St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-07

dllu tilo uOOr Suut UPON tilc lllQulSlllV0 pO-
liceman-well it is no matter to us how
Crisp welcomed her. But this satisfactorily
performed. they went up stairs, his arm
round her waist-a strange sight in that
dusty place-their steps echoing in that
empty house. At the top of the stairs the
| door into the large clerks room was ajar.
Crisp pushed it open and led her in. land
this is where you do your work." she
asked devouring with wide open eyes the
long bare room, with its four windows, its
row of desks and stools along one side, and
the glass box in the far corner.
NO" he answered, laughing, 81 am
supposed to be cut above this, darling.
Only am obliged to be very careful not to
throw stones" He led her up the room,
and unlocking the door of his glass house
took her in. How delightful it was to help
her up on his high stool, and hold her there
for, of course, being unaccustomed to it,
she might have become giddy! And see hel
fiJher little boots to the rail of the desk, and
unlock the latter and come at once face to
| face with her own photograph! And then
to see her blush, all pleasure at this proof
of his fidelity! 1t was all so delightful thai
he wondered why, though they had met Oh
Change alley on Saturday afternoons be-
fore, he had never brought her to see his
Office.
s'And where do those doors lead to?
Don't Ernest; please leave my hair alone
How do you know, sir, that there is no one
there?" -,
He stopped at once-whatever he was do
ing-and dark shadow fell across his face.
THAT is Critchlow's room," he said. "And,
by Jove, he's left his key in it! There's a
nice piece of careleSsneSSw But there was
no citation in his voice. 1t seemed as II a
shadow had fallen on them both, from the
moment her eyes were drawn to that door.
1t was not just in front of them-the door
leading to the partners rooms stood there
but in the corner on the left.
''I'll take the key and convict him at any
rate of this" the young man said modify,
and went out of his glass case and crossed
the floor to the door. The girl followed
him, strange, sudden feeling OF the empti-
ness of the house upon her. How hollow
Ernest's footsteps rang. The sun, too, had
gone behind cloud. and the room seemed
dreary, dusty and cold, too, for she shiv-
ered.
Crisp. after trying the cashiers door and
finding it locked, slipped the key out and
put it into his pocket. Then he locked his
own door and pocketed that key also. 1t
was strange perhaps that he took no fare
we'll kiss in the hall, but opened the outer
door hastily, and seemed to breathe more
freely when they were out of the alley and
in the peopled street.
They took so long walk, Ethel telling
her lover of her latest troubles at Maintree
house, young ladies' seminary where she
was tolerated as teacher of English and
Ernest confiding the dreadful matter of the
error in his accounts, that when they parted
he gave up all thought of returning to his
books.
''But you must not be late another day,
SIR" were her last words. He thought
nothing of them then, but afterward, when
he was alone, they puzzled him. There had
been no appointment made for that after
noon, no promise given, no time fixed. So
how could he have been late? 1t was odd.
What did she mean by saying he was late?
CHAPTER III.
Crisp's omission to return to the books
may have blunted his moral sense: or it may
have been mere chance that led him to be
nearly quarter of an hour late on Monday
morning. As he hurried up the alley he
was surprised by the sight of a group col
lected about Parkmans' door. Among them
were one OF two of Parkmans' clerks look
ing unlike themselves, and one or two pO-
licemen. unable to look anything but them
selves.
''What is up!' he asked lightly; but
though they all seemed to be looking at
him, no one answered. Instead, a clerk,
one of the Juniors, said audibly," shat is
Mr.. Crispw and strange voice answered
emphatically, ''that is the man." This
seemed to cause sensation, amid which a
short stout person with blunt hearty voice
and humorous eye pushed through the
group and said, s'this way, sir, please" in
a voice of authority.
'What in the world is the matter?" asked
Crisp.
''Tell you in a moment, sir. Please to
step with me up to Mr.. Parkman's ROOM"
And he took Crisp by the arm, in what the
latter thought an odd fashion, and so led
him up, and swiftly through the clerks Of
fee, which was half full of staring gapers,
and into the junior partners room.
Crisp looked round him in utter bewilder-
ment. On the hearthrug stood Mr.. Park
man. pale and agitated. By the window
two gentlemen were talking. At the table,
apparently making some notes, sat police
officer.
WATSON" said his conductor, shutting
the door firmly behind them, ''do you take
him!' he seemed to busy himself with an
old Joe Miller, so very facetious that it rem
dered him oblivious, to all going on around
him.
While Crisp stood looking from one to
the other, the superintendent rose abruptly
and stepped close to him. mime is pain
full business, sir. You are MI. Ernest
Crisp, think?"
1t darted into Crisp's mind that the chief
had put the police in motion in the matter
of that little discrepancy in his accounts;
but single glance at Mr.. Parkman's pale,
sympathizing face sufficed to dispose of
that. ''Yes,"he said, 81 am. That is
my NAME"
'You may or may not know, then, that
great crime was committed here on Satur-
day afternoon. The cashier, Mr.. Critch-
low, has been found dead in his Office, stab
bed to the heart from behind"
''Mr. Critchlow," the head clerk whis-
pered with white shaking lips.
tAnd you have been identified as the per-
son last seen to leave the house. I'm sorry
to say that must take you into custody On
suspicion; must warn you too, Mr.. Crisp,
that anything you say will be given in evil
dence against you"
"On Saturday afternOon?' Crisp muttered
in. awed accents, looking around him with
eyes that did not see. but what-why am
I suspected?"
''All that you will hear at the Mansion
house. 1 am anxious to take you there at
once, and with as little unpleasantness to
yourself as.possible."
sit is mere formality, Crisp" Mr..
Parkman volunteered, speaking for the first
IL - -, i
myself and say how perfectly ridiculous
your conduct for years makes this charge
appear"
The color came back to the clerks face.
''Thank you, sir" he said.
Perhaps you will let yourself be searched
here?" asked the policeman. Crisp nodded
ooor,;ocoapoo opd did NOT finch ryhop tho