Evening star., 1909-04-25

leave | did leave to-day, and never expected
| to come back here Mr.. Middlebury had paid
gotten nv house keys. So had dinner down
town and then came back here, because knew
Mr. Middlebury would be working late alone in
the office didn't want Dennis to know | went
up. because had told him about Mr. Middle
| bury's kissing me: so | waited till he went up
| in the elevator and then l ran up stairs, trying
| to keep out of his sight. Only, he caught me
halfway up. Besides, | had to hide from
| the night watchman, because he had had
| quarrel with Mr. Middlebury, and he thought
had complained of him >
"Oh, Thompson had quarreled with Middle
| bury, had he?" said McGraw meaningly-
Yes sir Middlebury had Thompson dis
charged He has to leave at the end of the
| week, and he was pretty angry about it. But
| didn't have anything to do with that at all.
| 1t was on account Of Thompsons refusing to
let Mr. Middebury have an extra key to the
| door
where is thompson" Astro asked
"Oh, he's safe enough with my men down on
the first floor. "
Well. go ahead with your story, Miss Will
son :"
apologized for kissing me, and proposed to me
| again. didn't know what to,say to him; but
| was afraid he didn't mean it and was up to
some game with me. He tried to hold my
hand, and snatched it away quick l upset
| a bottle of India ink he was using. So went
into his private Office to wash my hands While
| was in there" She covered her face with
her hands.
You took a revolver from the desk drawer?"
She looked at him in amazement, with
widely opened eyes "A revolver9 No! Of
course not! l washed my hands at the bowl,
and just | was finishing heard pistol shot,
| and then heard Mr. Middlebury fall
Did you look into this Officer"
| "Oh no; was SO frightened didn t dare to.
/ waited minute till | heard the door slam:
then l opened the door to the side hall and ran
/ down stairs .
You saw nobody
/ mot soul. !"
WAS the elevator there?"
"Oh, / didn't look. only wanted to get
away fast as l could. | was afraid that
| see, | knew there pistol in the private
| office. for Mr.. Middlebury had shown it to me
one day l thought that if he threatened me
| might use it to protect myself with.
Yes, and that's exactly what you did do,
IN thinking" said McGraw gruf1y
| Valeska took Miss Wilson's hand affection
ately and pressed it. Don't be afraid, my
| dear :" she said
Astro calm and picturesque, the cape of his
Inverness thrown negligently across his shoul-
der, scrutinized the girl keenly for few mo.
| ments His eyes passed over every detail of
her costume. analyzed every feature He was
standing 50, mysterious, potent rnscrutable'
| when his face changed suddenly. J"
Do you remember. Miss Wilson, whether
| there was small calendar pinned to the wall
by the door there when you came inl
She looked up her eyes still streaming.
i"Why. yes, I'm sure there was That is, stuck
it to the wall with thumbtack yesterday,
and | don't remember its having been taken
down )" She looked at him in surprise at his
question.
The door opened again, and the doctor, who
had obtained key to another of the elevators,
coming up alone, entered the room and gave a
curious look around.
I'm DR. Flynn" he announced. What's
the trouble?"
There's your man." said Astro, pointing
gravely to the body of Middlebury. Hes
been dead an hour or So You'll find he was
shot through the eye. The bullet pierced the
BRAIN and the man bled only internally. Lift
his left eyelid and You'll see. :.
That's more than could find out, cried
McGraw 80 he was shot, then for sure. Now,
then, who done it"
"We1l leave the doctor here to make his
examination, said the Seer. We'll take Miss
Wilson down stairs I'm about through. now
promise you the criminal will confess before
you can get the Coroner and the patrol wagon
here"
T EAVING the doctor to his examination of
- the body Astro and Valeska walked into the
| elevator, followed by McGraw, who still held
Miss Wilson in his heavy grip. The elevator
boy stepped in, shut the door, and the car