The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-08-24
CHAPTER VIII. Continued,

SdAkXAGA VIII. (COnttnuedC
Leonce had seen that quick CLEAN Of
the eye. without understanding IT.; but
whatever tit meant, h felt that it
warned her to be careiul and she ems
deavored to control the least sign Of
1mpatience or irritation during the re-
mainder Of the detectives questionings.
May I ask your name, mademoiselle?"
William Hantlin continued, making a
significant pause before the last word.
'IIeonce Amabel Beaupre.'
COT French parents ge, I Judge, from
your name?"
Eyes, monsieur"
Born in France?"s
II was born in Paris, monsieur. I
would be glad to furnish you with the
records of my birth and baptism, but
my parents neglected to supply me
with them. I vas reared in n Of the
founding hospitals Of Paris"
She spoke in q tone of such mingled
bitterness and sorrow that h detect
i've forgot for a momen his object in
questioning her, and was moved to q
feeling of pity for her-the more SO that
her handsome face was now quite beau
tiful, under the conflict OF emotion that
0wayed her.
His cool. steel-blue eyes rested upon
1t for an instant In q glance of admira-
ton, and he said, almost with a u
of. feeling:
81 beg your pardon! I did not mean
to wound you. I will detain o but a
minute longer. How long have you
been in this country?"
LESS than a year."
'In this city ever since you came to
the country?" ,1
EYES,"
'"Then you have been in service in
New York before your present situa-
tion?"
"I have not. Mrs. Grayson is my
arst mistress since I left France. Mad
am was good enough to accept the ref.
erence and testimonials I brought with
me-"
- Detected Hantlin favored Clarice with
q slight plying glance. and thought to
himself: Forged. probably, every one
of them. Is h lady deep, I wonder, or
only a dupe?"
G He continued aloud, with a penetrat-
ing look at the Frencawoman:
zone question more, mademoiselle.
Are YOU married or stngle?"
For a moment the faint color deep
ened on the girls face, then faded
away, leaving her whittier than before.
d HIVE l1O oAS
in.a tone that was scarcely audible.
Again an incomprehensible feeling OF
pity smOte the detective. He. an
swered, softly:
s.That is all, mademoiselle. Thanks!
Sorry to have given you SO much trou-
ble!"
All present listened with attention to
Detective Hantlin's questionable law
yer with unconcealed Indignation. for.
having constituted himself the legal
defender of Mrs. Grayson, he feared
the French maid might be ~entrapped
iuto some expression injurious to her
mistress; Mrs. Martin, because 1t was
to her interest that suspicion should
fall on Clarice, and she absorbed greed
fly every word calculated to inJure ner
brothers lovely young bride. though
her own suspicious pointed in a widely
different direstion; Mr.. and Mrs. NOW
bray from natural anxiety for their
daughter.
Having concluded his interrogatory
NJ Leonce. the detective now addressed
himself to Clarice. =
siYou will excuse me, Mrs. Grayson, II
/ ask n question in reference to your
maids references. Were they entirely
satisfactory"
Entirely So"
.Pardon me. I suppose you have
written to the individuals from whom
they purported to come. ~inqutring into
them?"
II have not done SO. There seemed
no. necessity. The few personal In
uuiries that 1 felt It necessary to make
Of the young woman herself were an
swered 80 promptly and with such evil
dent truth that I was quite satisfied.
ANY further inquiry-if 1 should con-
daer It necessary to make any-wNl, no
doubt, be equally satisfactory"
The detective bowed In acknowledge
mAnt Of the implied rebuke In these
words. but added, with per-
severance:
more question"
And he again directed his glance to-
ward her, or rather toward the spot ne
had last seen her U
Eeonce was no longer there!
The detective looked hurriedly from
nne to the other, and with q compre-
hensiye glance swept the whole room;
MT the Frcnchwoman was no longer to
be seen.
.nd there was q general stir and a hur-
xied inquiry for h girl.
..Ieonce!" Mrs. Grayson called.
Swhere are you? Step
want you Directly
No reply came. /.
.Where can she be? Did any n see
e,er leave the room? How TRANCE!
what is the meaning Of it?'
/ Mrs. Martin made herself particular
~ busy. moving q couple OF large arm
chairs and parting h window cur.
fains. as IL under the impression thai
Ms. Grayson,s maid mus be some
here concealed III room, bu- with
M discovering any trace.of her. Le-
once had Disappeared.
some i or ten minutes were thus
suent IL fruitless conjecture and search
WIEN Clarice suddenly remembers
haf her maid was Of q very nervous vf
steuaperamert subject to%severe
headaches. SSass &
llNosdoibt he u sirri shasS retired g
l,er room rev ioInents;gs.s I'D
iooked wretchedly,s ny will send@a
0uc quire..sss ss5 & ~
aS sashe stretchsd IN. hand wal Est aaa
hefI.puil u = me tpokesss bnts saa1nEittll5h
'Nosmsdsna.spra don't y 8. me.