The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1902-02-28

THAT man put something into them,
he said. ~ saw him do 1t. l don
know what it was, but there's drug
that, If you smell Of them. why, III
your finish"
Kendall was too much surprised t,
speak. Alden took hasty step towart
Barnes and collided with Elmendort
who courteously begged his pardon
Meanwhile Brenda picked up the bou
quet from the table. and as they al
turned toward her She opened the pa
per over the violets and pressed then
against her lips.
"They are very fragrant" she said.
"Thats all right" returned Barnes
doggedly, but he put something il
there. What was it,"
"rhis bit of paper | suppose" said
Brenda, taking it in her fingers. "Youl
message. Clarence"
IL think somebody ought to read It,
said Barnes, looking ut Elmendorf out
of the corner of his eyes.
Alden thrust Elmendorf aside as if
he had been paper dummy and then
checked himself Barnes was already
in the hall.
81 can have no quarrel with this crca-
ture," said Alden. "As to my mes
sage, appeal to DR.. Kendall"
"This is more than absurd" rcjoined
the doctor. Miss Maclane, whenever
you are ready
AS Brenda stepped forward the bit
of paper slipped out from among the
flowers and fell to the floor. Elmen-
dorf picked 1t up.
81 hope you won't misunderstood
me-" he said. "lcrhaps | see farther
ahead than you do. II was in MFR.
Aldcn's place, I'd let somebody read
this
He gave the message to Brenda, who
glanced at Alden us she took it. He
raised his hand in n gesture Of mega
ton.
"Now, look here, all of YOU exclaim-
I'd Barnes. "lferc's this girl in the
and he pointed with his thumb in the
supposed direction Of Elsie's room
who's hiding what she knows. don't
say 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 to get the knife and say
nothing. | don't accuse anybody, es-
prcially not this man, for amt got
thing against him. He's all right SO
far as know. But what say is that
the girl ought net to be getting mes.
Sa-"s on the quiet
Ald"n's face was white ms paper and
his eyes were aiirc. II is probable that
every bone in Barnes body arhcd with
but he had been kicked
too often in the way of business to flee
before the actual contact.
1--WE stood all of this that my sys-
tenn can absorb" said Kendall. with a
seriousness that scarcely fitted with
TIE peculiar phrase which had come
into his mouth. CATER this dime novel
nonsense of poisoned bouquets don't
care to have anything more from you.
Get out"
you're making mistake" said
Barnes and then backed out Of the
room, grinning 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.
II Shall not be far away" he said as
The woman preceded Kendall out Of the
room. "Thero's a lodging house next
loor. shall get place to sleep there.
Sleep? Well, at least shall be there.
You will not fail to summon me lift
there should be any reason for it!'
"You may depend upon me-" said
Brenda from the threshold, where she
lad paused Il moment while he spoke.
Kendall went with her to the mouth
If the long corridor and then returned
o the reception room.
THAT man must be insane" he said |
o Elmcnlorf. what did he mean by |
coming here with such absurdities:'
"iIc didn't believe in them any more
han you do replied the detective. .
lie had no idea that there WAS any .
hing wrong with the violcts or with .
he note. He was simply obcying or
lurS.'
"Hrd"rs" echoed Kendall. "Wlo
ould have ordered him to do such a
lng:'
Il guess Mr.. Alden Knows" respond
I'IIunt,lntp M h,t,t
elves, think Mr. Alden should have
vrlnittcd the note to be read right
ere. hope Miss Miller won't destroy
Kendall locked Mt Alden as If to in
Uirc whether such a thing was likely,
Ut CLEANED no answer Aldrn's face
ai resumed its rigdity, and the ex-
rrS@i"n which it wore was intense, but
itiicult 10 read.
"llowcycr,' continued Elmcndorf, "if
hadn't been that it would have been
else. You're going to see a
ood deal Of this sort of thing in the
ext few days, Mr.. Alden"
"A good deal of whatT' said Alden.
II 10 ''Chhi'Hliy hhoWn us making
ouble' for n man. replied the de-
'ctlvc. Il don't know why should
mt you on, but I'm doing it just the
me"
DO you mean to tell me-" demanded
llrn. that Captain Nralc expects to
tort an important secret from me by
l'ldish tric'S 8: annoyance such as
iSI"
To Re continued.