The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1910-12-15
CHAPTER xxIv.-continued.

Hotchkiss felt certain that it had
been Sullivan, but l was not so sure.
Why would he have crawled like a
thief into his own house? If he had
crossed the park, as seemed probable,
when we did, he had not made any
attempt to use the knocker. / gave it
up finally, and made an effort to con-
ciliate the young woman in the tower.
We had heard no sound since our
spectacular entrance into her room.
was distinctly uncomfortable. as
alone this time, | climbed to the tower
staircase. Reasoning from before,
she would probably throw a chair at
me. / stopped at the foot of the stair
case and called
Hello up there" | said, in as de-
bonnair manner as | could summon.
Good morning. Vie gent es bel
ihnen?"
No reply.
Bon jour, mademoiselle," l tried
again. This time there was a move
ment of some sort from above, but
nothing fell on me.
I've want to apologize for rous-
ing you so-er-unexpectedly this
morning" l went on. "The fact is, we
wanted to talk to you, and you-you
were hard to waken. We are travel
ers, lost in your mountains, and we
crave breakfast and an audience"
She came to the door then. / could
feel that she was investigating the top
of my head from above. rs Mr.. Sui
Ivan with your" she asked. 1t was
the first word from her, and she was
not sure of her voice.
NO We are alone. If you will
come down and look at us you will
find us two perfectly harmless people,
whose horse-curses on him-depart-
ed without leave last night and left
us at your gate"
She relaxed somewhat then and
came down step or two. 81 was
afraid l had killed somebody" she
said THE housekeeper left yester-
day, and the other maids went with
her"
When she saw that l was COM
paratively young and lacked the ear
marks of the highwaymsn, she was
greatly relieved, She was inclined to
fight shy of Hotchkiss, however, for
some reason. She gave us breakfast
of a sort, for there was little in the
house, and afterward we telephoned
to the town for vehicle. While
Hotcnkiss examined scratches and re-
placed the Bokhara rug, engaged
Jennie in conversation.
Can you tell me-" asked, who is
managing the estate since Mrs. Cur
tbs was killed."
mo one," she returned shortly.
"Has-any member of the family |
been here since the ACCIDENT"
NO, sir. There was only the two,
and some think Mr.. Sullivan was
killed as we'll as his sister"
You don't?'
NO." with conviction.
''Why?"
She wheeled on me with quick sus-
picion.
Are you detective?" she de-
manded.
No"
"You. told him to say you repre-
scented the law"
Il am a lawyer Some of them mis-
the law, but +"
She broke in impatiently.
"a sheriff's off1cer?"
"No. Look here, Jennie; l am all
that | should be. You'll have to be-
lieve that. And I'm in bad position
through no fault of my own. l want
YOU to answer some questions. If you
win help me, / will do what can for
you. DO you live near here?"
Her chin quivered. It was the first
sign of weakness she had shown.
my home is in Pittsburg," she said,
land haven't enough money to get
there. They hadn't paid my wages for
two months. They don't pay any
body
Very WE'LL" / returned. "Pn send
you back to Pittsburg, Pullman in
cluded, II you will tell me some things
want to know"
She agreed eagerly. Outside the
WluQOW I1OlCuhlSS was OtCAbl
examining footprints in the drive.
Now" began. there has been a
Miss West staying here?""
YES"
"Mr. Sullivan was attentive to
ler?"
Eyes. She was the granddaughter
If a wealthy man in Pittsburg. My
lunt has been in his family for 20
Tears, Mrs. Curtis wanted her broth
,r to marry Miss West"
do you think he did marry herr"
could not keep the excitement out |
II my voice.
NO There were reasons"-she
stopped abruptly.
do you know anything of the fam |
"? Are they-were they New York '
,rs?"
"They came from somewhere in the |
outh. have heard Mrs. Curtis say ]
Ter mother was a CUBAN. | don't {
nov much nhcut them, but Mr.. Sulli-
an had wicked temper, though he 1