Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-03-30

whatever there were I'll destroyed"
/ COquenI eyed her keenly and shook
his head. "A woman like you would
never write to man oftener than he
wrote to her, and Kittredge had a
thick bundle ofFyour letters. It 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 bundle Of
Kittredge's letters here, possibly In
that desk" He pointed to 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.
ut isn't true III ,tell you de-
stroyed the letters And heFknew she
was lying.
CoQuenil went to the desk and e1-
amined it carefully. There were two
drawers in raised part at the back;
there was q long, wide drawer in
front and over this space like a
dra wer under large inlaid cover hing
ed at the back. He searched every
where here, but found no sign Of the
expected letters.
We'll" he said, with an air Of dis
appointment, II 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 regretfully: Madam, i hear you
are fond of gambling You should
study the game Of poker. which teaches
us to hide our feelings. Now, then"
he walked back quietly to the desk, Il
want you to open this secret drawer"
A big tear Of weakness and hunilia-
ton gathered and rolled down her
cheek, and then, still silent, she took
hairpin from her hair, inserted one
leg Of it into a tiny hole quite lost in
the ornamental work at the back Of
the desk. pushed against hidden
spring, and, presto, q small secret draw
er shot forward. In this drawer lay q
packet Of letters tied with ribbon.
Thanks he said. Pm sorry." And
he took the packet from the drawer.
why didn't l burn them? Why
didn't burn them?' she mourned.
.You trusted to that drawer" he
suggested.
'-No. no; knew the danger, but l
couldn't give them up. They stood for
the best part of my life, the tenderest,
the happiest. I've been a weak, wick
ed woman"
ANY secrets in these letters will be
scrupulously respected" he assured
her, ''unless they have a bearing on
this crime"
Turning to him with tear stained
face: Il didn't tell you the truth about
Kitredge and Martinez. There was
trouble between them. He speaks
about it in one Of his letters. 1t was
about the little girl at Notre Dame"
to her?''
.'Yes."
ibid she encourage him?'
Il don't know. She behaved very
strangely. She seemed attracted to
him and afraid of him at the same
time. Martinez told me what an ex-
traordinary effect he had on the girl.
He said it was due to his magnetic
power."
"And Kittredge objected to this?"
"Of course he did, and they had q
quarrel. It's all in one Of those let
ters"
"Do you remember what he saidY'
"Why-er-yes."
what was it?''
She hesitated moment. and then,
as though weary Of resisting. she re-
piled. "He told Martinez that if he
didn't leave this girl alone he would
break bis d. head for him"
ITO Be Continued,