The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1911-10-14
CHAPTER IV.-(contlnued.,

Il
What sort of a paper was it?" In
CURED Mr.. Grimm.
None of your business" came the
curt answer.
who shot your"
None of your business"
"A man."
Senior Alvarez was silent
"a woman?"
Still silence.
With some new idea Mr.. Grimm
turned away suddenly and started out
into the hall. He met a maid-servant
at the door, coming in. Her face was
b1anched, and she suffered through
sheer excitement
"a lady, sir-a lady" she began
babbIingIy.
Mr.. Grimm calmly closed the door,
shutting in the wounded man. Chief
Campbell and the others. Then he
caught the maid sharply by the arm
and shook some conference into her
disordered brain.
"a lady-she ran away, SIR the
girl went on, in blank surprise.
What lady?" demanded Mr.. Grimm.
coldly. Where did she run from ?
Why did she rum" The maid stared
at him with mouth agape Begin at
the beginning"
Il was in that room, farther down
the hall, SIR the maid explained.
''The door was open. heard the shot,
and it frightened me Sol don't know
i was afraid to look out right away,
sir. Then, an instant later, a lady
come running along the hall, sir-that
way" and she indicated the rear Of
the house. Then I came to the door
and looked out to see who it was,
and what was the matter, sir. I was
standing there when a mana man
came along after the lady, and banged
the door in nay face, sir. The door
had a spring lock. and 1 was $3.50
frightened and excited I couldn't open
it right away, strand when I did
came here to see what was the mat
ter" She drew a deep breath and
stopped
THAT all?" demanded Mr. Grimm.
Eyes. sir. except-except the lady
had a pistol in her hand, sir"
Mr. Grimm regarded her in silence
for a moment.
who was the Lady," he asked at
last.
q forget her name. sir. She was
the lady who-who tainted in the ball
room, sir, just a few minutes ago.
Whatever emotion may have been
aroused within Mr.. Grimm it certainly
found no expression in his face. When
be spoke again his voice was quite
calm
Miss ThOrne, perhaps?"
Yes, sir, that's the name-Miss
Thorne I was in the ladies' dressing
room when she was brought in, sir,
and I remember some one called her
name"
Mr.. Grimm took the girl, still a-quiv-
er with excitement, and led her along
the hall to where Gray stood.
Take this girl in charge, Gray" he
directed. Lock her up, if necessary
Don't permit her to say one word tC
anybody anybody, you understand
except the chief"
Mr.. Grimm left them there. He
passed along the hall, glancing in each
room as he went, until he came to z
short fight of stairs leading toward
the kitchen. He went on down silent
~. The lights were burning, but the
place was still, deserted. All the serv
ants who belonged there were evi
IDENTIFY, for the moment, transferred t.
other posts. He passed on through the
! kitchen and out the back door into
the street
a little distance away, leaning
against lamp post, man was stand
ing. He might have been waiting FOL
a car Mr.. Grimm approached him.
BEG pardon he said, did you SCI
a woman come out of the back door
there?"
Yes, just a moment or so ago." re
piled the stranger. she got into al
automobile at the corner 1 imagin,
this is hers" and he extended a hand
kerchief, dainty, perfumed trife O
lace. st picked it up immediatel!
after she passed"
Mr.. Grimm took the handkerchie
and examined it under the light Fol
a time he was thoughtful, with low
cred eyes, which, finally raised, me
! those Of the stranger with a scruti
MIXING stare
Why" asked Mr.. Grimm slowl!
and distinctly. why did you slam thu
door in the girls face?"
why did I-what?' came the an
swering question
why did you slam the door IN thu
girls face?" Mr.. Grimm repeated
slowly
The stranger stared in utter amaze
! ment-an amazement so frank, so VI
acted, so genuine, that Mr.. Grimm wa
satisfied
did you see a man come out o
the door?" Mr.. Grimm pursued
No. Say. young fellow, CUES
| you've had little too much to drink
haven't your
But by that time Mr.. Grimm va
turning the corner.