Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-05-11

to the town for a vehicle. While
Hotchkiss examined scratches and re
placed the Bokhara rug, I engaged
Jennie in conversation.
'Can you tell me-" asked, "who is
managing the estate since Mrs. Cur
tbs was killed?"
NO one" she returned shortly.
"Has-any member of the family
been here since the accident?"
mo. sir. There was only the two,
and some think Mr.. Sullivan was
killed as well as his sister"
''You don't?"
NO" with conviction.
''Why?"
She wheeled on me with quick sus
picion
"Are you a detective?" she de-
manded
mo"
"You told him to say you repre-
sented the law"
Z am a lawyer. Some of them mis-
represent the law, but 7"
She broke in impatiently.
a sheriff's officer?"
NO. Look here, Jennie; l am all
that l should be. You'll have to be-
Iieve that. And I'm in bad position
through no fault of my own. / want
you to answer some questions. If you
will help NE, l will do what I can for
you. Do you live near here?"
Her chin quivered 1t was the first
sign of weakness she had shown.
my home is in Pittsburg," she said,
"and / haven't enough money to get
there. They hadn't paid my wages for
two months. They don't pay any
body"
Very WELL" I returned. I'll send
you back to Pittsburg, Pullman in
cluded, if you will tell me some things
/ want to know"
She agreed eagerly. Outside the
window Hotchkiss was bending over,
examining footprints in the drive.
Now" l began, there has been
Miss. West staying here?"
yes"
Mr.. Sullivan was attentive to
her?"
Eyes. She was the granddaughter
of a wealthy man in Pittsburg. My
aunt has been in his family for 20
years. Mrs. Curtis wanted her broth
er to marry Miss West"
do you think he did marry herr"
could not keep the excitement out
of my voice.
mo. There were RESPONSIBLE
stopped abruptly.
DO you know anything of the fam
lily? Are they-were they New York
ers?'
They came from somewhere in the
south. have heard Mrs. Curtis say
her mother was a Cuban. l don't
know much about them, but Mr.. Sulli-
van had a wicked temper, though he
didn't look it. Folks say big, light
haired people are easy going, but ]
don't believe it, sir"
How long was Miss West here?"
1.-TWO weeks"
! hesitated about further question
ing. Critical as my position was, l
could not pry deeper into Alison
Vests affairs. If she had got into the
hands of adventures, as Sullivan and
his sister appeared to have been, she
was safely away from them again. But
something of the situation in the car
Ontario was forming itself in my
mind: the incident at the farmhouse
lacked only motive to be complete.
Was Sullivan, after all, rascal or
criminal? Was the murderer Sulli-
van or Mrs. Conway? The lady or the
tiger again.
Il hope Miss West was not hurt?"
she asked. I'VE liked her, all of US.
She was not like Mrs. Curtis
l wanted to say that she was not
like anybody in the world. Instead
"She escaped with some bruises" l
said
She glanced at my arm. You were
on the train?"
YES"
She waited for more questions, but
none coming, she went to the door.
Then she closed it softly and came
back.
Mrs. Curtis is dead? You are sure
OF it?" she asked.
"She was killed instantly, I be-
lieve. The body was not recovered.
But / have reasons for believing that
Mr.. Sullivan is living"
Z knew it." she said Il think
he was here the night before last.
That is why l went to the tower room.
i believe he would kill me if he could"
As nearly as her round and comely
face could express it, Jennie's ex
preston was tragic at that moment.
/ made a quick resolution, and acted
on it at once.
You are not entirely frank with
me, Jennie" protested. And I am
going to tell you more than ! have.
We are talking at cross purposes.
Il was on the wrecked train, in the
same car with Mrs. Curtis, Miss West
and Mr.. Sullivan. During the night
there was a crime committed in that
car and Mr.. Sullivan disappeared.
But he left behind chai& of circum-