The Red Cloud chief., 1905-11-24

NOTE, answered singleton, smiling.
But, about Miss H%olladay?"
Singleton tapped his lips thought
fully with his pencil.
Before | answer" he said at last, 81
should like TO go with you and ask her
one question"
Very well" assented Mr.. Royce In
stantly and led the way to the room
where Miss Holiday awaited us.
She rose with flushing face as we Ell
tered and stood looking at us without
speaking; but, despite her admirable
composure. / could guess how she was
racked with anxiety.
Miss Holiday" began my chief.
"this Is Mr.. Singleton, the district at
torney, who wishes to ask you a few
questions"
zone question only" corrected Sin
gleton, bowling. "Were you at your IA
TIERS office yesterday afternoon, Miss
HolladayT"
mo, SIR" she answered instantly md
emphatically. II have not been near
my fathers Office for more than q
week"
l saw him study her for a moment,
then he bowed again.
THAT Is ALL" he said. 81 don't think
the evidence justifies me in holding
her. Mr.. Royce" and he left the room.
l followed him, for | knew that | had
no further part in our juniors errand.
l went back to our table and busted
myself gathering together our belong
ings. The 700 had gradually cleared
and at the end Of ten minutes only
the coroner and his clerk remained.
They had another case, It seemed, to
open In the neutrality-suspicious. case
which PERHAPS involved just as great
heartachc and anguish as ours had.
Five minutes later my chief came hur-
rying back to me and a glance Mt his
beaming eyes told me how he had been
welcomed.
Miss Holiday has started home
with her maid" he said. "She asked
me to thank you for her for the great
work you did this afternoon, Lester. I
told her it was really you who had
done everything. Yes, it was!" he add
ell, answering my gesture Of denial.
while ! was cropping hclplessly
around in the dark you found the way
to the light. But come; we must get
back to the Office"
We found n cab at the curb and in
IA moment were rolling back over the
route we had traverscd that morning
ages ago, as it seemed to me! 1t was
only u few minutes after 3 o'clock,
and | reflected that | should yet have
fin,n tn .np,nlatn tho nnnnr1 I'm tho
Hurd case before leaving for the night.
Mr.. Graham was still at his desk,
and he at once demanded an account
Of the hearing. l went back to my
work, and SO caught only a word here
and there-enough, however, to show
me that our senior was deeply inter
ested in this extraordinary affair. AS
for me, | put all thought of 1t resolute-
ly from me and devoted myself to the
work in hand. 1t was done at last,
and | locked my desk with n sigh Of
relief. Mr.. Graham nodded to me
kindly as | passed out, and | left he
Office with the comfortable feeling
that | had done a good days work for
myself as well as for my employers.
A man who had apparently been
lettering in the hall followed me into
the elevator.
This is Mr.. Lester, isn't IT." he
asked as the car started to descend.
= YES" | said, looking at him in sur
prise. He was well dressed, with
alert eyes and strong, pleasing face. !
had never seen him before.
"And you're going to dinner, aren't
you, Mr.. LesterT" he continued.
"Yes-to dinner" | assented, more
and more surprised.
"Now, don't think me impertinent,"
, he said, smiling at my look of amaze
ment, but l want you to dine with
me this evening. l car promise you
as good a meal as you will get at most
places in New York"
But I'm not dressed" I protested.
THAT doesn't matter In the least
neither am |, you see. We will dine
without Others"
"Where?" | questioned.
! well, how would the Studio suit? 2"
d, The car had reached the ground floor
> and we left 1t together. | was com
pletely In the dark as to my compan
|. IONS purpose, and yet 1t could have bu'
, one explanation-it must be connected
in some way with the Holiday case
Unless-and l glanced at him again
. No, certainly, he was not a confidence
man-even II he was, l would rather
|. welcome the adventure. My curiosity
= won the battle.
= VERY WELL" l said. EN- be glad t