The Washington times., 1911-10-09
CHAPTER TX.
A SUSPECT.

| by his arguments. l was still
bewildered at the possibilities he sug-
gested. when tap was heard at the b.
orary door: Mr. Hunt rose quietly and
The, girl looked haggard and worn.
Her brilliant colortng seemed faded, and
| her whole attitude betrayed deep dis
tress not unmixed with fear.
But all Of this she tried to hide be-
meath mask of impasS:vity. l thinE
| she impressed Hunt with her appear
ance of calmness, though felt sure thai
her turbulent spirit Was far from
placid
"Sit down, Miss Gardiner" said Hunt
kindly. Il wish to ask you a few ques-
| tons"
| Irene sat down, and with an air both
| naughty and dignified awaited the de-
tective's next words. Had IL not beer
| would have deceived me into thinking
her assumed Indifference fear.
In your testimony, Miss Gardiner,
| began Mr.. Hunt, ''you declared that you
sitting, on the east end Of the balcony,
| the night Of the murder, until you came
| into the house at about 1870 o'clock.
Are you still prepared to swear to this
statement
Why should 1 not be. Mr.. Hunt?'
said Irene, but her lips grew white. and
her voice trembled-
You might have since recollected
that you did 90 around to the west
side, If only for moment.
ME to change my sworn statement in
any way declared Irene.
Her voice had sunk almost to whis-
per and her eyes refused TO meet mine.
Mr.. Hunt continued:
Were you around on the west side,
rear tho library window, at any time
during the eVening-earlier, perhaps,
than the time YOU spent sitting alone on
the east Side?'
No" said Irene, and this time her
more decided, as she looked the detec-
tive straight in the eye. Il was not
On the west balcony earlier in the even
ing. ! was not there at air.
The last sentence came with a dcs-
perate burst OF emphasis that somehow
did not carry conviction. For some rea-
son the girl was under a severe tension,
and 1 couldn't help thinking there was
danger of her physical collapse
Then" said Mr.. Hunt. suddenly pro-
his pocketbook-"then, may ! ask, Miss
Cart liner, how these feathers cbGnceG
to be found IN the library and on the
library window shutter?"
hiding her face in he hands, seemed IN
Immediate danger Of the collapse had
feared.
Miss Gardiner" I said, for, though
her actions were inexplicable. was stiil
deeply under the spell of her fascina-
tion, and greatly desired to help her
Hiss Gardiner, let me advise you. as a
friend, to tell your story frankly and
trIthfully. 1 am sure 1t will be better
for all concerned"
fashed a look at me so full os faith
and gratitude that, assured Of her COM
p!ete CONFIDENCE, 1 determined to become
her strong ally.
OH she exclaimed. Il would be 50
glad to tell the truth! I swore to a
falsehood from a sense of duty to an
other
TT is always a mistaken sense Of duty
that leads to false swearing" said Mr..
Hunt
Il believe that is So" said Irene ear
nestly. but had no one to advise me
and I thought was doing right. The
truth Is, then, that did go around to
the west end of the balcony, and that
1 did look in he library window"
Hunt.
II don't know" said Irene, but II
was perhaps en- minutes later that Mr..
King came to me on the front balcony
and told me what had happened"
What did you see in the library?'
Must I tell that?"
You must"
Then 1 saw Philip lying on the floor,
and Mildred fallen to the floor also. But
she was partly hidden by the desk
rs that all you SAW asked Mr..
Hunt, looking. at her intently. WAS
there no one else in the room?''
Must tell that" asked Irene again,
~ss an sPpsaPs .ss Mn Hnn ganes stsrns ss ms
truth"
Then" said Irene, ct saw Mr.. Crane
placing pistol in MIldred's hand"
just as you arrived at the Window"
Then" 1 went on, "you cannot swear
that he was placing the pistol in her
hand. He might have been taking II
"I never thought Of that" said Irene,
an expression of relief lighting up her
face.
have told Of the Incident in his own tes-
timony. What did you do next. Miss
"I went away at once. I went to the
front veranda, and / could go no far
ther. I was so mystified and Mortified
myself into a chair and cried. was
stin crying when. soon after, Mr.. King
came in search of me-.
"She was" 1 declared, land crying so
violently that / was alarmed. But as
diately / left the two ladies to look
after each other" :.
And had 1t not been for the incrini-
mating yellow feathers, did you not in
tend to correct your misstatement?
said Mr.. Hunt, looking at her severely.
NO" said Irene. and her manner now
was frank and self-assured, for I felt
sure Mr.. Crane had done nothing wrong.
and I did not wish to attract any un-
founded suspicious toward him."
"A suspicion that Is really Cnfounded
can do no one any HARM" said Mr..
Hunt, who seemed to be in a mood for
oracular utterances.
"I am glad" said Irene. simply, "for
would not wish any harm To come to
Mr.. Crane through my testimony"
THAT Is as It may be-" said Mr..
Hunt, and the interview was at an end.
Although Irene's evidence had placed
Gilbert in a doubtful position, was not
yet willing to believe the man guilty. or
even that he was implicated in the
crime.
Indeed, / was for going straight to
him, and asking him for the explana-
ton which felt sure he could give.
But Mr.. Hunt did not agree with me-
He was in the grasp of new theory.
and therefore subject to the temptation
which too often assails a detective, to
make the facts coincide with IL.