Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-11-27
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"IIer story seems to be straight" h'
said in an mdertone to Godfrey
What do you think about it?"
81 think she's perfectly innocent Of
any crime" answered Godfrey. Will
conviction. He had his doubts as t
the absolute straightness of her story
but he concluded to keep them to him
self.
well. there's nothing more to bt
learned out here" remarked Sim
moads, after another glance around.
Suppose we take look mt the othel
room" and he led the way toward the
inner door,"
It was an ordinary bedroom Of mod
crate size and with single closet. II
which few soiled clothes were hang
in.. The he'd had been lain upon. ant
evideHtly by Il 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 OH little table near the
bed.
81 guess Thompson was a boozer,'
observed Sinmonds.
"Yes." ;..:::eed Godfrey, "his face
showed that pretty plainly"
well. the man we're after amt IL
here; we'll have to search the house"
Cant we let Miss Croydon &c
home: She won't run away-1ll an
swer for that. Besides. there's nothing
against her"
Simmonds pondered minute.
ayes. l suppose so," he said ut last
"Of course she'll have to appear at the
inquest. DO you know her address"
"Yes; 81 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 chance to gel
away yet. wonder what's going OF
out there!" he added as they returned
together to the other room.
Tie; coi,lI hear commotion ol
some sort In the hall. the hum OF many
voices. the shuG!ins OF many feet.
The con,no...on sweilcd to an uproIl
as Si!umonds opened the door an0
closed it uuic:ly behind him. Godfrey
heard his voice raised In angry expos
tulat!on, and he chuckled grimly tC
himself us lie turned TO Miss Croydon
He guzed at her with interest. search
incly. pou,!p:ing how best to surprise
her secret-.at the bent head, with lis
crown of dark hair, shadowed by III
tie velvet hat; ut the rounded arms. the
graceful figure.
He pause yet moment. looking a
her, ut the slender hands, the little ear
and he pictured to himself what hel
training had Eeen, how she had beel
fenced away from the rough places OF
the world, the unpleasant things OF life
Certainly size could never have com
mitted such crime as this or ever
connived ut 1t.
Yet she had lied-deliberately ant
distinctly she had lied. She had tolc
him that she had never before seen the
dead man. She had told Simmonds JUS
the opDosite. Which was the truth
Doubtless the first. Her first impulse
would be to speak the truth. After
ward. ut leisure for moment. she hat
mastered her agitation. had thought ou
the lie. and had uttered 1t with sur
prising calmness.
MAY see you to your cab. Mis-:
Croydon?" he asked.
"To MY cab?" she repeated, half ris
ing. Il may go. then? am free! fo'
have not
betrayed you?" he finished as sht
stopped suddenly. mo, l don't intent
to. Whether you know the man yon
der or not. don't for an instant believe
you killed him."
"Oh. ! didn'tv she cried. 81 did m!
best to save him. But 1t was done 81
quickly. | didn't understand until to'
late"
"Ncyertlcle>s" continued Godfre!
evenly. Il think you're wrong In tryin.
to protect the scoundrel who did"
The color faded suddenly from he
face.
ITO protect him" she faltered.
"Im sure you know him. You coult
place him In the hands Of the police Il
you wished to do
The door opened and a man came II
"a keen faced man of middle age. wht
nodded to Godfrey and threw quick
penetrating glance at his companion
Behind him tue clamor burst out anew
various heads appeared In the doorway
various eager faces sought to peer Int
the room. but the newcomer calml!
closed the door and assured himself
that 1t was locked. He looked ut God
frey again. then eXpectantly at th'
girl
"Miss Croydon" said Godfrey. "thi'
is Coroner Goldberg. whose duty 1t
| to investigate this affair. and who ma!
wish to ask you some questions"
"Only few at present" began TIT
coroner in IL voice soft and deferential
as only he knew how to make 1t. How
often. with that voice. had he led wit
ness OH and on to his own ruin! "Yo'
were the only witness of this tragedy
| | believe. Miss CroydOn?
| "YeS. SIR"
care you acquainted with the. mur
derer?"
| mo, sir"
"But you could Identify him If tn
police succeed In capturing him"
oh. yes. sir"