space was visible. Murphy could see that both these rooms were deserted, but an occasional swishing sound came to his ears. Turning to the waiting group, h

a heavy, upholstered chair back into position. His moving of si

hy inquired, with a note of sarcasm i

any signs of confusion on his face they were

ut a line of thou

an, suspiciously, as he also stepped into the ro

e apparent to the eye. When confronted with so deep a mystery as this one, I

inished giving this information. "You're more th

and wouldn't like to be murdered in my bed some night.

a murder?" shot back the plain-clothes

and Marsh turned toward Murphy. "He was

I only got your word for it that it was here. I

t that these men were regarding him with something approaching suspicion. "I have already d

nces swept the room for a moment. Then the plain-clothes ma

er to where the

e is a radical departure from such placing, an inquiring mind is led to wonder. Notice the chair I was just mo

e in an admiring tone from Murphy. Th

sh, ignoring the interruption. He then moved over to the chair, and added, as

spot which the chair had covered. The plain-clothes man stooped and placed his hand on the spot. It felt damp to the touch, and

" cried

he plain-clothes

the others showed their ap

h sm

ks like a possibl

cover the spot, all right," now

f the body?" again

red him, "that is for you to fi

he plain-clothes man. "This