Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-17

actor who feels that some expression OF
surprise is expected from him.
"She?' he repeated. nom can you
possibly mean by she?"
The surprise l expressed at this bold at
tempt at righteousness was better simu-
lated than his, hope.
You don't know" exclaimed. can you
live directly opposite a place OF such re-
markable associations and not interest
yourself in who goes in and out OF It's de-
serted doors? %
II don't sit in my front window, ne
peevishly returned.
I let my eye roam toward chair stand
ing suspiciously near the very window he
had designated.
but YOU saw the light?" suggested.
Il saw that from the doorstep when l
went out to give Ridge his usual five
minutes breathing spell on the stoop But
you have not answered my question.
Whom do you mean by she?
Veronica jeffrey" I replied. she who
was Veronica Moore. She has visited this
haunted house Of hers for the last time
Last time!' Either he could not or
would not understand me.
What has happened to my Nicer ne
cried, rising with an energy that displaced
the great dog and sent him, with hanging
head and trailing tail. to his own special
run upon ghost in those dismal apart
ments You interest me greatly. did not
think she would ever have the pluck to visit
this house again after what happened at
her wedding"
''She has had the pluck" assured him;
and what is more, she has had enough or
1t not only to re-enter the house, but to re-
enter 1t alone At least, such Is the pres
ent inference Had you been blessed with
more curiosity and made more frequent use
Of the chair so conveniently placed Tor
viewing the opposite house you might have
been in a position to correct this inference
1t would help the police materially to know
positively that she hs.d no companion In her
fatal visit"
"Fatal?'' he repeated, running his finger
inside his neckband, which suddenly
seemed to have grown too tight for COM
fort. Can it be that my niece has been
frightened to death in that old place? You
alarm mel"
He did not look alarmed. but then he was
not of an impossible nature. Yet he was
of the same human clay as the rest OF u.s.
and IL he knew no more of this occurrence
than he tried to make out could not be al
together impervious to what mad 10 say
next.
you have right to be alarmed"
I assented. She was not fright
ened to death. yet is she lying
dead on the library floor" Then, with a
glance at the windows about me- I added
lightly: II take 1t that pistol shot de-
livered over there could not be heard in this
room"
He sank rather mechanically into his
seat, yet his face and form did not lose
that sudden assumption Of dignity which
had observed in him ever since my entrance
into the house.
II am overwhelmed by this news" he re-
marked "She has shot herselff Whyf'
IT did not say that she had shot herself"
1 carefully repeated. yet the facts point
that way. and Mr.. Jeffrey accepts the sui
eide theory without question
"Ah, Mr.. Jeffrey Is therel'
s'Most certainly: he was sent for at once"
"And Miss Tuttle? She came with him. Of
course?"
'She came but not with him. She Is very
fond of her sister,"
81 must go over at once" no cried. leap
ing again to his feet and looking about for