Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-02

against her"
Simmonds pondered minutes
Eyes, suppose So" he said at last
"Of course she'll have to appear at the
inquest. Do you know her address,
Yves; 81 East Sixty ninth street"
6immonds jotted it down in his note
book.
"All right" he said. you'd better
take her down to her cab"
"I'll see her down to her cab. What
are you going to do?"
"Tm going to quiz the janitor and
then search the house. Maybe the
other fellow hasn't had a chance to get
away yet. wonder what's going on
out thereT' he added as they returned
together toi4he other room.
They could hear commotion OF
some sort in the hall, the hum of many
voices, the shutting of many feet.
The commotion swelled to an uproar
as Simmonds opened the door and
closed it quickly behind him. Godfrey
heard his voice raised in angry expos
tulation, and he chuckled grimly to
himself as he turned to Miss Croydon.
He gazed at her with interest, search
ingly, bordering how best to surprise
her secret-at the bent head, with Its
crown Of dark hair, Swallowed by lit
tie velvet hat; at the rounded arms. the
graceful figure.
He paused yet moment looking at
her. at the slender hands, the little ear,
and he pictured to himself what her
training had been, how she had been
fenced away from the rough places Of
the world, the unpleasant things OF life.
Certainly she could never have com.
mitted such a crime as this or even
connived at It,
Yet she had lied-deliberately and
distinctly she had lied. She had told
him that she had never before seen the
dead man. She had told Simmonds just
the opposite Which was the truth7
Doubtless the first. Her first impulse
would be to speak the truth. After
ward, at leisure for moment, she had
mastered her agitation, had thought out
the lie, and had uttered it with sur.
prising calmness.
.May see you to your cab. Miss
Croydon ?" he asked.
ITO my cab?" she repeated, half ris-
ing. II may go, then? am free? Yos
have not
Betrayed youY he finished as she
stopped suddenly. mo, don't intend
to. Whether you know the man yon-
der or not, don't for an instant believe
you killed him."
ooh, 1 didn'tw she cried. II did my
best to save him. But it was done SO
quickly. didn't understand until too
late"
Nevertheless" continued Godfrey
evenly, 81 think you're wrong in trying
to protect the scoundrel VINO did"
The color faded suddenly from her
face.
ITO protect him ~ she faltered.
"Tm sure you know him. You could
place him in the hands Of the police IL
you wished to do
The door opened and man came in
"a keen faced man Of middle age, who
nodded to Godfrey and threw quick.
penetrating glance at his companion.
Behind him the clamor burst out anew;
various heads appeared in the doorway,
various eager faces sought to peer into
the room, but the newcomer calmly
closed the door and assured himself
that It was locked. He looked at God
frey again, then expectantly at the
girl.
'Miss Croydon" said Godfrey, "this
is Coroner Goldberg, whose duty it is
to investigate this affair, and who may
wish to ask you some questions"
"Only a few at present" began the
coroner in voice soft and deferential,
as only he knew how to make it. How
often, with that voice, had he led wit
ness on and on to his own ruin! ''You
were the only witness Of this tragedy.
I believe, Miss Croydon?"
Eyes, sir"
care you acquainted with the muir
derer?"
mo, sir"
"But you could identity him II the
police succeed in capturing him?"
''Oh, yes, sir"
"You have already given Mr.. Sim
monds description Of him"
eyes, sir; as well as could"
"And told him the whole story1
eyes, sir-the whole story"
except one detail, / believe. You
did not explain how you came to be
in this room. Will you tell me that2
II do not think it concerns the police.
sir"
"You would better let me Judge OF
that; IL it does not concern the police.
promise you it shall go no further.
l persist" continued Goldberg, "be-
cause I think that perhaps the story
may help us to identify this man."
ut won't" said Miss Croydon, "but
I will tell you-briefy, this man
claimed to have certain papers which
concerned our family. We had never
heard Of him before. We know moth
ing about him. But came here to
see, against the advice Of my sister"
l -