Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-05-24

cat,ye ch.mbermaid that he was not in the
parlor at the time Of Mr.. Anderson's death, in
spite Of the testimony Of Mrs. Stein to that
effect. The chambermaid had entered the
psrlor that evening to search for something she
had mislaid, and found it unOccupied. She told
this, not with the slightest idea Of casting sus-
picion upon the young man, but out Of dislike
to Mrs. Stein, whom the servants agreed in
cordially hating, chiefly because of her per-
sistence in demanding pitcher of ice-water
every evening.
Here was Certainly clue at last. A witness
at the inquest had committed perjury. What
could be more suspicious? She evidently had
some powerful motive in proving an alibi,
either for herself OF for Mr.. Banks. In either
case there was reason to suspect that one or the
other was in some way concerned in the
tIag, dy-or murder, a. the amateur detective,
was now nearly ready to call it. Greatly en-
couraged By his apparent trace of the criminal
or criminals, he Immediately took pains to con-
vert his slight acquaintance with Mrs. Stein
into terms OF as close intimacy as possible.
She was a handsome, accomplished woman of
the world, anywhere from twenty-eight to
thirty-fve years of age. She had no relations
that ever made themselves visible. and was ap-
psrently quite alone in the world. IL was not
long before Mr.. Pryor came to the opinion that
she was a woman of unusual GOODNESS and nerve;
precisely the sort of person to play a dangerous
and difficult game TO a successful end. He
grew very much interested in her as a curious
study, and while nothing was further from his
thoughts than the least idea of sentiment in
connection with her. he paid her such close
dJltntlOn tEdt the DOaTuerS, one ana all, settled
into conviction that he was desperately in
love.
She often showed a rare ability in conversa-
tonal fencing. and could ward Off a subject
which she did not wish to discuss with infinite
skill. Yet she never showed the slightest hesi-
tatiOn in talking of Mr.. Anderson's mysterious
death and she did not hesitate to express her
opinion that he had been murdered. This
rather puzzled Mr.. Pryor. Had she any guilty
knowledge Of the affair, as her deliberate
perjury would seem to indicate, she would
naturally be adverse to discussing il.
and would, at all events. endeav0r 70
foster the idea that il was case OF
suicide. With all his efforts he could draw
nothing from her which in any way aided him
in the task he had assumed when he entered the
house. BY closely watching her he had. how
ever. learned something of her capacities as an
Intriguer. Latterly he had been attacked, so
he announced, with insomnia, and IN his rest
lessness frequently took turn up and down
the hall at all hours of the night These mid
night walks had not been altogether fruitless,
with Mrs. Stein he found that he had not ad
vanced his purpose q single step thereby, he de-
termined to try the worth Of weapon hitherto
One evening when he was sitting alone with
her on the little balcony upon which the parlOr
windows opened, he led the conversation to the
subject OF sieepiness, and mentioned his habit
of nocturnal providing.
sit has led me- he continued. s'into several
curious situations. What do you say to nv
having been met in dark hall long after mid
"a
me TOR .'darling harry" embraced me and told
me that had left my watch in her room? /
have never yet decided whether ought to have
undece1yed her or not
He looked straight into her BEAUTIFUL eyes a. he
told this story, and she returned his gaze stead
lily and without changing color. When he had
finished, she said:
THAT is hardly fit story to tell to a lady,
and | think YOU owe me an apology for ventur-
ing. to tell it."
who had already learned to admire the perfect
command in which she held her nerves. He
was not, however, the man to permit the aes-
thetic TO interfere with the practical: so he
drew handsome watch from his pocket and
replied
81 certainly apologize if bave unintention-
ally offended you, and likewise apologize for
having SO long detained the watch Shall re-
turn il you or to MIR. Harry Banks"'
She knew now she was in his power, and sur
rendered with the same GOODNESS with which she
had fought.
'.You have my secret she said coldIy
Though cannot compliment you on the means
by which you discovered it. May ask what
use you intend to make OF 1T? You are capable.
ton
LET me ask you a question before answer
yours. Was IT merely an indiscretion which
you committed when you swOre that Mr.. Banks
and yourself were in the parlOr on the night OF
the murder? / know, quite as we'll as Won do
that the parlor was empty all that evening
$50 you have been playing spy in this house,
You are, suppose, that honorable creature, a
detective"
Mrs. Stein, you are a very clever and very
bold woman. Cpon my word, infinitely ad-
mire your steadiness of nerve. There is no need
whatever that We should quarrel. and only ask
you to be as frank as l am. am not as Won
suppose, a professional detective. have, ae-
knowledge: watched you somewhat closely, be-
SAN SANS WHICH, You N made in vour tesfimanv
81 may As well tell you the truth now, or Won
VIII accuse me OF worse errors than have com
mltted. 1 was examined at the inquest before
MIR. Banks was called, and knowing that he
would be anxious to prove that he was not con
cerned IN the murder, feared that tie might
mention a little matter, innocent enough i'm
itself. but quite sure to compromise me. So,
TO avoid the possibility and at the same to prove
what you call, 1 believe, an alb, for him. I
said We were N the parlOr together felt sure
he would not contradict me. May ask now il
you haye any further questiOns?''
Mr.. Pryor was thoroughly disappointed. He
saw no reason to doubt the explain alton which
Mrs. Stein gave him, and he was compelled to
fennquish his cherished conviction that she
nad some guilty knowledge of the murder. He
had been following wrong scent after all. He
had mistaken q commonplace intrigue for a
murderous conspiracy. Certainly it was dis
confided to the woman the object he had had in
view; begged her pardon for his inouisitiye
watch upon her, and assured her that her Sc
eIet was safe with him. 1t will hardly be credi-
ted, but actually parted on apparently friendly
terms. Mrs. Stein was too astute to quarrel
with man who could do her injury. and nj.
CynlCdl bumlrdtlOn Tor her Cool intreDiditv
made him careless Of Ter utter indifference to
morality. ~
There remained one more person against
.hom his suspicious were now directed. Mr.
james Anderson had sworn that he was in bis
own room at the time of his brothers. death and
no one had yet expressed the least suspicion
that he was In any way connected with it, Mr.
Pryor, however, noted his exceedingly devoted
attentions To his brothers wife and accepted AZ
a possibility the theory that he had killed the
the husband i'm order to marry the wife. The
fact that the will Of the deceased lett the entire
fortune To his wife, strengthened this theory
Then, too, the brother occupied a room adioin-
ing that in which the tragedy occurred. Wa.
there a door between these two rooms? This
was matter To be settled first of all.
Mrs. Anderson never left the room without
locking the door, and as her meals were sent up
10 her, and she rarely left the house, Mr. PRYOR
wasted some time before he had an opportunity
to make his desired investiga At last, how
ever, Mrs. Anderson and her brother in law
went out together to church one Sunday even
ing, and My. Pryor, provided with a skeleton
key, promptly entered the room and gave il a
thorough examination,
There was door leading to the brothers
room, but IN front OF it stood huge clothes
press This must have been in the same posi-
ton al the time OF the murder, for there was
no other place for it, The clothes-press ANNOYED
him, for IL seemed out of the question that the
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