The evening world., 1910-12-05

'''' AFhaNl NFlt ktttafk ft11N
for a concert. and the "
scml-invalids were playing
- p,nochie In Frcd's den. Neither
n looked much the worse FOR her
previous nIgit's experiences. Mrs. Butler
was always pale. and M,rrcry had been
so since her fathers death.
Tho game was over whom I went Into
the den. AS usual. Mrs. Butler left the
room nlnos; Immediately. and wcnt 10
the plano across tho hail. I had grown
- accept her avoidance of me without
question. Fred said Il wa because my
ovcrwhclmlng v':illtJ oppressed hcr.
Personally. | think Il was because tho
ncu-asthcnic typo OF woman Is rcpulslve
TO me-. No dou5, Mrs. Butler deserved
sympathy, but her open demand for 1t
found me cold and uNresponsive.
told Margcry briefly OF my visit 10
Bellwood that morning. She vas as
puzzled as I WAS about the things Hep
pie had found in the chest. She was
relieved, too.
II am just as sure now that she IL
living ms | was a week ago that she
was dead" she said. leaning back in
her big chair. Blu what terrible thing
took her away Unless
Unless what"'
She mad loaned my father n great
deal of money" Margery said. with
heightened color. "She had not dared
to- tell Aunt Lctitln. and the money was
to he returned before she found II
out. Then-things went wrong with
the borough Bank. and-the money did
not come back. IL you know Aunt
Jane and how afraid she Is of Aunt
Lctitii. you VIII understand how ter
riblc It was FOR her. ! have wondered
II she would go-to Plattsburg and try
TO md father there"
THE Eagle man Is working on that
theory now" ! replied. "Margery. II
there was n letter c. added to eleven
twenty-five. would you know What II
mennt7"
She shook her head In the mega
tive.
win you answer two more ques-
tions?" ] asked.
yes, n | can"
"Do you know why o were chloro-
formed last night. and who did it?'
II think know who did II, but ]
don't understand. have been trying
all day 20 think II out. I'm afraid to
to sleep tonight"
'You need not be-" I assured her. "lf
we will a the city police
In a ring around the house. II you
and don't tell. Margery, you are
running a risk. and more than that. you
are protecting n person who ought to be
In jail"
I'm not sure she persisted. "Dor't
me about It, please"
What does Mrs. Butler say"
Just what she said this morning
And she says valuable papers were
from under her pillow. She was
very ill-hystcrical. all afternoon"
The gloom and smouldering fire OF the
Sonata Apassionata came to us from
the hall. | leaned over II took
Margery's email hand between my two
big ores.
why don't you tell me?" ! urged. |
"Or-you needn't tell mo- know what
OF think. But there isn't any motive
that | can see. and why would she
rhloroform your
Il don't know" Margery shuddered,
Wv gDa iAilllA |
she Is altogether sane?"
The music ended with the crash OF a
minor chord. Fred ard Edith came
Town the stairs. and the mex moment
sc were all together, ana the chance
a quiet conversation was gone. A:
door Fred turned and came back.
"Watcl the house, he said. "And,
the way. | guess"-he lowered his
~soicr-"thc lady's story was PROBABLY
| looked around again this
and there are fresh scratches
IN the porch roof under her window. II
queer. doesn't ~"
IL was a relief 20 know that, after all,
Mas. Butler was IN enemy n a dang
srous person to nobody but herself. She
10 her room almost as soon as
ard Edi,h had gone was wond-
'rlng Whe,ucr or not TO tell MarEcry
bout the experiment that afternoon, de-
now to ask her what letters sac
nd go, from the postmaster Il; Bell
wood addressed to Miss Jane. and what
know OF Bella.
At the SANE ~tImo-holr with me. Oh
masculine reader, tho ..l4e reader VIII.
or she cares a great deal more for the
eve story than f.. an tho crime and
mystery put tosetacr-be1g vita me.
II | hold back the account OF the
events thpt came t5lt nigh, to
Ell how beauil'u. Marsory looked as
,lmpIlsat fell On her brown hair
.rI puyr profile. and how the Impulse ,
over mo TO EIs, Do" as she sat
and how ! didn't, ato. a,l-poor &
gentle rcaler'-lrd only STONED over !
nd Kissed the p.aN palm % her hand.
Guc 1!ln't mlnd It; speaking as nearly !,
= possible from an Im%personal stand