Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-09-22

evidently by q person fully dressed, for there were marks of muddy shoes upon the counterpane, fresh marks as of one who had come in during the evenings storm. An empty whisky bottle lay on a little table near the bed.
 "I guess Thompson was boozer," observed Slmmonds.
 "Yes," agreed Godfrey, This face showed that pretty plainly" "Well, the man we're after ain't In here; we'll have to search the house."
 Cant we let Miss Croydon go home? She won't run away-Ill an swer for that. Besides, there's nothing against her."
 Slmmonds pondered minute.
 "Yes, 1 suppose so," he said at last. "Of course she'll have to appear at the inquest. Do you know her address?" "Yes; 21 East Sixty-ninth street."
 Simmonds jotted it down in his note book.
 "All right" he said. You'd better take her down to her cab."
 "I'll see her down to her cab. What are you going to do?"
 "I'm going to quiz the janitor and then search the house. Maybe the other fellow hasn't had a chance to get away yet. wonder what's going on out thereY he added as they returned together to the other room. | They could hear commotion Of some sort in the hall, the hum of many voices, the shuf1ing of many feet. The commotion swelled to an uproar as Simmonds opened the door and closed it quickly behind him. Godfrey heard his voice raised in angry expos tulation, and he chuckled grimly to himself as he turned to Miss Croydon.
 He gazed at her with interest, search ingly, pondering how best to surprise her sccret-at the bent head, with it's crown of dark hair, shadowed by lit- tie velvet hat; at the rounded arms, the graceful figure.
 He paused yet moment, looking at her, at the slender hands, the little ear, and he pictured to himself what her training had been, how she had been fenced away from the rough places of the world, the unpleasant things of life. Certainly she could never have con- mitted such crime as this or even connived at 1t.
 Yet she had lied-deliberately and distinctly she had lied. She had told him that she had never before seen the dead man. She had told Simmonds just the opposite. Which was the truth? Doubtless the first. Her first impulse would be to speak the truth. After ward. at leisure for a moment, she had mastered her agitation, had thought out the lie, and had uttered 1t with sur prising calmness. zrl
 "May I see you to your cab, Miss Croydon?" he asked.
 "To my cab?" she repeated. half ris- ing. q may go, then? I am free? You have not I Betrayed you?' he finished as she stopped suddenly. ''No, l don't intend to. Whether you know the man you- der or not, don't for an instant believe you killed him."
 "Oh, I dldn'tw she cried. 'I did my best to save him. But 1t was done SC quickly. didn't understand until too late"
 "Neyertheless,", continUedo 2 Godfrey evenly, "I think you're wrong In trying to protect the scoundrel who did"
 The color faded suddenly from hel face.
 "To protect himT' she faltered.
 'I'm sure you know him. You could place him in the hands of the police fl you wished to do'-
 The door opened and man came in "a keen faced man of middle age, who nodded to Godfrey and threw a quick penetrating glance at his companion Behind him the clamor burst out anew various heads appeared in the doorway various eager faces sought to peer into the room. but the newcomer calmly closed the door and assured himself that 1t was locked. He looked at God frey again, then expectantly at tht girl.
 Miss Croydon" said Godfrey. "thi' is Coroner Goldberg, whose duty 1t f to investigate this affair. and who ma! wish to ask you some questions"
 "Only a few at present" began tn coroner in voice soft and deferential as only he knew how to make it. Hov often, with that voice. had he led wit ness on and on to his own ruin. ''Yo' were the only witness of this tragedy , believe. Miss Croydon"
 "Yes, sir"
 , "Are you acquainted with the mur dererT'
 "No, sir"
 But you could identify him If tn police succeed in capturing himr , ''Oh. yes. sir"
 "You have already given srr. Sin 3 monds description of himT "Yes. sir; as we'll as could" a And told him the whole storyT
 "Yes. sir-the whole story"
 Except one detail. 1 believe. Yc \ did not explain how you came to l l. in this room. Will you tell me thatT'
 "I do not think 1t concerns the polio i, sir"
 . "You would better let me judge { il that: if it does not concern the polio
 promise you 1t shall go no furthe f I persist" continued Goldberg. b
 cause I think that perhaps the stoI I may help us to identify this man." i. "It won't' said Miss Croydon, "b'