Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-06-30

. course l can prove it, she de-
clared. IN. Kittredge, an old friend,
was arrested because he called for my
things, but I asked him to do that.
It's absurdw
"rm afraid it's not so absurd as you
think. You say he was an old friend.
He must have beer a very particular
kind Of an old friend for you to ask
q favor of him that you knew and he
knew would bring him under suspi-
cion. You did know that, didn't you?"
go on; l don't mind," she said. 81
was not in love with Nj. Kittredge.
Please make that perfectly clear. He
was a dear, loyal friend, but nothing
more"
"Was he enough Of a friend to be
jealous of Martinez"
What was there to make him jeal-
ous?"
"Well," smiled Coquenil, II can
imagine that if a dear and loyal friend
found the lady he was dear and loyal
to having supper with another man
in a private room he might be jeal-
ous."
"The best proof that M. Kittredge
would not be jealous Of me is that be
loves another woman"
1.-THE girl at Notre DameT
Eyes"
"But Martinez knew her too. There
might have been trouble over her."
ventured M. Paul shrewdly.
"There vas no trouble"
"You never knew Of any quarrel be-
tween Kittredge and Martinez? No
words?"
Never"
Coquenil now resolved to try a
chance shot.
He said impressively, GLOW about
Kittredge's letters to you"
He watched the effect a%nxiously.
ellis letters to mel" she cried, with
a start of dismay, while NJ. Paul nod
ded complacently. Gle never wrote
me letters-that is, not maryland
whatever there were II destroyed"
Coquenil eyed her keenly and shook
his head. "a woman like you would
never write to q man oftener than he
wrote to her, and Kittredge had a
thick bundle Of your letters. 1t was
only Saturday night that he burned
them, along with that photograph of
you in the lace DRESS"
She looked at him in frightened ap-
peal, and then, with a gesture Of half
surrender, For heavens sake, how
much more do you know about me?"
II know that you have a bundle of
Kittredge's letters here, possibly in
that desk He pointed to a charm
ing piece Of old mahogany inlaid with
ivory. He had made this last deduc-
ton by following her eyes through
these last tortured minutes.
1T isn't true. III tell you l de-
stroyed the letters" And he knew she
was lying.
Coquenil went to the desk and ex-
amined it carefully. There were two
drawers in a raised part at the back;
there was a long, wide drawer in
front and over this a space like a
drawer under a large inlaid cover hing
ed at the back. He searched every
where here, but found no sign Of the
expected letters.
WELL" he said, with an air Of dis
appointment, Il find nothing here.
Suppose we try another ROOM"
Certainly" she agreed, and her face
frightened in such evident relief that
he turned to her suddenly and said al
most r%egretfully: Madam, I hear you
are fond of gambling. You should
study the game of poker, which teaches
us to hide our feelings. Now, then,'
heSwalked back quietly to the desk, II
want you to open this secret drawer
A big tear Of weakness and humilia-
ton gathered and rolled down her
cheek, and then, still silent, she took
a hairpin from her hair, inserted one
leg Of 1t into a tiny hole quite lost in
the ornamental work at the back of
the desk, pushed against a hidden
spring, and, presto, a small secret draw
er shot forward. In this drawer lay a
packet of letters tied with a ribbon.
Thanks" he said. "I'm sorry" And
he took the packet from the drawer.
"Why didn't l burn them? Why
didn't I burn them| she mourned.
"You trusted to that drawer" he
suggested.
mo. no; l knew the danger, but
couldn't give them up. They stood for
the best part Of my life, the tenderest,