Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-07-26

TITS a pity you Should have come to
this understanding tonight" said he.
Hes an acquaintance of the MUIR
derei woman. and 1t is only right for
you to know that you will have TO
leave him behind when you start for
home. All who have been seen enter
ing that alcove this evening will neces-
sarlly be detained here till the coroner
arrives"
My uncle and l strolled toward the
drawing room and as we did so we
passed the library. 1t held but one
occupant, the Englishman. He was
seated before table, and his appear
ance was such as precluded any at
tempt at intrusion, even if one had
been so disposed There was a fxity
in his gaze and a frown on his power
full forehead which bespoke mind
greatly agitated. 1t was not for me
to read that mind much as 1t inter-
ested me, and l passed on chatting as
il had not the least desire to stop.
l cannot say how much time elapsed
before my uncle touched me on the
arm with the remark:
"The police are here in full force
saw a detective In plain clothes look
In here minute ago. He seemed to
have his eye on you. There he Is
again! What can he want? No, don't
turn; he's gone away now"
Frightened as l had never been in
all my life, l managed to keep my
head up and maintain an Indifferent
aspect. What, as my uncle said, could
a detective want of mel l had nothing
to do with the crime; not in the re-
hottest way could l be said to be con-
nected with it; why, then, had l caught
the attention of the police? Looking
about l sought Mr.. Durand. He had
left me on my uncles coming up, but
had remained, as l supposed, within
sight. But at this moment he was
nowhere to be seen. Was l afraid on
his account? Impossible; yet
Happily just then the word was
passed about that the police had given
orders that, with the exception of such
as had been requested to remain to
answer questions, the guests generally
should feel themselves at liberty to de-
part.
The time had now come to take a
stand and l informed my uncle, to
his evident chagrin, that / should not
leave as long as any excuse could be
found for staying.
He said nothing at the time, but as
the noise of departing carriages grad
ually lessened and the great hall and
drawing rooms began to wear a look
of desertion he at last ventured on this
gentle protest:
you have more pluck, Rita than l
supposed. Do you think it wise to stay
on here? Will not people imagine that
you have been requested to do so?
Look at those walters hanging about
in the different doorways. Run up
and put on your wraps. Mr.. Durand
will come to the house fast enough as
soon as he Is released. give you leave
to sit up for him if you will. Only let
us leave this place before that imperti-
nent little man dares to come around
again." he artfully added.
But / stood firm, though somewhat
moved by his final suggestion, and be-
ing a small tyrant in my way. at least
with him, carried my point.
Suddenly my anxiety became poig-
rant. A party Of men. among whom
l saw Mr.. Durand. appeared at the
end Of the hall. led by very small but
self important parsonage whom my
uncle Immediately pointed out as the
detective who had twice come to the
door near which stood. AS this man
looked up and saw me still there. a
look Of relief crossed his face, and
after a word or two with another
stranger of seeming authority he de-
tached himself from the group he had
ushered upon the scene and approach
Ing me respectfully enough said with
deprecatory glance at my uncle
whose frown he doubtless understood:
Miss Van Arsdale, believer
l nodded. too choked to speak.
Il am sorry, madam if you were ex-
pecting to go. Inspector Dalzell has