The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-20
cspyrisAt. lDoY, by .. '. .

to think 1t strange that had nothing to say.
 thing until after lunch, will you, ask
 No, we must eat. and talk things over,'' said Uncle Erie.
 We went into the restaurant, nov ing as If were in a dream ivor ac- cussd of murder! What had he done? What could have. happened7 But I was soon to know. As soon as we were seated at table, where the lovely. fresh flowers seemed mock cry, Aunt LII began asking questions. For some reason, Uncle Erie appar entity did not like answering. It was almost as If he had had some kind of previous knowledge of the affair, of which he didn't wish to speak. But. suppose, 1t could not have been that. It was Lord Robert who told us near ly everything; and always l was con scious that he was watching me, won derfng If this were a cruel blow for me. asking himself If he were speaking in q tactful way of one who had been his rival.
 There was that engagement of Dun das's last night, which he was just go- Ing to keep when we saw him." said Lord Bob, carefully, but clumsily; Pm afraid there must have been something hshy about that--I mean, some trap must have been laid to catch him. And, 1t seems, he wasn't supposed to be in ParfB---though I don't see what that can have to do with the plot. if there Is one. He was stopping in the hotel some good reason. though. There's nothing sly about Dundas. If ever there was a plucky chap, he's one. Anyhow, apparently, he wanted to get hold of man in Paris he couldn't find, for he called last evening on . detective named Girard, a rather we'll known fellow in his line. believe 1t almost looks as If Dundas had made an enemy of him, for he's been giving evidence pretty freely to the police lost no time about it. anyhow. Girard says he was following up the scent, tracking down the person he'd been hired by Dundas to hunt for, and had at last come to the house where he was lodging. when there he found Dundas himself ransacking the room. covered with blood, and the chap who was wanted, lying dead on the floor. his body hardly cola"
 What time was all that7" enduired Lisa sharply. It was the first question she had asked.
 "Between midnight and o'clock. I think the papers said" answered Lord Bob.
 well. of course, it's all nonsense" exclaimed Aunt Lii fnpatIsntiy. French people are so sensational, and they jump at conclusions so. The idea of their daring to accuse a man like Ivor Dundas of murder! They ought to know better. They'll soon be eating humble-pie and begging Eng lands pardon for wrongful treatment of British subject, won't they Eric?'
 NS jumping at conclusions on the part of the authorities. or of eating. humble pie Uncle Eric said. "rhe evidence entirely ciroumstantial so far. luckily --is dead against Ivor. And as for his being British subject, there's nothing in that. If an Englishman chooses to commit murder in, France. he's left to the French law to deal with, as if he were a Frenchman.'
 But Ivor hasn't committed muraeF~ cried Aunt Lillian horrifled.
 'tOf course not. But he's got to prove that he hasn't. And in that he's worse of than if this thingS happened in England. English law supposes a man innocent until he's been proved guilty. French law, on the contrary, presumes that he's guilty until he's proved innocent. In face of the evil dence against 1vor. the authorities couldn't have done otherwise than they have done."
 For the first time in my life felt angry with Aunt Lilian's husband. I do hate that cold, stern "sense of jus tice" on which men pride themselves so much, whether it's an affair of friend or an enemy!
 Surely Mir. Dundas must have been able to prove aTl--an--don't you call it an alibi?" asked Lisa.
 He didn't try to-" replied Lord Bob. He's simply refused, up to the present, to tell what hs was doing between 12 o'clock and the time he was found, ex- cept to say that he walked for good while before going to the house where Girard afterwards found him. Of course he denies killing the man: says the fellow had stolen something from him, on the boat crossing from Dover to Calais yesterday. and that after Ap- plying to the detective. he got a note from the thief. offering to give the thing back if he would call and name a reward. Says he found the room a1- ready ransacked and the fellow dead. when he arrived at the address given him: that he was searching for his property when Girard appeared on the scene.
 Couldn't he have shown the note sent by the thief?" asked Aunt LII.
 'sTIe did show a note. But it does hin, mora harm than good. And he