Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-12-20

sS .s::lx.s y morning. Both Mr.. Graham
and Mr.. Royce happened TO be ont at
the time, SO that hnd the inner room
to myself, and directed that Godfrey
be shown in Mt once.
81 was expecting YOU" said, rising
to shake hands with him THAT stare
OF yours last night warned me that
you'd be around to demand an explaua-
ton"
Demand is hardly the word,' he
corrected MS he sat down. "Bescech
would he nearer it. l confess l was
never more surprised in my life than
when / saw you sitting there calmly
chatting away with Mrs. Trcmaine."
Then You have met her: She
thought she was mistaken"
You mean she knew me-" he asked
quickly.
she asked who you were; she fan
ced she'd met you somewhere
Godfrey laughed n little dry laugh.
she has" he said, but It's strange
she remembers il, for I'll swear she
never looked ut me, or perhaps" lie
added. knitting his hrows, "she has
some special reason to remember. |
happened to be in the hall Of the Mara
thon apartment house talking with
Higgins the janitor, when she and her
husband came in from dinner the night
that man Thompson was killed there.
Perhaps you remember about TT"
l nodded, smiling.
Yes, | remember"
Something in my face caught his at
tention.
you mean YOU know something
about it:' be asked quickly. But a
movement of feet across the floor ont
side interrupted him. We cant talk
here he said. "Will you be at home
tonight"
Yes"
Then III look you up and he turn
ed to 60
wait a minute" | said. I'm not
with Mrs. Fitch any more
Aren't YOU"
NO. I'm quaWered ut the Mara
thon."
AT the Marathon"
es. Suit fourteen. higgins Will
show you up"
lie stared at me an instant with
| starting eyes. Then the door opened
| and Mr.. Royce came in, followed by
| two clerks.
"Tll look for you this evening"" |
added, hugely enjoying his stupefac-
ton.
He nodded mechanically and turned
away, walking like fl man in dream.
"We,l," began Godfrey as he settle
| back in his chnir and looked arounu
the room, "this is about the last place
on earth I'd have expected to find
you
| And yet it's not so wonderful"
| pointed out. II had to change my lodg
inGs and found that those would suit
It's In y0ur blood" he went on
smiling. 1T has been ever since that
affair of Miss Holiday. You'll neye.
get it out. Hut I'm glad you're here
I've an idea that we're just on the
threshold OF very remarkable mys
terry, and you can help lot"
Then the murder wasn't the end?'
NO; ! fancy it was only the begin
ming. Now tell me how you happened
10 be with Mrs. Tremaine last night"
"Tremane had an important bust
ness engagement" ] said, which he
couldn't break. He'd promised to take
her TO the theater and had secured
seats. Rather than disappoint her hi
asked me to take his place"
"And she didn't objectY"
"She made the best Of II, guess"
"She seemed to be getting n goo,
deal of fun out Of It,"
"She was. She's the most uncOnven
tlonai creature ever met. She'd inter
est you, Godfrey"
II don't doubt It In the least. Blu
Tremaine interests me too. You don
happen to know what this business en-
gagement WASP" and he looked at M
with queer smile.
mo. l suppose that it had some
thing to do with his railroad"
"Fiis railroad2"
I related briefly the project In while
Tremaine was engaged.
well, perhaps 1t was connected wit
that" Godfrey said when had finish