The Washington times., 1906-07-08

places the poor man IN 1rightIui
position. You would really feel
sorry for him if you knew him as
well as ] do She moaned little.
then shifted at her Subsistence
fell.
The men looked at each other.
They exchanged two c. three
signs by gesture and frOwn, and at
last the patroiman exclaimed:
We'll, you've got 10 sing this
song, old man. I'm out Of II. So
you might as well go ahead"
Mrs. Hartley wondered if they
could hear her heart pounding at
her ribs and making her corset
creak at every blow. You're in il
just as much as / am. retorted
the detective. Another pause; then
he turned TO the woman, cleared
his throat, end. first explaining
that he personally had nothing 10
do with the matter, he informed
her that he had been detailed TO
"ioin in the book hunt"
Mrs. Hartley opened her eyes and
said in a gratifed tone, "A-ah!"
indicating her confidence that now
the thing would undoubtedly be
settled.
The detective reddened and siam
mered as he continued: "He had
come 10 her for-er--"
"Mr. Miller's address, she broke
in eagerly. why, of course, I'll
give you his home and Office ad-
dresses, both, and his hours as
we'll"
Both men groaned in despair
over the disagreeable business that
in this kindly and obliging wom-
ans presence began 10 look 70
them like a disgraceful business.
The patroiman wiped his brow and
muttered: IF she'd only get on
the job"
Then at last Mrs. Hartley was
made 10 understand that she-she
the widowed Helene Hartley, was
suspected of holding the stolen
books. That the owner had only
faxed a robbery and had brought
the books TO her. She really aid
the thing very well. She started
10 laugh-then stopped, and biting
her lips, swallowed back her tears
for which the two men could have
blessed her. Then she turned 10
the one she felt TO be the most
kind-hearted, and, trembling vio-
lently, asked: IF YOU think like
that. what will you do to me?"
Search the premises
Search ." she cried, springing
back as if shot. How dare YOU!
how dare you?"
Tlo,, ,,,,,, a,,4I,- c,r+r,Tliror bar
passion. she said: Il beg your
pardon; | must remember YOU are
not personally TO blame for this
insult. Nou must obey your or
ders, of course, and equally, Of
course. ] must respect the law
She swept the bandage from her
ead-pushed hack her blue-blaCk
hair and extending her hands in an
all-Telinquishing gesture, added: Il
and my house are ready for-for
the search. Though. and she threw
a fierce glance al them, i should
not answer so if my husband were
alive 10 defend me: but" Her
head sank. Il am a woman, quite
alone now; therefore, ] submit to
this outrage"
The men stood, apparently study
ing for dear life the exact pattern
of the carpet until she 1aintly
asked
Where do YOU wish 10 begin?
This door leads TO my own rooms"
sliding back the door 10 the eX-
tension.
Vt this the patrolman remarked:
"Say, / was Only 20 see you here,
old man. and } ain't goin' 10 haul
over no woman's dry goods; no.
turn up her carpets. nor go Smellin'
round the silver and chiney."
He flung open the front door and
straddling his legs, stood on the
top step. with his thumbs in his
belt And there ne remained while
Mrs. Hartley. with quiet dignity,
opened drawers, drew ont fuTni-
ture. emptied closets. and cour-
teouslv piled Goals of fire upon
the other unfortunate head, sug-
Cesting for search the most absurd
and unheaUd-of places, in some OF
which a diary could not have been
concealed. But she knew her sex,
knew emotion was apt 10 make an
innocent woman illogical, and she
was making pretense Of inro-
cence. Che led him 40 the top
story, emptied ragbags and barrels
then. with white lips, took him
at last 20 the cellar He did not
notice 5er pal'or or her extra need
of smelling salts. He took the
candle and held il above his head;
noted the unusually heavy webs
ana sne rcpli,d they were not the
result of bad housekeeping, but
were kept there in case of bad
cuts. And. with a laugh, he said,
"VhV that's an old country way
81 stopping nose-bleeds. 80 apply
cobwehs" Then he Looked among
LgrrelS and boxes. in all the cor
ners in fact everywhere--as he
supposed, and finally came up.
At the door he awkwardly apol-
ncized for Lis forced intrusion,
She gently repeated. 1T was no
fault of yours" bowed and smiled
gracefully at the patrOlman, came
in and locked the doCr-and fell
full length IN the hall, where the
maid presently found her, white
For