Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-08
THE ACCOMPLICE
FREDERICK TREVOR HILL.
Copyright & oths
A res rved.
FREDERICK TREVOR HILL.
1905, by Harper & Brothers.
All rights reserved.

| surely he would now bring out the rest of
| the story as l knew It, and see where the
proofs were pointing. He had the necessary
| clew In his possession. Would he have the
moral courage to abandon his pursuit of
the defendant and camp on the housekeep-
| er's trail?
What was the condition of the skirt
when you threw it away, Miss Mapes?
Could 1t have been worn?'
l recognized the vital significance of the
prosecutors question and listened eagerly
for the answer.
Il don't think So
Why don't you think SOP?
almost smiled as 1 heard the question.
Gilbert was clearly on the trail now, and
hung breathlessly on his every word
Because / remember ripping the lining
out. and If the rest had been wearable I'd
nave given 1t to some poor person. l don't
believe in waste
Did you recall any person other than
Householder" ;
NO but there might have been others
Inc material Is in common use for mem
clothes as well as women's.'
Miss Mapes. when did you first hear of
Mr.. Shaws death?"
The housekeeper answered this question
and then to my intense chagrin the prosecu-
tor started upon line Of inquiry which
speedily carried him far afield and LEFT me
to follow him as best l could in INV amaze
ment and dismay. Again and again he
struck the housekeepers track, but no
sooner was he headed in her direction than
some chance word would divert him, and
ne would sWerve from the path and plunge
in blind thicket of details At times il
seemed as though he were Intentionally
avoiding the subject Of Miss Mapes' where
abouts on the night of November 2 so
perilously close did he come to the question
Whlch would have focused attention upon
hef and changed the whole course of the
triai. But as the examination continued
realized that accident and not design was
responsible for tbp
ulehess or his inquiries encouraged me to
peileVe that sooner or later he must light
upon the necessary query
he witness tactics, however were even
more dlffcult to understand than Gilbert's
Sle mad gone out of the way to advise me
or her occupancy of Miss Emory's room.
out she took no pains to supply the prose
e sot',a,, win TINS information She did not
actually mlslead him, as far as
could see but she gave him no
assistance Her answers were grudpinglv
snort ana unsuggestive, but they Indicated
no active opposition to the examiner If
he bent all his energy upon some unimnor.
Iant subject which might have been dis
posed or with word. she allowed him to
uncover 1t detail by detail, until the futility
Oh further search was demonstrated to
every eye When he stood on the verge
OF discovery she gave him no sign of
encouragement or warning, merely drifting
on before him like a will-o' the-wisp. elu-
slxe' intangible, knocking pursuit
Ihus the exhaustive and exhaustinp Jnoui
sttton continued like the game of .Srwentv
S9uestlons amplied and extended almost
beyond the limits of endurance More than
once L was upon the point of interruptinr
but restrained MYSELF, fearing to spoil some
plan did not understand and defeat the
END IN view: | had hard struggle, how
ever, 10 control myself at crucial moments
when single word or even a look might
nave given the necessary cue. Now II Is
eoming! 1 whispered to myself over and
over again, but as one opportunity after an
other slipped by lost hope and grew more
restless, irrttated and nervous with each
succeeding question.
Miss Mapes, how far was Your room
from Mr.. Shaws study?"
leaned forward eagerly as the prosecu-
LOT put the question, every nerve in my
body tinsling with excitement. Gilbert was
keep 1t? In the intensity of the moment /
lost all sense of my surroundings and
crouched In my seat like a hunter stalking
long-sought game.
MY room was in what was called the
west extension"
And that is quite long distance from
M" "ye sh@"s r0omsE
Too far for you to have heard the noise
OF struggle, II there was a struggle in his
rooms?'
And the servants? Could they have
heard any such noise from their sleeping
rooms?''
II do not think they could"
so Miss Emory was the only person
whose room was situated that she could
easily hear any unusual noise in Mr.. Shaws
study?"
yes"
THAT is all. Your witness, Mr. Barstowr
1 fairly gasped as Gilbert turned to his
opponent. Was it possible that he was
abandoning the pursuit al the very moment
of success? Did he suspect nothing? Was
he blind?
mo questions"
heard Barstow's words, but I could not
m lie anth he H.. IT,
the witness to escape in this fashion! It
was too preposterous for belief
You are excused. madam, but do not
leave the building without the direction of
the court
Miss Mapes had risen and was actually
moving toward the judges chambers before
l awoke to the reality of what was hap
pening and in the excitement of the. mo-
ment l forgot the Difference due the court.
Waltz l almost shouted.
The woman visibly started as I spoke,
Did you occupy your own room on the
night of the murder?' l demanded, breath
lessly.
Il did not. occupied Miss Emory's"
I saw Judge Dudleys finger menacing ME
as put the question, and at the same mo-
ment Barstow and Gilbert sprang to tneir
feet, but the housekeeper answered before
any one could interfere, and a deep hush
followed. Then his honor broke the 81
lence.
Return to the witness chair, If you
please, madam he requested sternly.
Take your seats, gentlemen! Everybody
IN the room sit down. he added In a
voice Of thunder.
The crash of his heavy gavel startled me,
and glancing over the room ] saw thai
more than half the spectators had risen TO
their feet.
(ro be continued tomorrow
A Christmas Garden.