Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-01-05

Do they Suspect him OF having any
thing to do with thls?"
II can't tell" Joe kept his eyes
fastened on his plate. and refused to
look up.
Are they going to arrest himY'
Anita leaned forward, and watched his
face anxiously.
They are looking for him." Joe an
swere6
For a long time she said nothing
more. then her brave eyes turned to
him again.
Tell me the tuth: do you think
my aunt was-murdered2" She
looked at him squarely. and did not
finch.
NO" Joe shook his head doubtful
"; Il cannot quite believe that-yst.
There would have been some trace
And. besides. why should ANYBODY
want 10 kill her? She had no money
or jewelry. But she couldn't have
strayed away and cot lost-there was
that room can't understand II
How is Alice?" he finished abruptly.
About the same: she sleeps when
they give her opiates."
And your You have not been to
sleep?"
mot very much. I am doing quite
well" She smiled family: it did not
matter
They were both silent for a long,
long while. glancing at each other
saying nothing. Several times il
trembled on the very tip Of Joe's
tongue 10 inquire II she had seen any
thing Of Noel Duke. But her violet
eyes were so fun or trouble that he
looked away again. and could not ask
her.
After some little time Anita reached
out and touched his hand; Joe knew
exactly what was coming. and feared
20 meet Il.
Did you give him my letter." she
asked.
Yes"
Il wanted 10 be sure. because. be.
cause-maybe I imagined Il. but just
before my aunt disappeared I thought
saw man watching me through the
window Of that little cafe across the
street. He was watching me again
when we came away with Mrs.
Chaudron. I might rot have thought
IL was Noel. but-but-" Anlta's lips
trembled. and she stopped moment
Yes. l know you arc his friend;
whatever may happen. / will tell you.
Anita glanced around 20 be sure that
there was no one in hearing. then
went on: when Alice and I came
downstairs that morning at the hO-
tel she ran back TO the room for
"a I 81 ia
head OF the steps That was before
We knew my aunt was gone. heard
two men talking in that little room
AT the left Of the entry. They seemed
20 be quarreling. but were talking
very low. One OF them was Monsieur
Victor. and I thought I was not sure
that the other voice was Mr.. Dukes.
Monsieur Victor refused to do some
thing that the other man asked. The
other man seemed very angry. and
insisted; he offered 20 pay money to
Monsieur Victor Monsieur Victor re-
fused again. Then he made Monsieur
Victor promise that he would not tell
something Monsieur Victor promised
that he would not tell IL he would
40 Immediately. and never come back
20 the house. Oh, yes. and l heard
the Frenchman say that something
would ruin the reputation of his
house I am sure ! heard that much
before they slammed the door have
been thinking about It ever since"
My Cod" thought Joe, and did not
dare look at the girl.
Il must go now" he said. and
FASTENED out OF the room. He wanted
10 get away from Anita. out into the
open air. where he could think.
Suddenly the telephone rang. ex-
citedly as an alarm bell in that silent
hall
They both ran 20 IT, Anita lis
tened eagerly 10 Joe's half OF the con
versation
What is it?" What is t?" she
chung TO his arm. Il know: they have
arrested somebody; they have"
Yes; TN telephone you as soon"
Anita turned deadly pale and tight
ened her grip on his hand-she might
just as well have spoken the mon
strous fear that stined her.
Watt" she gasped; Il am going
NO. you cannot go; he's at the par
ish prison"
She lOosed her hold upon his arm
anu StaSScieu Dach. az cut Joe 10 the
depths OF his tender heart to think
that he should have been so brutany
rough.
Then he saw the girl sraighten her
self. an unshrinking determination
flashed into her eyes. such as he had
seen in few mems. and never IN a
wOmans. 1t told him plainly that
her time for fear had passed. the
hour for endurance had come. She
shrank no longer. she trembled no
longer; the truth was out, it stared
her in the face. and she met it like
a woman of the Romans.
Joe tried to slip away.
Wait" she said. And he waited.
Halfway up the stair. she turned:
Joe was going out the door.
I'm just going out to see IL / can't
catch a cab" he exDfainpd