Page:The Yellow Book - 13.djvu/184

166 An older womenwoman [sic], her companion, emerged and drew her away.

"How sweet!" murmured the student. "Wonder who she can be?" And he arose. It was almost midnight when Freddy drove into Wickham Road, swelling with great words, primed with confidences.

About the door of 79 it surprised him to find a loose semi circular crowd, radiating from the sheen of police-buttons. With some difficulty he made his way to the officer, and inquired of him the reason of the assemblage.

The constable eyed him deliberately, and answered with composure:

"Oh, ther's been a bit of a tragedy: lodger's done for i'sulf. They'll stop here all night, some of 'em."

And he spat wearily upon the pavement.