Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-09
CHAPTER NJ.
THE WOMAN IN THE CASE.

4
81 VI. Paul with the patronlzing
Indifference that bored rich women
extend to tradespeople. But presently
when he explained that he was a de-
tective and began to question her
about the Ansonia affair she rose
with a naughty gesture that was
meant to Danish him in confusion
from her presence. COquenil, how
ever, did not Danish so easily. He
had dealt with naughty ladies before.
MY dear madam, please sit down"
he said quietly. q must ask you to
explain how il happens that a num-
Der OF five pound notes. given TO YOU
by your husband some days ago. were
found on the body OF this murdered
man"
How do 1 known" the beautiful
Mrs. Wilmott replied sharply. Il spent
the notes I'm shops; I'm not responsible
for what became Of them. Besides,
am dining out tonight. and 1 must
dress. 1 really don't see any point to
this conversation"
Mop he smiled, and the keenness
Of his glance pierced her like a blade.
THE point is, my dear lady. that /
want you TO tell me what you were
doing with this billiard player when
he was shot last Saturday night"
IT'S false; 1 never knew the man."
she cried. Its an outrage for YOU
toto intrude on a lady and-and I'm
suit her"
"You used to back his game at the
Olympia"
I'm fond Of billiards. Is that
crimeT"
you left your cloak and a small
leather bag I'm the vestiare at the An
SONIA" pursued NJ. Paul.
ut isn't trUe"'
your name was found stamped IN
gold letters under n leather Zap in
the bag"
She faltered. Tit wasp
Coquenil nodded. yes. Now, what
were you doing with MARTINEZ in that
roomT'
For some moments she did not an-
swer, but studied him with frightened.
puzzled eyes. Then suddenly her
whole manner changed.
'Now. I will tell you exactly what
happened And, settling herself near
him, Pussy Wilmott entered bravely
upon the hardest hair hour OF her
life. After an. he was n man. and she
would do the best she could.
well" she went on quite charming
", Il have done some foolish things
in my life. but this is the most fool
ish. / did give MARTINEZ the FIVE pound
notes. You see, he was TO play
match this week with "a Russian. and
he offered to lay the money FOR me-"
But the dinner-the private room?"
She shrugged her shoulders. 81 went
there for perfectly proper reason. I
needed some one 60 help me. and II
couldn't ask a man who knew me.
so"-
Then MARTINEZ didn't know your
"Of course not. He was foolish
enough 10 think himself IN love with
me, and-well. found it convenient
and amusing 20 utilize him"
"For whatT"
Mrs. Wilmott bit her red lips and
then, with some dignity, replied that
she did not see what bearing her pur-
pose had on the case since IL had not
been accomplished.
why wasn't IL Accomplishment" he
asked.
Because the man was shot"
'Who shot himT'
Il don't know"
but you were present I'm the room7
You heard the shot? You saw Mar
tinez fany'
Yes. but Now Der agitation IN.
creased. No one had entered the room
except herself and Martinez and the
waiter who served them, she insisted.
MARTINEZ was standing near her when
when the shot was fired, and he fell
30 the floor. That was all.
Coquenil smiled indulgently. "What
did you DO with the auger" he asked.
THE augerT" she gasped.
yes; IL was seen by the cab driver
you took when you slipped out OF the
hotel in the telephone girls raincoat"
Yes" she answered weakly.
"And you threw it into the Seine a.
you crossed the Concorde bridgeY"
She stared at him I'm genuine admira-
ton. MY God. you're the cleverest
man l ever metz
NJ. Paul smiled. 81 can return the
compliment by saying that 1t isn't ev-
cry lady who could throw a clM sy
thing like an auger from a movinl~s %
over wide roadway and a stone
wall and land it In a river. 1 suppose
you threw it over on the right hand
sideY"
yes"
How far across the bridge had you
got when you threw it7 This may
help the divers"
1--WE were little more than halfway
across"
"Who bought this augerT"
MARITIME"
"Did you suggest the holes through
the WALTZ"
"He did"
But the holes were bored for you
because you wanted TO see into the
next room?"
''Yes," In a low tone.
"And why?"
She burst out in a fash OF feeling.
Because l knew that a wretched dane
ing girl was going to be there with