Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-03-20
CHAPTER VIII.

De Sdiu- ulu HOl hliON just W hNA :
to GHG y forist iereabOu They are
all covered up you see. 1t is an even
Ing that might wither a flower with
one breath"
He passed the bouquet somewhat
awl wardly across the big table to
Brenda. who in the act Of receiving 1t
was so startled by tlss sudden appear
ance Of the ward detective. Barnes,
upon the threshold that she let the
flowers fall.
With due allowance for its general
lack of intelligence, it may be said that
the countenance Of Barnes was full Of
meaning. The man looked self as
sertive. confident and pleased.
81 beg your pardon" said he. "Who
Is in charge here?
II am for the moment" replied Ken.
dali
Barnes hcsitated. looking sidewise at
Alden Then his glance shifted to the
bouquet upon the table and rebounded
in the direction of the doctor.
"I'd like TO have a word with you"
he said.
Speak up" said Kendall. What is
itY
Those flowers are for the Miller GIRL
OF courseT said Barnes. "Well. you'd
better take look at em before you
send 'em IN. Oh, they're all right, |
guess, but you can't be too careful"
What do you meanT' demanded
Kendall.
Barnes pointed finger at Alden.
THAT man put something into them"
he said. 81 saw him do IT, | don't
know what 1t was but there's drugs
that, jf you smell of them, why, It's
your finish"
Kendall wGs too much surprised to
speak. Alden took n hasty step toward
Barnes and collided with Elmendorf.
who courteously begged his pardon.
Meanwhile Brenda picked up the bou-
quet from the table and as they all
turned toward her she opened the pa
per over the violets and pressed them
against her lips.
"They are very fragrant" she said.
That's All right" returned Barnes
doggedly, but he put something In
there What was itl'
"This bit OF paper. | suppose" said
Brenda taking 1t in her fingers. Your
message, Clnrence?'
~ thlnl: somebody ought to read IT,"
said Barnes. looking at Elmendorf out
Of the corner Of his eyes
Alden thrust Elmendorf aside as II
he had been paper dummy and then
checked himself. Barnes was already
in the hall
II can have no quarrel with this crea-
ture," said Alden. "As TO my mes
sage. appeal to Dr. Kendall"
This Is more than absurd" reJolned
the doctor "Mlss Maclane, whenever
you are ready
As Brenda stepped forward the bit
Of paper slipped out from among the
fowers and fell TO the floor. Elmen-
dorf picked It up.
II hope you won't misunderstood
me-" he said. perhaps | see farther
ahead than you do If | was In Mr..
Aldcn's~ place, I'd let somebody read
this"
lie gave the message to Brenda, who
glanced at Alden as she took It. lie
raised his hand in a gesture Of mega
tion.
Now, look here, all Of you" exclalm-
ed Barnes. Here's this girl In the
and he pointed with his thumb In the
supposed direction OF Elsic's room
"who's hiding what she knows don't
suy It's In this mans interest, but It's
IN somebody's interest; that's sure.
She wouldn't be the first woman that's
had the nerve 10 gft the knife and say
nothing. | don't accuse anybody, es-
pcclally not this man, for | amt got
thing against him. He's all right so
far as | know But what | say IL that
the girl ought not TO be getting mes
sages on the quiet"
Aldcn's face was white az paper, and
his eyes were aflre. II is probable that
every bone In Barnes body ached with
anticipation, but he had been kicked
too often In the way OF business 20 fee
before the actual contact
"Pve stood all OF this that my sys-
TEN can absorb" said Kendall, with
seriousness that scarcely fitted with
the peculiar phrase which had come
into his mouth. after this dime novel
nonsense or poisoned bouquets / don't
care TO have anything more from you.
Get outp
you're making mistake" said
Barnes and then backed out or the
room, grinnlng like monkey, as Ken
dali advanced toward the door.
Brenda replaced the note among the
flowers and gave her free hand TO Al
den, bidding him good night.
81 shall not be far away" he said as
the woman preceded Kendall out Of the
room. There's n lodging house next
Slcepi Well, at least shall be there.
You viii not fail 70 summon me if-if
there should be any reason for itr'
"You may depend upon me-" said
Brenda from the threshold, where she
had paused n moment while he spoke.
Kendall went with her 10 the mouth
OF the long corridor and then returned
TO the reception room.
"fbnt man must be insane" he said
to Elmendorf. what dld he mean by
coming here with such nbsurdlticsp
Ilt ullu DtlltNt III lHtHl any HoIt
than you do" replied the detective.
'IIe had no idea that there was any
thing wrong with the yiolets or with
the note. He was simply obeyiDg or
dcrs."
"OrdcrsY echoed Kendall. "Who
could have ordered him TO do such a
thingW
II guess Mr.. Alden knows" respond
ed Eimcndorf. "And, between our.
selves, think Mr.. Alden should have
permitted the note 20 be read right
here. hope Miss Miller won't destroy
H."
Kendall looked at Alden ns If 10 In
quire whether such thing was likely,
but CLEANED no answer. Aldcn's face
had resumed It's rlgldlty. and the ex-
preston which IL wore was intense. but
difficult 10 read.
However" continued Elmendorf. "if
It hadn't been that It would have been
something else. You're going 10 see