Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-06-25

or If he had broken in or been concealed
in the house, surely your brother would
not have been fully dressed before day.
Tight to receive him"
And if someone inside had killed him."
! added, "they could have locked the door
again"
Yes" said Phillips. grimly; 'if they
were fools, they might have pursued that
lmethod of fastening the crime upon them
isclves. Your remark shows you just how
lstupid even the intelligent criminal can
be and usually is"
l felt myself flush at his words and
tone but it would have been worse than
foolish to take offcnse,
'Then it only remains" / said. ito iden.
fifty the person who made the appoint.
ment to meet my brother
THAT is all" he replied rather irrita-
ibly; "but meanwhile, imagine it is near
Ily your dinner hour, and, with your per-
imission, will go to my room and wash
Iup hit."
To tell the truth, l was not altogether
isorry to be rid of my ally for a few mo-
ments until l could recover my compos,
ure. l showed him to his room in silence.
I'VE shall dine in about fifteen min,
Iutes," said. as he closed the door Then
II went TO my niece's room and knocked.
IAt first there was no response, and l
knocked again more decidedly. | heard
her moving, and Il moment later the door
was opened few inches Her face was
set in grim lines.
II came to see whether you were not
coming down to dinner. There is gen.
ltleman here--" l began.
, II should think you would know better
than to invite anyone at such time" she
said bitterly. II certainly shall not come
down"
"But, Mary" l pleaded. ut is de.
'tectlve from the city, Mr.. Phillips, and
the best man in his profession"
$50 much the worse" and she shut the
door in my face.
l went down stairs again, frcd with
nfw fears and anxieties What would
Phillips think of such actions? They
could hardly fail to strike him as more
than peculiar. Even in me they re-arous-
ed vague suspicious which / had pract-
cnlly laid aside. Still If she was going
to act so strangely, perhaps, after all, it
was as well that he should not see her.
In this state of mind | sat down to din
ner with my guest pleading the excuse of
a bad headache to account for my niece's
absence
"Very natural" he replied, as went on
to elaborate my apologies; "stil, l hope
to be able TO see Miss Smith before my
departure"
II don't know" i began. "To tell
the truth, Mr.. Phillips, my niece is, as I
believe l minated to you, in n very pc,
culiar frame of mind. Perhaps we should
be SURPRISED by nothing, considering tho
OH nab ulln hao Al
ought to tell you that she resents your
presence here and absolutely refuses to
see you"
"Ah!' he replied, and then added, after
"a few seconds of thought: "That is rather
unfortunate, for it is absolutely necessary
that i should talk with her, before com.
ding to definite conclusion"
Are you as near success as that?"
exclaimed, fairly startled by the assur.
ance of his answer.
II do not know how near am." he an.
swered testify, "but surely you can see
how absurd 1t would be to go away with.
out examining every inmate of the house"
II don't know how you can accomplish
It. Mary is very obstinate woman"
"Let me suggest" he replied, more
blandly, "that you frankly state the case
to her. Say that l am an officer of the
law and am compelled to do my duty, and
that, If she will submit to the inevitable,
my stay and the consequent annoyance to
her will be cut short"
acquiesced in the sound sense of this
advice; and little more was said during
our meal. When it was concluded,
went up stairs again to my niece's room
and represented the situation as well as
was able. This time found her, though
indignant, yet more inclined to look at
Things reasonably.
"Very well them" she said. ''If must
see this-this man, will do so; but be-
sure ] sAall haye nothing to sey to him,