Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-13
CHAPTER XXX-Continued.

CHAkTEH AAA-C0ntlnued.
1t took some time to tell the story of
my worse than useless trip to Pittsburg
and its sequel They listened gravely,
without interruption.
Mr.. Hotchkiss here" l finished. be
lieves that the man Sullivan, whom we
are momentarily expecting. committed
the crime. Mr.. Mcknight is inclined to
impicate Mrs. Conway. who stabbed
Bronson and then herself last night AS
for myself, 1 am open to conviction
Il hope not said the stout detective.
auizzically. And then Alison was an
nounced. My impulse to go out and
meet her was forestalled by the detec-
tives. who rose when l did. mcknight.
tnere1ore. brought her in, and 1 met her
have put you to great deal OF
trouble said. contritely. when i saw
her glance around the room. II wish |
had not $3.50
1T is only right that I should come :"
she replied. looking up at me. az am
the unconscious cause of most of II +
am afraid. Mrs. Dallas is going IN wait
in the outer Office
presented Hotchkiss and the two de-
tecuves. who eyed her with interest. In
,le[ Polse' her beauty, even In her gown
FANCY she represented new tyne to
them: They remained standing until she
sat down.
Il have brought the necklace" she be-
gan, holding out white-wrapped box.
'as you asked me to-
..,n passed IT. unopened. to the detectives.
Inc necklace from which was broken
the fragment you found i'm the sealskin
oag. explained. Miss West found il
on the floor Of the car near lower TON -
when did you find it?'' asked the lea y
detective, bending forward
IN the morning, not long before the
Did you ever see it before?"
Il am not certain" she replied. Il have
seen one very much like it, Her tone
was troubled. She glanced at me as N
lot neip but ! was powerless
,,ar W mere, The detective was watching
At that moment there came an inter-
ruption The door opened without cere-
mony and johnson ushered in q tall.
piond man. stranger to all of us. /
glanced at Alison; she was pale. but COM
comers eyes full and, caught unawares.
ne LOOK hasty backward step.
heamed cordially. Have a cigar?
peg your pardon, Alison. do you mind
Not at ALL" she said, composedIv
Sullivan had had second to sound his
Mono. thanks he mumbled. If you
VIC 6OOu OUOuSn 10 explatn-
But that's what you're to do" Nc
Knight said. cheerfully. pulling up a
chair. You've got the most attentive
audience you could ask. These two gem
tlemen are detectives from Pittsburg, and
we are all curious to know the finer de-
taiis of what happened on the car On
sario two weeks ago. the night your
Iather-in-iaW was murdered Sullivan
gripped the arms of his chair I'VE are
not prejudiced. either. The gentlemen
from PltfRhlIrQ d.
ley. over there. Mr.. Hotchkiss, the gem
tleman by the radiator, is ready to place
~ TO ! odds on you. And some Of us
nave still other theories
Gentlemen" Sullivan said SLOWLY 81
give you my word of honor that did not
XIII Simon Harrington. and that I do not
know who did,
"Fiddiededee" cried Hotchkiss, bus
ting forward. why, I can tell you"
But Mcknight pushed him firmly into a
chair and held him there.
am ready to plead guilty to the
larceny" Sullivan went on. II took Mr.
Blakeiey's clothes. admit. If can re-
imOurse nlm In any way for the incon-
The stout detective was listening with
his mouth open. do you mean to saw"
he demanded. that you got into MIR.
Blakeley's berth, as he contends, took his
clothes and forged notes and left the the
train before the wreck?"
Yes"
The notes. them"
Il gave them to Bronson yesterday.
Much good they did him." bitterly. We
were all silent for a moment The two
detectives were adjusting themselves with
dlmculty to new point of view; Sulli-
van was looking dejectedly at the floor,
his hands hanging loose between his
knees. 1 was watching Alison: from
where / stood, behind her, / could al
most touch the soft hair behind her ear
- nave no intention of pressing any
charge against you." l said, with forced
clvility, for my hands were itching to
account Of what happened on the On
tario that night
Sullivan raised his handsome. haggard
head and looked around at me. i've
Weren't you an unlimited guest at the
Laurels a few days-or nights-ago? The
ped?'
II remember" l said. shortly. He
glanced from me to Alison and quickly
away.
THE truth can't hurt me-" he said.
"but it's devilish unpleasant. Alison,
you know all this. You would better go
OUT
His use of her name crazed me. I
stepped in front Of her and stood over
him. You will not bring Miss West into
the conversation" threatened, land she
will stay il she wishes"
"Oh, very WE'LL he said, with assumed
Indifference.
HOtchkiSS just then escaped from
Richeys grasp and crossed the room.
Did you ever wear glasses" he asked,
eagerly
Never" Sullivan glanced with some
contempt at mine.
I'D better begin by going back lit
tle,' he went on. sullenly. II suppose
you know 1 was married to Ida Harring-
ton about five years ago. She was
good girl. and I thought lot OF her.
But her father opposed the marriage
he'd never liked me. and he refused to
make any sort of settlement.
II had thought, of course. that there
would be money. and it was a bad day
when l found out I'd made a mistake
My sister was wild with disappointment.
TOURS.