The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-20
PRIZE DETECTIVE STORIES, No. 10.

| time, :" she said bitterly. 81 certainly
| shall not come down. T"
"But, Mary" pleaded. "It is detec--
| tive from the city, Mr.. Phillips, and
| the best man i'm his profession.
$50 much the worse, and she shut
| the door in my face.
/ went down stairs again, filled with
| new fears and anxieties. What would
Phillips think of such actionsY They could
hardly fail TO strike him as more than
peculiar. Even in me they re-aroused
vague suspicious which / had practically
LAID aside. Still, If she was going to act
so strangely, perhaps, after all, IL was as
well that he should not see her.
In this state OF mind j sat down TO din
ner with my guest, pleading the excuse
of a bad headache TO account Tor my
niece's absence.
"sVery natural" 4" he replied, as ] went
on TO elaborate my apologies; 'still, hope
TO be able TO see Miss Smith before my
, departure.
~ don't know" began. "To tell
the truth, Mr.. Phillips, my niece is, as
believe / intimated to you, in very pc
culiar frame of mind. Perhaps we should
be surprised by nothing, considering the
shock she has received; but feel that
ought to tell you that she resents your
presence here and absolutely refuses 10
see yoa."
"Ahi" he replied, and then added,
after few seconds of thought: 'That is
rather unfortunate for ii is absolutely
necessary that should talk with her, be-
fore coming to definite conclusion.
"Are you as near success as thatY"
exclaimed, fairly startled by the assur-
ance of his answer.
81 do not know how near i am, he
answered, testify, "but surely you can
see how absurd 1t would be TO go away
without examining every inmate OF the
house..
~ don't know how you can accom-
plish II. Mary is very obstinate
woman.
"Let me suggest" he replied, more
blandly, "that you frankly state the case
to her. Say that am an officer of the
law and am compelled to do my dnty,
and that, il she will submit to the inev-
liable, my ay and the consequent an
noyance to her will be cut short. "
acquiesced in the sound sense OF this
advice; ana little more was said during our
meal. When il was concluded, / went up
stairs again TO my niece's room and rep
resented the situation as well as l was
able. This time | found her, though in
dignant yet more inclined to look at
things reasonably.
Every well. then, ~ she said. "If ! must
see this-ths man, j viii do so; but be
sure / shall have nothing to say TO him,
nor will 1 submit 10 being questioned.
"When will you come down?'' j asked.
every shogtly," " she replied, and again
closed the door
returned TO the library, where found
Phillips and acquainted him with the sue
cess OF my mission. He bowed and made
some remark expressive OF regret at being
obliged TO trouble Miss Smith at such a
time. Then we sat silent for few min
utes
~ presume, OF course, that you will
1. I..N
Before he could answer we heard the
rustic of woman's gown i'm the hall,
and Mary threw open the door and stood
in the threshold Phillips started TO his
feet with a short, inarticulate exclama-
tion. His face was very pale, and | saw
him clutch the table as II for support.
NV niece eyed him curiously with her
head thrown forward and her lips slightly
apart. Her look was at first vague and
inquiring, as il trying to remem ber some
thing, and then partook somewhat of the
detectives agitation.
"I-I have nothing at all to say, ;" she
began; "and / won't say anything ex-
cept that 1 know that the man you sus-
pect is entirely innocent.n
In moment she had turned and dis
appeared. | half rose TO demonstrate and
to beg her 10 remain but Phillips put
out his hand and restrained me.
sit is unnecessary" he said. 81 know
all that / want TO Know
Phillips resumed his seat, while gazed
at him wonderingly and apprehensively.
He was now entirely composed, and no
sign of his late agitation remained ex-
cept an increase OF his psllor and a deep
ening Of the lines of his face. / recalled
the paragraph in the superintendent
letter referring to the bad health of his
favorite detective, which had almost pre-
vented our obtaining his assistance; and
4 auafn ranrnarhad raUaalf for h.