The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-09

might wen explain the rashnssS OF the act;
Il could not deprive II Of motive.
In his safe obsourity he too began 70
watch the girl. She was animated actiVe'
the centre OF those whose crowded lays
out short the nights and Tapped over into
the morrows. yet persiBtently gay as sne
was he seemed to see as her supreme I'M
pulse q vigilance. az alertness. Masked
lurking, but ever ready to-Bpring and to
defend.
Love would fll the gap, even love
despised. rejected, thrown back on itself
to grow bitter and desperate, Such q love
was not ~precluded as an answer q It's
force might have impelled a madcap girl
far-too far to retraot or to repent.
The Judge had been too inspired by the
anxiety OF the Legare Bank for its missing
! papers. to give him full information. The
bank was his first charge. his first duty,
with the discovery and return Of Clara
Remsen as a secondary and side con-
sideration.
Yet the moro the detective studied the
suspected couple, the suppliant attitude OF
the man, the scornful attitude Of the woman,
the more he became convinced that 1T was
only through the latter that the former
could be led TO surrender his booty.
The Judge had said little, but at least he
had referred TO a broken engagement with
Noel Vance. The name was familiar 10 him
as that OF a manly young fellow OF fine
appearance and high character, far better
fitted to retain a woman's affections than
the shallow and selfish Waldo.
No matter what the cause Of the break
between them he would surely have Miss
Remsen's interests at heart; he could be
trusted as only a true gentleman can. Why
not then send for him to come as a secret
coadjutor?
Cronkite's deliberateness ceased with the
making up of his mind. That morning
the long distance wire was hot with business.
That evening the detective waited at the
pier for the %southbound boat. and escorted
TO the hotel the single passenger b de-
barked, for whose arrival and care, as his
assistant and friend. he had already made
careful provision.
Cronkite led the way down the side piazza
TO the rear elevator, with Vance, his coat
collar up. his soft hat drawn down, follow
ing in moody silence. Through the open
windows and bowed shutters Of the ball
room came the rhythm Of music s~uroharged
with merry speech and soft laughter.
With q gesture the detective indicated
Mrs. Prince, a central figure, proud, i'm
perious, ~singularly detached in the intimacy
OF the dance; and he felt his companion
start and culver as his gaze obeyed the
mandate Of his will.
We'll, il is she, Clara Remsen, Is it not?'
Cronkite asked when he turned up the
lights in his room and noted how ghastly
pale Vance had become.
"My God. l don't know groaned Noel
Vance. +Like-so very like-the very car
rage and w~ays-that gown, / nave seen it
before, And yet-and yeti believe-I
~swear-that woman is not my Clara"
Long and late the two men talked, the
one relating the merest incident that might
possibly be germane to the problem, the
other rejecting, oollating, deducting. Then
as they we're about to retire there came a
shrill scream on the quiet ARA scream Of
rage and loathing, a scream with an I'M
natural quality that chilled the blood.
Come" cried Abe Cronkite. THAT was
from the Princes suite. Come, for we
may be too late. and yet just in time