Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-11

est softening OF her face to have made II
something almost irresistible
can assure you," Laverick said, firm
ly. that / have no idea"
do you remember almost my first ques-
ton to your" she asked.
1T was about the murder. You seemed
within a few yards OF the passage where
1t occurred
quite right" she admitted. ct see
that your memory is very good There.
then. Mr.. Laverick. you have the secret
OF my desire to meet YOU.
Laverick drank his wine slowly. The
woman knew! Impossible! Her eyes
were watching his face. but he held him
self bravely. What could she known How
could she guess?
FRANKLY. he said, ct DO not under
stand. Your interest in me arises from
the fact that my Offices are near the
scene OF that murder Well. to begin with.
what concern have you In thatF
thoughtfully, was an acquaintance Of
mine"
AN acquaintance Of yours!'' Laverick
| exclaimed. why. he has not been iden-
| titled. No one knows who he was.
She raised her eyebrows very slightly.
mr. Laverick." she murmured. the
| newspapers do not tell you everything. /
repeat that the murdered man was an &C
| quaintance OF mine. Only three days ago
I travelled part OF the way from Vienna
with him.
Laverick was intensely interested.
You could. perhaps. throw some light,
| then. upon his death?'
Perhaps I could" she answered. II
can tell you one thing, at any rate. Mr..
Laver1ck. II II is news to you. At the
time when he was murdered he was
carrying q very large sum OF money with
| him. This is a fact which has not been
Once again Iaverick was thankful for
those nerves Of his. He sat quite still.
His face exhibited nothing more than the
blank amazement which he certainly felt.
This il marvellous" he said. Have
You told the policeT''
"I have not" she answered. IT wish. II
I can. to avoid telling the police"
But the money? To whom did 1t be-
| long?"
mot to the murdered man."
ITO any one whom you know OFF, he
| inquired.
II wonder" she said. after a moment
Of hesitation, whether am telling you
too much.'
You are telling me a good DEAL" he
admitted. frankly.
II wonder how far" she asked, ''you
| will be inclined to reciprOcate?"
Il reciprocate"' he exclaimed. ''But
| what can do? What do know Of these
things?'
| She stretched out her hand. lazily, and
drew toward her q wonderful gold purse
| set with emeralds. Carefully opening it.
she drew from the interior q small fiat
pocketbook, also Of gold. with a great
| uncut emerald set into its center. This.
| too. she opened, and drew out several
| sheets Of foreign note paper, pinned to-
gether at the top. These she glanced
| through until she came to the third or
fourth. Then she bent It down and passed
II across the table to Laverick.
You may read that she said. at is
| part OF a report which I have had in my
possession since Wednesday morning"
| Laverick drew the sheet toward him and
read. I'm thin. angular characters. very
distinct and plain:
| Some ten minutes after the assault a
| policeman passed down the street. but did
person to appear was a gentleman who
| left some offices on the same side as the
! passage and walked down. evidently on
| his llomeward way He glanced up the
passage and saw the body lying there.
He disappeared for q moment and struck
a match. minute afterward he emerged
| from the passage, looked up and down
the street. and, finding 1t empty. returned
to the office from which he had issued.
let himself I'm with his latchkey and closed
the door behind him. He was there for
about ten minutes. When he reappeared
he walked quickly down the street. and
for obvious reasons / was unable to fol-
low him.
The address of the Offices which he left
and re-entered was Messrs. Laverick &
Morrison, stockholders.
That interests you. Mr.. Laverick?" she
asked. softly.
CTo be continued tomorrow)