CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1902-02-06
CHAPTER v.


tSCN9O OF opening a conver-
sation and showing
that personal interest which u Indy al
ways appreciates Mr.. Barnes mention
ed the singular circumstance that he
happened TO know man who had seen
Miss Maclane that afternoon He won
dered whether Miss Maclane could
guess where II was that this man had
seen her Upon Brenda's acknowledge
Ing that she was unabla TO solve this
riddle Mr.. Barnes kindly gave her n
cia,-
''If you could remember where you
were nt precisely ten minutes To B. he
said. 'why. that would settle IT.
Brenda smiled at the great astute-
ness OF MIR. Barnes. but she declined to
be led into review OF her movements
that afternoon Mr.. iInEgcriy theL
struck into the conversation with the
remark that II was curious how people
could forget where they had been. and
he instanced the case OF a young lady
who had lost an excellent nilbl I'm n
criminal AFFAIR through the error OF not
taking the police into her confidence
at an early stage OF th- proceedings.
while the fncts were frcsh Ia her mind
Brenda suggested thai perhaps the
lady did not fully trust the pclicc.
whcreupop Mr. Barnes asserted warm
ly that tha; was the greatest mistake
possible to n human being.
Always trust the police" he said
-Guiliy or innocent IT'S the only thing
to do
Al the hospital II became immedi-
ateiy evident that Barnes and Haggcr-
~ had encountered a mysterious aud
formidable obstacle. They were about
10 accompany brenda into the nec.p-
tlon room. and SHE had begun TO fear
that they might never leave her while
she remained in the building. but for
some inscrutnbl- reason they vanished.
and Brenda's last glimpse showed
them obviously crestfallen.
She had been somewhat lIgbtened in
spirits by the absurd comedy played
by these dull wliicd men. II had end
ed. however. aud the real significance
OF the drama again asserted Itself
The reception room OF ST. WinIfreds
Is lofty and hare aud there was chin
air In II evrn on that snltry June even.
Ing RrcnJa observed that the plac.
inspired her two companions with n
vague terror Tb. maid was scizsd
with n visible trembling. and the stat
war; James shifted his heavily shod
feet upon the floor arousIng singular
ly loud echoes that seemed TO affect
him unplcasantly.
The attendant who had shown Them
In returned after some minutes ali.
scnc- with two men one Of whom
Brenda had seen In the hail as they cn.
tered. He was the typical hospital ply,
sician OF the popular conception. Brcn.
da noted only that he worr spectacies
and that his upper lip was very Thin
and rigid In his companion Brenda
was reJoiccd TO recognize young doc
tor Of her acaualutaucc. sumner Ken.
dali She advanced hastily. with es
tended hand
"Dr Kendall" she exclaimed. II had
no idea you were connected with ST.
wInlfrcd's I have come to s.-' Miss
Miller IL she consciousf What has
she saidy.'
The physician seemed 10 be laboring
under considerable embarrassment He
took Brcnda's band with quick. ncrN.
Gus movement. and lac cla~ped II hard
sr than the forms OF polite society per
init Hut he did not meet the young
lndy's eye.
sour patient Is conscious he said,
'Shc has an excellent chance Of recoN-
cry Indeed under ordinary clrcum.
stances there would hc small cause Tor
alarm, To our great surprise. we ind
that she does not know who Inflicted
the wound II may be only n lapse of
=. u. l..at fna o
that she viii nrvrr be able to answer
the question
does not r echoed Brenda.
You must understand" said Ken.
dali. that the assaiiant stood behind
her. lie. whoever II may have been. Is
Sunposcd to have entered the room
while Miss Miller was out on the oai-
cony ! have had the place accurately
described to me, In the corner OF the
room near the eastern window ihere is
quite large closet. Perhaps YOU no
ticcd IT,"
Brenda inclined her head.
"Thc assassin may have hidden him
self there" Kendall continued. "Miss
Miller remembers stepping into the
room through that eastern window,
and she knows nothing OF whut hap
pcned between that moment and the
time of her awakening here
"Shc win live said Brenda. "She
will! remember some day"
"Shc can never remember what she
did not observe" replied Kendall. cit
may be that she neither saw nor heard
the assassin Az TO the wound, ! hard
ly know what to say. The knife enter
ed between the first and scronl ribs
nnd passed downward very close to the
body wall. Ordinarily Il would be al
most impossible TO innict such a