Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-10-13


observed Simmonds.
YES" agreed Godfrey. Ibis face
showed that pretty plainly"
We'll. the man we're after amt ir
here; Wen have to search the house,
"Can't we let Miss Croydon go
home! She won't run away--I'n an
swer for thst. Besides. there's nothing
against her"
Simmonds pondered a minute.
Yes. l suppose so" he said at last.
'-of course she'll have TO appear at the
inquest. DO you know her address?''
YES; 81 East Sixty-ninth street"
SimmOnds Jotted II down In his note
book.
IAN right he said. You'd better
take her down to her cab"
''I'll see ksr down 20 her cab. What
are you going to dor
I'm going to quiz the janitor and
| then search the house. Maybe the
other fellow hasn't had a chance to get
way yet. l wonder what's going on
out thereT" he added as they returned
together 10 the other room.
They could hear a commotion OF
some sort in the hall, the hum Of many
voices, the shutting Of many feet
The commotion swelled TO an uproar
rs Simmonds opened the door and
closed it quickly behind him. Godfrey
heard his voice raised in angry expos
tulation. and be chuckled grimly to
himself as be turned 10 Miss Croydon.
He gazed at her with interest search
| lngly, bordering how best TO surprise
her secret-at the bent head with its
crown Of dark hair. Swallowed 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 10 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 com
| mitted such crime as this or even
cOnnived at IT,
Yet she had led-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 2
| Doubtless the first Her FIRST Impulse
would be 70 speak the truth After
ward. az leisure for n moment she had
mastered her agitation. had thought out
the lie. and had uttered II with sur
prising calmness
May I see you to your cab. Miss
| CroydonT" he asked.
ITO my cabT' she repeated. half ris-
Ing. Il may go then? I am freeT You
have not
betrayed your ne finished rs she
stopped suddenly. mo. 1 don't intend
90. Whether you know the man you
der or not. I don't for an instant believe
you killed him"
"Oh. didn'tt' she cried. Il did my
best 20 save him. But II was done so
quickly. I didn't understand until too
late"
Nevertheless. continued Godfrey
evenly. Il think you're wrong I'm trying
10 protect the scoundrel who did"
The color 'f5-sed suddenly from her
face.
ITO protect hlmg" she faltered
I'm sure You know him. You could
place him ln the hands OF the police IL
YOU wished 60 do
The door opened and n man came IN
"A keen faced man OF middle age. who
nodded 10 Godfrey and threw quick.
penetrating glance NJ his companion.
Behind him the clamOr burst ont anew
various heads appeared in the doorway.
various eager faces sought 20 peer into
closed the door and assured himself
that 10 was locked. lie looked at God.
frey again. then expectanuy az the
girl
"NIiss Croydon" said Godfrey. this
Is Coroner Goldberg. whose duty Il Is
20 Investigate this affair. aud who may
wish TO ask YOU some questions"
"Only a few AT present" began the
coroner In a voice soft and deferential.
as only he knew how 20 make It. How
often. with that voice. had he led wit
ness on and on 20 his own ruin! you
were the only witness OF this tragedy
! believe, Miss Croydonf'
YES. sir
Are You acquainted with the muir
dererg'
NO. sir"
"But YOU could Identify him II the
police succeed ia capturing himy'
'Oh. yes. sir"
you have already given Mr.. Sim.
monds description OF himT
Yes. sir; as well as / could"
And told him the whole storyY''
Yes sir-the whole story"
Except one detail. believe. You
did not explain how you came TO be
In this room Will you tell me thatT
II do not think It concerns the police
sir"
You would better let me Judge OF
that II IL does not concern the police
! promise you il shall go no further
persist" continued Goldberg. be
cause think that perhaps the story
may help Us 70 identify this man."
1T WON'T said Miss Croydon, "bu
will tell yOu-brie1y. this mar
claimed to have certain papers which
concerned our family. We had neve