The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-09-20
CHAPTER I'LL.
tricks OF THE A


.gssstacg-
VoF Godfrey wanted to be alone 6
tfe,v minutes with Miss Croydon. He
waH scVtely conscious that here was {
mystery much more puzzling h a ap
sDeaFed on the surface; much more
picturesque than the ordinary run OF
mysteries Miss Croydon had said tina,
her errand to suite fourteen had beer
an a private matter which did not con-
CHTE the police, but Godfrey was not
ss sure OF that. OF course. he could
tf1ot compel her to explain 1t, and yet
ae fsst that two or three well directed
e1ueaa4os1s might give him the clew
which ne was seeking now in vain.
Very we'll" he agreed; TN send her
dOWn 70 her cab What are you going
% dn p
Tt. going to quiz the %janitor and
Them search the house. Maybe the 9TH
ar EsSsow hasn't had a chance to get
a~ay get 1 wonder what's going on
cut there7' he added. as they re-
turned together to the other room.
They could hear a commotton Of
-sonse assTt In the hall, the hum OF voices
che aahnnung OF many feet.
&ne aEaEfntng OF many feet.
Thn 4commotton swelled to an I'M
roar as Simmonds opened the door
and Sssscd 1t quickly behind him.
Godfrey heard his voice raised in an
Ely expostulation. and he chuckled
6rfnx1y to himself as he turned to Miss
Croydon
HA 9zxed at her with interest, search
1nEdE. Dondertng how best to surprise
her necret-at the bent head, with its
e1oWn OF dark hair, Swallowed by a lit
ga velvet hat: at the rounded arms. the
.gracsGzs figure. The remarkable reso-
.I0SSon and self-control with which she
MAD the detectives inquiries
seemed to have deserted her. She was
ettefnE huddled up in the chair with
har head In her hands. in an atti-
ende almost of collapse. A %convul-
ave shudder shook her from mo
ment 70 moment They had been
IeAve her alone with the dead man
enAs Was enough t. unlnerve any wom-
IKE ys<used yet a moment. looking at
slender hands. the little
e4r-end he pictured to himself
.n.e her trasntas- had been. how she
aad Aean fenced away from the rough
.DsaGes of the world. the unpleasant
OF life. Certainly. she could
nesaE have committed such a crime
- mn. or even connived at It.
Yet b had lled-deliberately and
aisss.ssly she had lied. She had old
nina dat b had before seen
the dead man: h had told Simmonds
just the opposite. Which was h
E1sufa1 Doubtless. the first; her first
ED01se would be to speak the truth;
at leisure for a moment,
aae z mastered her agitation. had
thou9ht out the lie, and had uttered
Il With . surprising calmness.
sGesfrey felt that he was cropping to-
ward the tight. But there was an
g in'ysterv more impenetrable still.
sM1hak s~as tt had nerved her to brave
danzsr her good name, to run she
knew MOI what risk Of %indignity and
fnsurt7 A love affair? Bah! To sup
300 her capable of such an ass!sna-
eto@ .was preposterous. One had only
~ assk at her to see hat. And yet,
her 70 this place, alone. on such a
Suddenly she felt the scrutiny he
bent upon her. and raised her eyes
t. HIS Then III Strengthened up.
quickly, stu looking at him. and ne
P1e1nly. h did not fear him; he fan
rsed II were few things in the world
abe nd Tear.
MAY I - you to, your, cab. Miss
c. sey mr. he he s II!
You have not"
~-Ip.sz.yed you" he finished. as she
'ueopDed suddenly. NO: I don't In
tend IN. Whether you know the man
IOafu&f 'UF not, 1 don't FOR an instant
uhet1e~e yoM killed him."
,vmh. I didn't!" she cried. II did
vny best to save him. But 1t was done
No aolcily-I didn't understand until
too pate.~
7severtheless." continued Godfrey.
evenly, Il think you're wrong In try
ing to protect the scoundrel who
The color faded suddenly from her
49, ~
10 protect him. she faltered.
= am st-e you know him. You
could place him In the hands Of the
police. 1e you wished"
SHE stared without answering into
asfs steady eyes. There was something
eomneahng In their glance, q power
mere ~a1 no resisting. urging her to
speak She had been deeply shaken
oy the evenings tragedy; her strength
.ytu6nauE. yteldinga-a moment more.
sMnA be would have the story. With a
last sigh OF resistance, she opened her
s3SsI closed them. opened them
~ door opened and a NAV c.na
So keen faced man Of middle age,
Wa0 Nodded to Godfrey and threw a
VuEck- penetrating glance at his COM
DAnh0n- Behind him. the clamor burst
eu6 Anew; various heads appeared in
thE doorway. various eager faces
0S8 ~ pCcI lAtO the room, DOt M
rsSwcomer calmly closed the door and
assured himself that 1t ,was locked.
He INVOKED at. Godfrey again, then ex-
FDectantly at the girl.
Miss Croydon" said Godfrey, this
Is Coroner Goldberg. whose duty 1t is
70 Investigate this AFFAIR. and who may
: Wish to ask you some question:"
&soldberH removed his hat and
Bowed Miss Croydon met his gaze
with an admirable composure. Godfrey
tssshnd-fhat moment Of weakness was
susst-U Goldberg had only been a
sazosnenn later.
Only a few at present" began the
in a voice soft and deferential,
aAfssxly he knew how to make 1t. How
rtsen- with that voice, had he led a
urttness on and on to his own ruin!
fUu we're the only witness of this
ysraEcdy, I believe. Miss Croydon?"
Yes. SIR
,sre you acquainted with the muir
dcreFy
III SIR"
You never saw him before?"
y sir"
-Fut you could identify him If the
k<ss:Ge succeed in capturing him 2"
Ooh. yes, sir
have already given Mr.. Sim.