The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-29

in and out, too-queer, wasn't itY Now,
can we do our business, Mr.. Manager?
guess IL may stop the play-that can't be
helped. But she's got nerve, hain't she,
to go on play acting while her victim lies
a dead corpse not four blocks away? Can
we go behind and git herr"
Burnett felt the lobby whirling about
his head. Good God! What could it
mean?
"what. man, not Miss Armitage?" ex-
claimed the manager, aghast. mot
really? You don't suspect her?''
Eyes, it's hers the party. The facts
point TO her. She was seen by four per-
sons to enter the reception room at the
Oldorf, where Lord Holton was asleep---
taking an after dinner nap. She was
known to have been in that room about
four or five minutes, at about 9:10
O'clock
"This evening? Impossiblel She has
not been out of the theater I'll swear
it'll" said the manager, earnestly.
"Oh, yes; she came out at the end OF
the first act. Why, she was seen and re-
cognized, and what's more, she went off
and forgot TO take her handkerchief with
her when she chloroformed himl Why,
handkerchief laying right over his face
then got scared, probably, and hurried
back to the theater-see hereY'
Detective Swift produced a dainty be-
laced mouchoir, in one corner OF which
were Eleanor's initials "E. A."
This is positive said Mr.; Swift.
"We don't want no better proof
"Are you sure he's dead?" asked the
manager in a state OF excitement and be-
wilderment. Il don't smell any chloro-
form on this-are you sure he's dead?"
"Dead? Well, they called in doctor
"a young chap living in the hotel-and
he pronounced him stone dead, presum-
n a A. .I. a a
the air, they say. Oh, yes, I'm sorry to
say he's dead, fast enough. A man of sixty
l should say. Very rich, I'm told. A
peer and a Birmingham manufacturer.
Just arrived in America. They told me he
punished a terrible big dinner at the
Oldorf-the last he was to git, poor old
chap oysters, clans, trout, venison,
game and-two quarts of champagne.
Well, | m glad he did eat and drink hearty.
He won't have no more chance to eat
now. poor old man He's where eatin'
an drinkin' is changed off for hymns and
psalm singin'."
Burnett, recovering from his astonish-
ment, began to see things with a clear
ness which carried vague surprise at
himself in his own mind along with 1t.
He saw Eleanor was surely innoct He
had seen her in that Oriental reception
room, and noted the evident affection
with which she treated the sleeping En-
Rllshnan. she Kissed hlm-wOuld muir
deress kiss her sleeping victim? Yes,
she was innocent and he determined
coolly on his first step. The detectives
must not approach her until after the
performance. He tapped Swift lightly on
| the shoulder.
"You remember me, Mr.. Swift in the
Roller diamond case-where, rather fiat
| ter myself, we newspaper men outwitted
| you of the police force
Mr.. Swift, who was a slim, tall, good
natured man, not very keen, laughed
doggedly.
"Oh, yes, remember you, Mr.. Bur-
nett. You were pretty sharp In that
| Clausen murder, too. Now you're on
the staff are you just as sharp?'
"a man on great daily has to keep
| his wits about him. But time presses.
| have a favor to ask-don't make this ar
rest till the plays over-innocent or
| guilty, IL will ruin Miss Armitage's career
| for life
"Sorry, but am under orders, Mr.
| Burnett-see2'' said the honest fellow
"I've got to go and take her right now. F"
Burnett gave a smothered cry of de-
| spair and protest. "You shall not he
| cried.
"Mell, who's going To stop me7r
all" and Burnett defiantly folded his
arms and stood in the detectives way.
ITO be Continued.)