The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-05-18
L,.stts. the Jsifrsy.' maid

tcrest In the man most threatened by
my visit. Was it, could 1t be, on her
own account? Recalling what l had
heard whispered about the station con
ceriiug maid Of the Jeffreys who al
ways seemed on the point Of saying
something which never really left her
lips, stopped her as she was about to
slip upstairs and quietly asked:
Are you LorettaG'
The way she turned, the way she
looked at me, as she gave me a short
affirmative and then quickly proceed
ed on her way, convinced me that my
colleagues were right as to her being a
woman who had some cause for dread
ing police interference l instantly
made up my mind that here was a
mine TO be worked and that 1 knew
just the demure little soul best equip
ped to act the part of miner
In a moment she came back. and
had a chance to note again her pretty
but eXpressionless features among
which the restless eyes alone bespoke
character or decision.
"Mr. Jeffrey is in the back room
upstairs" she announced. "IIe says
FOR you TO come up"
rs 1t the room Mrs. Jeffrey used to
occupyT | asked. with open curiosity,
as / passed her.
An involuntary shudder proved that
she was not without feeling So did
the quick disclaimer:
mo, no. Those rooms are closed.
He occupies the one Miss Tuttle had
before she went away"
"Oh, then, Miss Tuttle Is gomez
Loretta disdained 10 answer She
had already said enough to cause her
10 bite her ZIP as She disappeared down
the basement stair. Decidedly the boys
were right An uneasy feeling followed
any conversation with this girl Yet
while there was slyncss i'm her man.
ner there was certain frank honesty
visible in it. TOO. which cauHel me 90
think that If she could ever be made ia
speak her evidence could be relied on.
Mr. jeffrey was sitting with his
back 10 the door when entered. but
turned as / spoke his maize ana held
out his hand for the note / carried lie
appeared 20 shrink from observation
and shifted uneasily as long as ] stood
in front OF him. though he said nothing
and did not lift his eyes from the letter
be was perusing Tin he heard me ster
back TO the door l had purposely left
open aud softly closed it, Then he
glanced up with a keen If not an
alarmed look which seemed an exag
gerated one for the occasiou-that Is
II he had no secret TO keep.
"DO YOU suffer so from draftsf" be
asked. rising In a way which in itsell
was dismissal.
/ smiled an amused denial, then
with the simple directness I though
most likely 10 win me his confidence
entered straight upon my business il
these plain words;
Pardon me. Mr.. Jeffrey, / have
something 10 say which is not exactly
fitted for the ears Of servants" TheI
as he pushed his chair suddenly bacl
f added reassuringly; 1T Is not po
lice natter sir. but an entirely per
sonal one. 1t may strike you as inn
portant and il may not Mr.. jeffrey
was the man who made the unhappy
diseovery IN the Moore mansion whicl
hat plunged this house into mourning.
phis announcement startled him ant
produced a visible change I'm his man
ner. His eyes nsw FIRST TO one doc
and then 20 another. as II Il were b.
who feared Intrusion now.
Il beg your pardon for speaking o.
so painful D topic. ] went on as sool