The Sheridan Road Mystery

fronted with two factors; the connection of this man with the case, and the bearing which Miss Atwood and her father might have upon it. Without

ted before Marsh's door, Morgan thought that it moved slightly. Stepping closer and pushing the door gently with an outstretched hand, he found it tightly closed. Yet, he had a feeling that the door had been softly closed after he had stopped on the landing.

r of Lawrence Avenue and entered the alley

thing which takes place can be observed from all nearby houses. In this instance the stairway was enclosed, with a door leading to the back po

on could come down these stairs unobserved, step into the car and be quietly carried away, disappearing

wounded. It was a problem, of course, as to which door they had been brought through, and the solution of that problem w

though it would seem the logical and quickest way to make an exit. On the other hand, for that very reason, the persons

that anyone could pass through her flat without arousing her. This, of course, meant taking for granted her story that she was alone in the apartment and had been in bed and sleeping. While Morgan felt attracted toward the gir

a confederate through his back door, locked the door and then hurried into Sheridan Road to direct the attention of the police, or any other persons who had been aroused, to the front of the house, thus enabling his confederate to get quietly, safely and quickly away. This was only bare t

rge his fund of information. The owner, or the real estate agent who managed the building, seemed to be the lo

rel of ashes up from the basement. While it was quite obvious that such was the case,

," replie

building, or has he pla

t," the janitor informed him.

ere he turned west and walked over to Broadway. A few minutes later he s

r. Parker or

ounced the man. "Wha

limpse of his badge; then said, "I would like to

ole, opening a gate as he spoke, and indi

e?" he inquired, wh

ection with the trouble in

time anything of the kind ever occurred in any of the buildi

he information possible. Then I can formulate some theory upon which to work. Just

d," protested Cole. "There couldn't be a

ge of that," sai

was only a quarrel among burglars. One man probably wounded his pal a

t in the real estate agent's eyes. However, Morgan now sought facts, not amateur theor

ur tenants; at least for the present. There are two families, however, about whom I

he did not place the name. Then he c

different. The Atwoods, according to the girl's story, had sub-leased their apartment quite recently, presumably with the agent's sanction. The present excitement should naturally have recalled this matter t

Cole's desk, the boy passed quietly out of the office. Cole gla

e declared, finally, looking up at M

e also extracted a pencil from his vest pocket. Glancing at the point to see that it was in working

y named

name,

ne year ago the first of this month," state

this down in

Mr. Crocker sub-leased h

to know about it, too. A transaction of that kind

further particulars

her papers, if you wish me to. But as I recall it, he came

just now," said Morgan. "I may be interested in the i

te the name of Atwood with t

gh the building. They often make mistakes in names," Morgan added, reassuringly, as it was not his desire to start Col

ade an impression upon me at the time we rented the ap

Morgan, en

or them from the first of August, to a Mr. Gordon Marsh. Mr. Marsh, I understand, was driven off his ranch in Mexico by the revolutionists. As he

family has he

illing to come to terms with him. We like small families; like

ther questions regarding this tenant. He was not overlooking the fac

and his wife are sti

h, Harding; and only a few days ago, a letter referring to some decorating to be done when

ts on at the building, that is all. Our repor

" approved Cole, his curi

not?" queried Morgan, casually, as he noted do

be possible, inasmuch as Mr. Ames and his wife w