The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1902-02-19
EQUAL PARTNERS
BY HOWARD FIELDING
Copyright, 1901. by Charles W. Hooke.
By HOWARD FIELDING
1T TED minutes ar1er , sent IT o

1T TED minutes aIIer = sent IT
! John Robinson, clerk In my Office"
"Whcre is he now:'
81 don't Know" answered Alden.
didn't wait for him to come bacl
Now, answer my question. Who di
this tLing!"
Nealc spread his bands abroad wit
Il grotcsque gesture intended to dis
claim the possession Of the informa
| ton.
"We're all at sea-" he said. "Some
body got into this room and stabbed
the girl with this knife"
He suddenly lifted newspaper tina
had lain on the table and disclose,
| the weapon beneath ii. The Ion,
blade was open and visibly stainet
| with blood. Brenda's hand had becI
within six inches of it, and at tn,
sight she started back with such alarm
that Or. Blair stretched out his arm
to support her. She did not fall, how.
ever, hut stood rigid, staring at Alden.
The color rushed to his face. He put
up his Land and pushed back the tan
Gle of light brown hair that was lying
moist upon his forehead.
Recognize IT." said Neale, with his
mirthless grin.
at is mine,' replied Alden in the
same rcprcssed and steady tone that
he had used throughout this scene.
II gave it to her"
when"
"A few days ago said Alden. II
don't exactly remember"
Queer present." rejoined the cap
tain. for Il girl
"she was cutting some pictures cut
Of the magazines" replied Alden. II
happened to have the knife in my
pocket. She used it, and ! didn't take
it back
The captain slowly nodded his head,
as one who has reached the end Of
topic and is preparing for the next.
"And now" said he, "how long have
you known this Young LADY,"
II" waved his hand toward Brenda.
Il have known Miss Maclane Il long
tine said Alden. why do you ask?'
Miss Maclane, ch:" said the cap
tain. clcvating the strange tufts OF
parli colorcd hair that were his eye
browS, 81 understood that her name
was Williams"
Il have done an absurdly foolish
thing" said Brenda, addressing Alden.
81 was afraid my name would be pub
lishcd. and 50 | tried to deceive these
people,
Big mistake" rejoined Captain
Neale, shaking his head solemnly.
This whole story will have TO come
out. and if the facts are known to the
police ut the start it will come out
straight; otherwise there's no telling
what the reporters will do with It,"
There is no reason whatever" said
Alden, why Miss Maclanc should be
brought into this affair"
"rherc isn't, eh:' said the captain.
why is she here? sympathy for a
woman that She says she never saw:
No; guess we'll have to have some
thing better
IF You don't get it, said Alden,
whist ,hen?'
"l'Il have to hold her as q witness"
"lou mean that You will put me I'M.
der arresl:' demanded Brenda, her
face and even her lips absolutely color.
less.
IN have TO" said the cal ain. /,
"And suppose that answer all your
questions now" She asked.
\ra!c struck his hand down upon the
table.
You can 20 houe Just as soon as
you've done it, he declared, and at
that momrnt a man IN plain clothes,
hut with the unmis!akahle stamp Of
The pole" upon him. entered the room
ald ,Hlureh bis superior.
EXCUSE mo for minute" said
Male, and. accompanied by the man
" h" bad just appeared upon the scene,
J." stepped uut into the hay.
Brenda turned to Or. BElir, who was
t'ahiug against the mnnrrlpiece.
"pr. Blair" She whispered, you will
l"aN ing this house" .
"N",' replied the physician slowly;
II viii not"
What does this moan;' demanded
Alden
hr Blair regarded Alden steadily for