The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-02-15
CHAPTER XIII

ing as Maddox closed the door be-
hind the detective. He paid no at
tention to it, but seated himself
at the desk and began to write.
Ainslee watched him.
Shall l answer the telephone,
Dave?"
He shook his head.
mo; don't answer that or any
thing else until we're out of the
woods he answered, cheerfully
but emphatically. Probably some
reporter wants to see you, and to
avoid that I'm now preparing a
general statement for the press.
From this time on you mustn't
speak an unnecessary word"
He glanced up again, and seeing
a troubled look in her face, laid
aside his pen and turned to her in
quiringly.
you still think me guilty of this
thing?"
There was a note of reproach in
her voice.
mo, don't think you guilty." he
answered But / want fair
chance to prove your innocence.
You don't realize the crisis we've
just passed through
"Crisis?' she repeated, in a
puzzled tone. mo. l understood
what you said to Mr.. arker, and
why you said it. You wanted to
tell me what to say to him and to
let me see how outsiders might
look at the matter--didn't you? But
] don't know what you mean by a
crisis"
Then it's high time you did So"
A shade of anxiety passed over
Maddox's face, and his tone was
unusually grave.
"Ainslee," he began. II want you
to look at this matter with other
peoples eyes. Indeed, it's impera-
tive for your own safety that you
do so. Did you notice Parker's
face as outlined the facts against
your"
Not particularly; but some
things you said seemed to sur
prise him."
x"They did surprise him"-Mad-
dox spoke slowly and with deepen
in gemphasis-"So much so, Aims
lee, that had he learned them at
first hand and one by one you
would be under arrest for murder
tonight"
Dave paused but his companion
merely looked at him wonderingly,
incredulously.
"You have no idea of the effect
OF that story had 1t been drawn
from you by question and answer"
he went on. Even as it was, for
a little while I was afraid of the
result; but I'm sure the main
points are now discounted as far
as he Is concerned. You know
you didn't commit this murder,
and so do l. But II we let the
powers-that-be camp on your trail
the real criminal will escape and
20 Twill never be cleared in the
public mind. That wouldn't be
fair to yourself-it wouldn't be
fair to Kay. We must keep the
police moving, and in the right
direction. We must anticipate ev-
cry possible shred of evidence
against you and be the first to dis
close tiff 1t should be disclosed
at ALL"
Perhaps you are rlght--of
course you must be, Dave Aims
lee began, musingly. but l don't
seem able to feel afraid of this
thing. don't think | shall as
long as live" she added smiling
ly. "Of course. If l were guilty
could see the need of caution. But
as I'm not--why can't | freely an.
swer all the questions in the
world?"
Maddoxs eyes met hers, and
when he answered he spoke di-
rectly to them.
Can you explain your presence
in Lorimer's rooms?"
She made no reply. 1t was Dave
who at last broke the long silence.
"If you announce that you went
there in fit of temporary mad
ness" he continued--"if you con.
TESS to some wild, unrefined idea of
taking his life, how many people
will believe that you did not carry
out your purpose?'
But he wasn't there-you met
me. We left together--dined to-
gether, and you saw me to the very
door of this hotel"
Maddox answered with another
question.
"Can you prove that you did not
leave your hotel again after we
parted? That's the weak point In
your alibi now. But tell you, Aims
lee" he continued, pitilessly, 'if
you volunteer the information that
you entered Lorimer's rooms and
left them without being seen, be-
tween G and Z in the evening. the
public will credit you with the abil.
ity to do It between 10 and 1880 at
night, and the search for Dick